Urapivot Safety Tips

Pivot centers are designed with the mechanical and electrical safety of the system in mind. But if they are operated incorrectly, they could entail a series of dangers for the operator. At Grupo Chamartín we are the first to want our products to have a long life, so here are some safety tips in relation to our URAPIVOT systems.

Urapivot Safety Tips

• As with any electrical appliance, if pivot sprinkler systems are not properly grounded, serious accidents could occur if an electrical fault occurs.
  Obviously, if the system is properly grounded and properly fused, the chances of someone suffering an electrical shock decrease.
• It is essential that pivot irrigation machines always be turned off before servicing the machine. If the machine is to be serviced, the main switch must be turned off and closed.
• Avoid approaching the pivot system during thunderstorms. The center of the pivot is a good conductor to ground and is probably the highest object in the field, making it a good lightning receiver. For safety and protection of sensitive machine elements, we recommend the installation of lightning arresters.
• It should be ensured that the irrigation water is not wetting adjoining roads. In fact, it is illegal, as it constitutes a considerable danger to all types of vehicles.
  If an end gun is used on the machine, we must make sure that the "stop gun" option is programmed so that the stream does not wet the roads.
• The furrows or ruts where the wheels of the pivot irrigation system will run should be checked before starting to avoid any obstacles in the path of the system (tractors, livestock or people). The pivot drive trains are very powerful and can climb over vehicles, equipment, etc.
• The system should not operate in temperatures below freezing. Watering with water cools the environment, so the water will freeze even if the air temperature is just above freezing. All pivot systems should be turned off below 4.5º C.
• An electric motor installed in each of the pivot irrigation system towers drives two drive shafts connected to the wheel reducers. These shafts start and stop without warning, so it is advisable to install drive guards to prevent crop entanglement.
• Fuses are designed for the protection of a specific system and have the right resistance for the protection of that particular machine. We must then make sure that the fuses have the proper rating and when fuses need to be replaced, fuses of a different rating should not be installed.
• The safety circuit on Urapivot irrigation systems is designed to stop the machine if one of the towers or spans becomes excessively misaligned. Extreme caution should be used when bypassing the safety circuit, as this will shut down all automatic shutdown circuits in the system. It is advisable to check the system before each start-up attempt. Repeated bypassing of the safety circuit can cause serious damage to the structure.
• Avoid contact with the irrigation system while chemicals are being applied to the water.
• The system should not operate if it is moving in the opposite direction to the one selected.
  Forward should be clockwise and reverse should be counterclockwise.
• Avoid contact with high pressure water streams such as those from the end guns. Never try to fix one of these guns while they are in operation.
• If there is a possibility of a short circuit, do not touch the machine. Circumstances that may lead one to believe that dangerous voltage situations are present may include: physical damage to the machine or the span cable and recent electrical storms.
• Urapivot irrigation machines can be stopped at any time and from any tower by turning the disconnect switch located under the tower box.
• If the system turns around reversing its direction when it reaches a physical object such as a building, a row of trees, a road, etc..., safety barriers must be placed to allow the pivot to stop if the "auto-reverse" mechanism fails.
• It is advisable to use some elements to ensure greater operational safety (safety relays, lightning arresters, pressure switches, fuses, adjustable alignment microswitches, over-watering timers, transmission couplings...).