SmartPan System – Product Support
Thank you for choosing the BranValt SmartPan System™!
Our support portal is designed to answer any questions you may have, help you with a seamless set up process, and to avoid or resolve some potential issues for a better experience with our products. As always, if you have any questions that aren’t answered here, you can also reach out to your local BranValt dealer for product support.
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BranValt SmartPan System Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Have questions about the BranValt SmartPan System™? Find quick answers to the most common inquiries below.
Is the SmartPan System compatible with my mobile device and/or computer?
Yes, the SmartPan System is compatible with both iOS and Android devices. You can download the BranValt SmartDrop App to your smartphone, tablet, or access the data through a web browser on your computer. The system provides a user-friendly interface for viewing and analysing your grain inventory data.
Can I use the BranValt System even if I don’t have a smartphone?
Yes, you can use formula paper and the remote to drop the SmartPan!
What happens if I lose or change my device or if the app crashes?
Currently your saved results are saved on your device. If you lose/change your phone or the app crashes, you may lose your saved data. Please backup your data by sending it to your email address to avoid loss of valuable information.
How do I turn my BranValt SmartPan System on/off?
The on/off toggle switch is located underneath the permanent magnet bracket on the carrier unit.
What happens if one of the parts in my BranValt SmartPan kit needs to be replaced? Do I need to purchase a new kit?
No, you can purchase individual parts.
What is included in the SmartPan System kit? SmartPan Systems includes:
40” SmartPan System includes:
- Carrier unit and 40” wide pan, Scale, Lanyard, Owner’s manual, charging port, 40” narrow pan, remote, and air separator + charger.
20” SmartPan System includes:
- Carrier unit and 20” drop pan, Scale, Lanyard, Owner’s manual, charging port, remote, and air separator + charger.
60” SmartPan System includes:
- Carrier unit and 60” wide pan, Scale, Lanyard, Owner’s manual, charging port, 60” narrow pan, remote, and air separator + charger.
How does the BranValt SmartPan System work?
The SmartPan is a drop pan designed to measure grain loss easily and precisely with ANY combine. Attach the magnetic drop pan to any combine and safely release it remotely using the SmartDrop app or the remote. Clean the sample with the BranValt Air Separator and then check your results with the SmartDrop App.
Do the magnets on the carrier pan require power to work properly?
There are two types of magnets, on top of the carrier there are two 220 lbs magnets that are used to mount the SmartPan System to the header, feeder house, or back axel of the combine. There are also two electromagnets inside the carrier unit that hold the drop pan in place. These magnets do not require power and are always magnetized.
How do I know what my battery voltage is at and whether I need to charge my unit?
The BranValt SmartPan System has a LED display screen near the toggle on/off switch that shows the charge level of the battery and the voltage.
If I lost my remote, can I drop the SmartPan using a different method?
Yes, since the SmartPan has two types of antennas, one that connects to the Wi-Fi, and therefore your smartphone or device, and one that connects to your SmartPan remote. If you’ve lost your remote you can use the SmartDrop App to connect to your BranValt SmartPan System and remotely drop the SmartPan.
How do I know that my SmartPan was really dropped or not?
The SmartDrop App will give you a confirmation that the SmartPan was dropped, if dropping the pan using the application. OR the remote will flash a signal to confirm that the pan was dropped. If that signal is not received, then the pan was not dropped.
How long does the entire process of calibrating my combine using the BranValt system take?
The time and difficulty of this process may vary depending on factors such as experience and familiarity with your combine, but typically it takes roughly 2 hours to take out an OEM concave and install the MAD concaves split frame with an added 10-15 minutes for the inserts. In comparison, you could be spending 8 hours wiring and adjusting a wire concave, and it`s cumbersome.
How long does it take to measure using the SmartPan system?
It generally takes around 5-10 minutes to drop the SmartPan, clean the sample using the Air Separator, and enter the data in the SmartDrop App.
What is the Air Separator used for?
It is used to clean the sample quickly and efficiently by removing chaff and straw, leaving only the grains behind.
How long does it take for my BranValt SmartPan System to pay for itself?
We find that it usually takes around 120 acres for our producers to be able to pay for this system. In many cases, it ends up being closer to 70-80 acres.
Where can I mount my SmartPan?
You can safely mount your SmartPan to either the feeder house, the header, or the back axel of any combine.
What are the benefits of the SmartDrop App?
- It allows you to do calculations quickly and accurately
- It allows you to input and save combine settings as well as conditions
- It allows you to connect your device to the SmartPan in order to drop it remotely in lieu of the remote.
Why does the drop pan not disengage when activated by remote control or through the swipe function of the SmartDrop app?
This issue could be a result of the battery power of the transmitter (remote) being too low. Check that the red light if the transmitter lights up when the button is pushed. It could also be a result of the carrier battery being too low. Check the battery LED indicator. This is easily resolved by inserting a new battery in the transmitter or charging the carrier battery using the smart charger. Only use the correct 12V smart charger.
My carrier/air separator battery will not charge even after 24H of charging?
Check to see if the fuse in the carrier or air separator is blown. If so, replace the fuse.
Check to see if the fuse in the male plug of the charger is blown. If so, Open the male plug of the charger and with a screwdriver change the fuse.
If neither of these is the case, perhaps the battery is defective. If so, contact us for a replacement battery and replace defective unit.
What languages are included in the SmartDrop App
The SmartDrop App is available in English, German, and Russian.
How exactly does the SmartDrop app calculate yield loss?
The process involves calculating the grams found in the drop pan, converting it to grams per square meter and then converting once more to kilograms per hectare. Next, we convert hectares to acres and kilograms to pounds to determine the number of bushels per acre based on the bushel weight of the grain in question. The assumption is made that the number of kernels found in one square foot can be extrapolated to another square foot.
Does the SmartDrop app still give accurate results if I am dropping or if I’m spreading the straw and chaff unevenly?
Yes, using the same process, using the square footage of the pan, the weight of kernels found in the pan, and the square footage of one acre, we can determine how many bushels per acre you are losing. When you are dropping all the straw and chaff in the windrow, the equations remain unchanged, but we do have to add an additional step. We would have to take the width of the header divided by the width of the windrow. This number would act as a factor which would be used to determine how many bushels per acre you are in fact losing.
Does my phone need to be connected to Wi-Fi or have network to work with the SmartDrop app?
No, once you download the app onto your smartphone or any other device, you do not need a Wi-Fi connection to use the calculations on the SmartDrop app.
I have the new version of the SmartDrop app on my Android device and the Wi-fi dropping function is not working. Are there different versions of the SmartDrop App for Android and for iPhone?
The SmartDrop App is available in the App Store and in the Google Play Store. For Apple devices, the SmartDrop App is the only app which performs the calculations and drops the SmartPan, all in one.
On Android, the “Wi-Fi drop function” is a separate app (SmartCU) and due to a change in the Google Android app store, SmartCU is currently not available for download with the latest Android version on your phone/tablet. This does not influence the main Smart Drop App for calculations and settings. The customer can still drop the pan using the remote provided in the SmartPan System.
What do I do if I want to attach my SmartPan System to a surface, like the header for example?
BranValt does sell header brackets BP-HEKIT-01 (MSRP $150) that help to attach the 20″ and 40″ carrier units to a surface, like the header. The kit includes two brackets who slide over the existing magnet. They hold up pretty good IF the metal is thick enough. It’s possible that they slide down a bit and need to be held up with a bungee cord potentially. Note that these brackets only work for the 20″ and 40″ SmartPan, and NOT for the 60″ SmartPan, because it has larger magnets, and the bracket don’t fit.
I just opened my new SmartPan System, and it did not have a remote included. Does this mean I won’t be able to drop the pan?
No, this could be an older model of the SmartPan System that did not include the dual receiver function. This means that the carrier unit only has one antenna, a black one to connect your unit to Wi-Fi, and thus your smart device (phone or tablet). In 2021, the SmartPan 3.0 was released and included a second antenna specifically for the remote function. If you find yourself with only one antenna, this means that your SmartPan is an older version, and it dates to before 2021. Happily, everything we build is backwards compatible and we do have dual receiver update kits that would allow your SmartPan to be dropped either with Wi-Fi or via the remote. Please contact our customer support for more detailed information. https://branvalt.com/contact-us/
My SmartPan Battery was at 70%, the percentage fluctuated/glitched out, the screen showed an error signal, and then SmartPan died. What do I do?
The new SmartPan inventory may have sat in storage with a charge on it, before being shipped out. That charge overtime becomes a “floating charge”, not a true representation of where the battery is really at. So, the battery protects itself by shutting down when nearing approximately 70% or 11.8 V. For now, for troubleshooting purposes, charge them for about a week straight and that should fix the issue.
How do I change the batteries in my Air Seperator?
Use a 5 Ampere fuse and a 12 Volt/5 Ampere battery (Approx. 4” x 3.5” x 2 ¾ “)
Ensure the power is off. Start by unscrewing the screws, 3 in the front and 1 behind the fan. The bottom portion will then twist open, giving access to its internal components.
Important! Keep fingers away from fan while the battery is connected. Do not shorten the batteries! Ensure that you are disconnecting and re-connecting the positive and negative cables in the correct sequence.
How do I change the batteries in my SmartPan System?
Use a 5 Ampere fuse and a 12 Volt/1.3 Ampere battery (Approx. 3.75” x 2.25” x 1.75“)
Ensure the power is off. Start by unscrewing the screws, 10 total, inside of the SmartPan carrier unit. Next, remove the metal casing and uncover the internal components.
Important! Do not shorten the batteries! Ensure that you are disconnecting and re-connecting the positive and negative cables in the correct sequence.
What is the narrow pan used for? (Only for the 40” and 60” SmartPan Systems)
The 40 & 60” SmartPan Systems come with a narrow drop pan included. This works great for taller stubble conditions, like straight cut canola, hemp, corn or grain harvested with a stripper header.
The narrow drop pan is designed to split the stubble and fall in between the rows. This prevents the pan from tipping over. Stubble conditions vary in every field, and every year, that’s why both style pans are included in the SmartPan System.
I’m trying to open the SmartDrop App, but it’s asking for a password, and I don’t remember it. What do I do?
If you have already registered your account, by entering in the SmartPan System serial number and your personal information, you can simply go to the log-in screen and select “forgot password”. This will send you a link that will allow you to reset your password. If this does not work, check your SPAM folder.
If still experiencing issues, it may be that your firewall security is preventing said email from being received. In this case, you could try to create a new account using a new e-mail, Gmal is usually preferred. You can use your serial code as many times as you wish.
What is the signal range of the remote for the SmartPan System?
With the remote, you can safely drop the SmartPan from the cab of the combine, or from outside, from around 100 feet.
I lost the scale from my SmartPan System, can I simply buy a new one?
Yes, contact your nearest authorized BranValt dealer and ask them for part # DP-SCALE-01. If you are unsure of who your closest dealer is, please consult https://branvalt.com/where-to-buy/
