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Greg has been using Dryer Master systems since 1993, so that is a total of 25 years! In that time he has upgraded from his original DM150 model and added a second system. He now runs his a new DM510 on his Zimmerman VT2541 tower dryer and his older model DM500 on his Farm Fans CMS-1000H. He typically dries about 1.4 million bushels a year of corn and occasionally soybeans.
How much training was required to operate the Dryer Master?
4-6 hours initially, then some followup when we upgraded models.
How often do you calibrate your sensors?
Twice daily, unless there is a wide variation in wet test weight, then we check more often.
Have you contacted the Dryer Master Support Centre? What was your experience?
Yes, we upgraded one unit and replaced another. TechSupp was excellent at preparing us for the switch over and correcting the minor problems that cropped up.
Is there anything you would like to see improved in the Dryer Master?
There are read outs for inlet grain temp, outlet grain temp, and plenum temp, but not for grain temp (in the column).We have to go outside to the dryer panel to view this.
DM Comment: This could be an option in the future. For now we have tried to keep the operation and installation as simple as possible and only gather information that will be used in the control calculations. The grain temps from the moisture sensor are used in the moisture reading calculations and the plenum temp is monitored so that the the control model can be immediately updated if the dryer operator changes their drying temp. The grain column temp is not used in the control calculations so it would only be provided for informational purposes.
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Lowell has had his Dryer Master DM510 since 2015. He uses it on his 4024 Grain Handler dryer, drying about 1 million bushels of corn per year.
How much training was required to operate the Dryer Master?
A couple hours.
How does the Dryer Master change the way you dry?
I can go do other work and not worry about the dryer adjustments.
Did anything surprise you about the Dryer Master?
The simplicity.
Compared to manual sampling how much difference does having real time moisture information make? Why?
Big difference. We have a large wet bin and if we get a wetter variety in there the real time knows when to adjust.
How often do you calibrate your sensors? What is your calibration procedure?
Daily just to confirm. We test incoming and outgoing grain and do the calibration on the DM.
Do you use DM Mobile? If so, when/how do you use it?
Yes we love to be able to see the dryer info remotely. We do make some adjustments from the mobile device.
Have you contacted the Dryer Master Support Centre? What was your experience?
Great service.
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Mike works with two Dryer Master DM510s, with the first one having been purchased almost 20 years ago. Both DM510s run on ffi dryers. The site dries about 600,000 bushels of corn per year.
What convinced you to buy a Dryer Master in the first place?
We were convinced to buy one because our neighbors and the local co-op had one.
Compared to manual sampling how much difference does having real time moisture information make?
The real time samples are helpful to our operation by having the peace of mind to know the moisture of the corn going into the bin even when were not there. (Note: in the picture above, the outlet moisture sensor is mounted in a Dryer Master bypass chute with a rotary feed. Directly below the sensor is the green button used to start a moisture sensor calibration.)
How much training was required to operate the Dryer Master?
It is fairly simple to operate. Not much training is required.
Have you contacted the Dryer Master Support Center? What was your experience?
We have contacted the support center. They have always been very helpful and timely in getting the Dryer Master running again.
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Kenton has had his Dryer Master DM510 since 2014. He uses it on his Grain Handler dryer to dry about 250,000 bushels of corn a year.
What convinced you to buy a Dryer Master in the first place?
What I first liked about the Dryer Master was that it has an input sensor as well as an output sensor so it can anticipate changes.
How often do you calibrate your sensors?
I calibrate the input sensor twice a year and the output sensor about every 3 hours of drying time or when there is a bigger change of input moisture or a hybrid change. It seems like different hybrids do test differently.
Do you use DM Mobile? If so, when/how do you use it?
I used DM Mobile for the first full season this year and it gave me the confidence to be away from the dryer and do other things and still know what is going on. It also alerted me to a problem that had arisen one evening after I had gone home.
Have you contacted the Dryer Master Support Centre? What was your experience?
Everyone at the support center has always been extremely helpful with any situation that I have had come up.
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Richard dries about 800,000 bushels a year of corn and beans in his 3,500 bu. capacity grain dryer, a dryer that he is looking to add more tiers to to get even more capacity. He has had his Dryer Master DM510 since 2011. For the 2017 season, he upgraded by adding DM Mobile, Dryer Master’s remote access application.
How does the Dryer Master change the way you dry?
Using the Dryer Master changes the way we harvest, such as which fields we are going to harvest next. We are not as concerned about the moisture content in each field.
How often do you calibrate the outlet sensor, and what procedure do you use?
We probably calibrate the outlet sensor twice a day. We take 4-5 samples during the calibration time, mix them together, and bench sample them to get an average moisture.
Do you use DM Mobile?
We started using DM Mobile this year on my cell phone. I watch the outlet moisture from my phone as well as the drying rate and the drying temp. I like being able to change it from Auto to Local or Manual from my combine or my house. It is nice to be able to check things from the house at night without going to the bin site a mile away.
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Mark is relatively new to Dryer Master. He has had his DM510 since 2015. He uses it to dry about 500,000 bushels of corn and wheat in his Delux dryer.
Why did you buy a Dryer Master in the first place.
It was recommended by my dealer.
Have you found a financial difference in your drying performance using Dryer Master? In what way?
The Dryer Master is a management tool. It saves money by not over drying or under drying the grain. This saves in minimizing grain shrink and moisture dock and it gives gas savings.
Is there anything you would like to see changed in the Dryer Master (new features?)
I’d like to see suggested rates in manual mode to show on DM Mobile. (DM Comment: This is something we have now added.)
Do you use DM-Mobile? If so how do you use it (phone/PC/home/at night?), how often do you use it?
DM Mobile is my favorite feature. I use it all day while in the combine and it is on when I go to bed, so I can wake during the night and check the dryer in bed. It is great peace of mind!
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Joe has had a Dryer Master for 20 years. He started with a DM500 and recently updated to a DM510 model. His site dries about 500,000 bushels a year of corn and wheat and sometimes soybeans with their Zimmerman dryer. The second photo is of the outlet sensor installation.
Why did you buy a Dryer Master in the first place?
The Dryer Master allowed us to have an inlet sensor which helps with anticipating the speed of the dryer whether in automatic or manual. Before we were chasing and guessing but after it was installed it allowed us to be a lot more consistent in our drying.
How often do you typically calibrate your outlet moisture sensor? And what is your calibration procedure?
Depending on time, help and operator we usually calibrate it every hour to once or twice a day. The calibration process is so easy we have incorporated it into our dryer checks.
Do you use DM-Mobile? If so how do you use it (phone/PC/home/at night?), how often do you use it?
We do use the DM-Mobile, mostly though a PC but occasionally with a smartphone. Anytime we leave the dryer to go to another part of the plant it allows us to monitor the dryer. We found that the biggest help is it allows you to take your experienced guys and use them where they are needed but they can also work through and teach less experienced personnel and while still keeping an eye on the dryer.
Any other advice or comments you would like to pass on to someone ?
The Dryer Master team does a great job providing service and technical support to their customers. It is reassuring knowing that during the middle of harvest you can call and troubleshoot a problem with a person who knows the product and cares.
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Jared is a newer Dryer Master user who added a Dryer Master to his Grain Handler dryer in 2016. He uses it to dry about 250,000 bushels of corn a year.
Did anything surprise you about how your Dryer Master worked when you first used it?
I was very pleased with the simplicity and how user friendly the DM510 was to learn and operate.
Do you use DM-Mobile? If so how do you use it (phone/PC/home/at night?), how often do you use it?
Since I'm in the field and not at our dryer, I use DM Mobile all day every day to continually monitor the dryer. I also check DM-Mobile just before I go to bed and get text alerts if something goes wrong. This feature is near real time with only a few seconds of latency. It gives me peace of mind knowing the dryer is working properly when I’m away from our bin site.
Any other advice or comments you would like to pass on to someone?
Don’t let the price of the DM 510 scare you away. Its definitely worth the investment because over or under dried grain can be very costly. Also, Dryer Master’s customer support has exceeded my expectations! They have been great to work with.
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Chris has a Grain Handler 2416 dryer that he uses to dry about 500,000 bushels of White and Yellow Food Grade Corn. He has had his DM510 since 2015. His DM510 is conveniently located right next to where he does his manual moisture tests.
Why did you buy a Dryer Master in the first place?
We bought the DM510 to automate and remotely control our Grain Handler 2416.
How often do you typically calibrate your outlet moisture sensor? And what is your calibration procedure?
During harvest we sample and calibrate every 1 to 1.5 hours. We press the sample button, run it through our Perten tester three times, average the results, and enter the moisture into the DM510.
Do you use DM-Mobile? If so how do you use it (phone/PC/home/at night?), how often do you use it?
Yes, I monitor the dryer via an iPad while in the combine during the day and use my iPhone at home after work. It is used all the time the dryer is running.
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Trevor dries less than 250,000 bushels annually of corn and wheat with his Grain Handler dryer. He has had his Dryer Master DM510 since 2014.
What had you heard about Dryer Master before you purchased one?
Advanced Grain Handling suggested a Dryer Master because that is what they had and really liked it. We wanted something that was smart phone capable and we are glad we got the Dryer Master.
Why did you buy a Dryer Master in the first place?
To be more productive. We couldn't run 24 hours a day before the Dryer Master because we didn't want to under dry or over dry. With the Dryer Master we can run 24 hours a day which is huge to getting our crop off before the weather changes in North Dakota… Every day is crucial and we have to be able to get the crop off and dry it down!
How does the Dryer Master change the way that you dry, or alter your drying operations from
an operational perspective?
We decreased paying a guy to baby sit the dryer all day. With Dryer Master we can look at our phones when we are not by it. Semi drivers and always monitoring it when dumping their trucks. We dialed in our set point for our dryer and it comes out consistent throughout our desired moisture for storage.
Did anything surprise you about how your Dryer Master worked when you first used it?
It took awhile to get used to it and a lot of phone calls just to get everything set but now we are familiar with everything.
Have you found a financial difference in your drying performance using Dryer Master? In what
way?
Any kind of product that can give you a return on your investment is crucial in this business. This monitoring system pays for itself yearly in our eyes with the elevators being so aggressive on drying and shrink charges.
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Brian is a long time Dryer Master user, having used Dryer Master systems for over 25 years now. He dries over a million bushels a year of Non-GMO waxy corn and has a wealth of experience to share. Brian recently updated his two DM500 systems to two new DM510 systems to go on his two Zimmerman grain dryers, one a AP4500 and the other a Zimmerman VT3026.
Why did you buy Dryer Masters in the first place?
We were looking for a way to take the guesswork out of drying. Because we are a long term storage facility with minimal outbound blending capabilities, we needed consistent moisture and quality going into storage. The Dryer Master has been able to take the peaks and valleys out of our moisture content.
How does the Dryer Master change the way that you dry, or alter your drying operations from an operational perspective?
We had to learn to let the Dryer Master do its job I tell my operators that every adjustment they make when drying, is probably undermining what the Dryer Master has planned. We had to learn not to react to what was happening with outbound samples (unless its a long term trend) for instance, if the outbound sample isn't correct, that adjustment should've been made 2-3 hrs ago. We watch the hourly trend and trust that the DM knows what’s going in and what’s coming out and will adjust dryer speed accordingly to hit the average target moisture. Operators have to understand that the DM is always trying to average to the target…if corn is coming out a little dry for an hour, expect the dryer to speed up and you might see a little bit of wetter corn for an hour. My main advice to operators…”don’t over-react, let the DM do it’s job”.
What drying tips (if any) would you like to pass on to other dryer owners about how to get the most out of their dryer and/or their Dryer Master?
During harvest, we often can see a 5-10% spread in the moisture of inbound grain. While the Dryer Master can handle those ranges of moisture, we try to help it by making the inbound wet grain stream more consistent. We have 3 wet hopper tanks and will divide those into 3 moisture ranges. We then blend those grain streams to the dryer to get a more consistent moisture content on the inbound side of the dryer. This helps the Dryer Master by not making it “react” to those big swings. It also helps us narrow the range that it takes to get to our average outbound target moisture
Have you found a financial difference in your drying performance using Dryer Master? In what way?
Yes. Anytime we overdry corn or underdry corn and have to recirculate, we are not getting efficient use of our utilities expense or our drying assets. The Dryer Master minimizes those situations and helps us stay within a very narrow +/- range of our target moisture.
How often do you typically calibrate your outlet moisture sensor? And what is your calibration procedure?
We sample every 30-45 minutes while the dryers are running. We keep a log sheet comparing DM sample to Moisture Meter (Dickey-John) sample. If we have 3 samples in a row that are off more than .5% in the same direction then we calibrate.
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Aaron has a 1610 Grain Handler dryer that he uses to dry about 200,000 bushels of oats and corn. He has now had his DM510 since 2015 and uses the Dryer Master moisture sensor chute with a rotary feed which helps provide a consistent flow of product past the outlet moisture sensor.
Why did you buy a Dryer Master in the first place?
I had not heard anything about Dryer Master but my bin dealer and the Grain Handler folks recommended it.
How does the Dryer Master change the way that you dry, or help your drying operations from an
operational perspective?
It allows me to be a little freer to do other tasks.
How often do you typically calibrate your outlet moisture sensor?
All throughout the first day, then if it is staying close to the bench tester, just once a day.
How much difference does it make to have real time moisture information versus having to go out and take a sample?
A lot. I’m able to check the moisture of the dryer discharge no matter where I am.
Do you use DM-Mobile for remote access.
Yes, I use it on my smartphone all the time, day and night.
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Brian dries about 250,000 bushels of corn and soybeans with his Grain Handler 1610 dryer. He has had a Dryer Master DM510 since 2015. In the photo of the DM510 panel, on the right there is a small black device. This is part of the remote wireless I/O setup option. This option simplifies installations where the DM510 panel is located at a far distance from the dryer, or where a conduit run would be difficult. The I/O is mounted at the dryer and communicates with the control panel in the office via wireless modems at each end, instead of via wire.
Why did you buy a Dryer Master in the first place?
It was recommended by the Dealer and Rep from Grain Handler
Did anything surprise you about how your Dryer Master worked when you first used it?
I was surprised how it could compensate for different input moisture after it had run long enough to build the data it needed. Compensates better for large input changes than any other controller I have used.
How often do you typically calibrate your outlet moisture sensor? And what is your calibration procedure? (Note: The photo is of the outlet sensor installation. Brian diverts a portion of the outlet flow to a pipe where the sensor is mounted. The product flow past the sensor is kept constant by the auger that returns the product to the main stream. )
Check / Calibrate several times daily especially if we changed varieties of corn. Also check before overnight. I recalibrate if its more than a couple tenths off. I push the calibrate button mounted near sensor and take a sample over about 20 to 30 seconds. Gives me enough grain to run two tests on my moisture tester. If both tests are close to the same, I average and recalibrate. If the tests are not close, I start over.
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Ryan has been a Dryer Master user since 1999. The first Dryer Master installed was a DM500 model and it went in at their then only drying location. In 2009, with the construction of a new facility at a new location, two Dryer Master DM510s were added for their Dorssers dryer. (For those unfamiliar with the Dorssers dryer it is an Ontario made dryer that you can see at quite a few locations around Southern Ontario.) In Ryan’s case each Dryer Master controls 1/2 of the dryer and so you can have the two sides running at different speeds. Combined, Ryan dries around 750,000 bushels of corn a year.
Why did you buy a Dryer Master in the first place?
The ease of controlling the dryer and improving the output consistency for storage. We also liked the idea that you could run it in an automatic mode which allowed us to focus time on other areas of the business during harvest.
How does the Dryer Master change the way that you dry, or alter your drying operations from an operational perspective?
When operating the Dryer Master, patience is key. You have to have trust in the system to follow the targets that you set out to achieve. It allows you to focus on other areas of operations during the peak time and yet have faith that the targets will be met.
Did anything surprise you about how your Dryer Master worked when you first used it?
It takes a bit of time to have faith that the targets will be met. At the conclusion of the year, it is surprising how close the targets are met when the final report is generated. This goes to show that corrections are made throughout the drying season and in the end you achieve what you had set as a goal going into harvest.
What drying tips (if any) would you like to pass on to other dryer owners about how to get the most out of their dryer and/or their Dryer Master?
Patience is key, give the DM time to learn the characteristics of the grain and it will meet your requirements. Keep an eye on all the moisture pods for blockage as this can give false readings.
How often do you typically calibrate your outlet moisture sensor?
We calibrate quiet often and likely too much. Every half hour if we have issues. On average we likely calibrate every 1.5 hours. When things are busy every 2-4 hours. It is nice to be able to go to the screen and know that the physical product is accurate to what the reading is giving you.
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Pete is a long time Dryer Master user. He bought his first two Dryer Master systems (DM150 models) way back in 1996, one for an older Delux dryer and one for a Redex. He currently has two DM510 models, one on a 2014 model Delux DPX16GT dryer and the other on an older Meyer 2000 bu./hr. dryer. He uses them for drying over 2 million bushels a year of corn, soybeans and soft red wheat.
Why did you buy a Dryer Master in the first place?
I was unhappy with our drying results. We would over dry and also under dry. Also we had acquired another location where the drying was even more erratic due to varying corn moistures and an inability to control the dryer.
Did anything surprise you about how your Dryer Master worked when you first used it?
Yes it would adjust the speed when we did not think it should but it was correct and the dry corn coming out of the dryer was much more stable.
Have you found a financial difference in your drying performance using Dryer Master? In what way?
Yes we can ship corn right at the target level of moisture that we want to. The over drying of corn costs much more than most people realize. Also we dry wheat to ship to flour mills that have strict moisture requirements.
What drying tips (if any) would you like to pass on to other dryer owners about how to get the most out of their dryer and/or their Dryer Master?
I would stage corn in a wet bin and run air for two days then dry it. This means more wet storage and then drying 24 hours a day when you start to dry. The longer we run the dryer the better job we do.
Any other advice or comments you would like to pass on?
We have tried three different dryer controllers that were dryer manufacturer based and the Dryer Master simply works better in my opinion. The experience that they have with other industries and other products gives them much more knowledge than just about grain drying.
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Kevin has two Dryer Master DM510s. The first one he installed about 15 years ago. He then bought a second one in 2012 to go on his new dryer. Kevin's two dryers are both Zimmerman towers (one is 2,000 bu. and the other 4,000 bu.).
Kevin recently updated his DM510s with DM Mobile, Dryer Master's remote access application. (DM Mobile is standard on all new DM510s, but it can also be added onto older DM510s allowing owners to add the latest in remote access capabilities to their dryer at a reasonable cost).
What had you heard about Dryer Master before you purchased your first system?
I talked to a guy who owned one and he told me that I would not want to dry another bushel without it.
Did anything surprise you about how your Dryer Master worked when you first used it?
I was surprised with how accurate the sensors are & how well they keep their calibration.
The sensors are also very durable, I had one sitting in rotten corn and water all summer and did not know it, cleaned it off and it still worked as it should.
What drying tips (if any) would you like to pass on to other dryer owners about how to get the most out of their dryer and/or their Dryer Master?
We found that the Zimmerman dryer will make fairly large swings in moisture at first, 1.5 - 2 pts, but once it found its sweet spot it stayed on target.
Longer Runs = Better
How much difference does it make to have real time moisture information versus having to go out and take a sample?
It is a huge difference being able to walk in the office and know what my moisture is in real-time and be able to keep an eye on it while unloading trucks and all the other things that are going on. It’s great knowing how accurate it is vs. taking a sample from say maybe 2 columns at best, whereas the sensor (through the printout) gives me summaries every 10 minutes from a much larger sample size, giving me not only more accurate information, but also more useful information, and it’s better than doing it myself.
Do you use DM-Mobile? If so how do you use it (phone/PC/home/at night?), how often do you use it?
Yes, on an iPhone and on a PC. All the time when it is running, I no longer have to make midnight runs to the dryer to check on it, I can check on it without having to get out of bed.
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Larry dries about 15,000 tons a year of corn, wheat, soybeans and canola and he has used Dryer Masters since 2015. Larry has a rather unique setup with 2 Dryer Master DM510s on his Grain Handler 4020 grain dryer (40 feet long, 20 sections high). Each DM510 controls one side of the dryer, with each side having its own separate drive. And yes, the two sides of the dryer will often run at different speeds. The picture above shows two of the newest Dryer Master sensor chutes with a rotary feed (highlighted with the black circles).
Why did you buy a Dryer Master in the first place?
To get a reliable controller for the dryer.
How does the Dryer Master change the way that you dry, or help your drying operations from an operational perspective?
Makes life easier not having to keep adjusting the output of the dryer
Did anything surprise you about how your Dryer Master worked when you first used it?
We had had one on our older dryer (an MC 1195) but with the Grain Handler it seems to want to take control faster and is more consistent.
How much difference does it make to have real time moisture information versus having to go out and take a sample.
It's a huge difference because at harvest time it gets busy unloading trucks and grading samples. I used to take moisture samples every hour but now with where the inlet and outlet sensors are, they are really accurate, so now if there is a lull with crop coming in I will take a sample, maybe twice a day.
What drying tips (if any) would you like to pass on to other dryer owners about how to get the most out of their dryer, their drying operations, and/or their Dryer Master?
After talking to Wolf at Dryer Master we started using 2 wet bins, so we dry the corn that came in yesterday, today (having let it sit a day). Really made the corn easier to dry especially the first of the harvest. It seems to bring the moisture closer to the tip of the kernel.
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Anthony has 2 Dryer Master DM510 systems, the first of which he added in 2007. He runs them on his two Zimmerman dryers, drying about 1.5 million bushels/year of corn and soybeans. He has added the DM Mobile remote access functionality so that he can check on his dryers at any time from anywhere.
Why did you buy a Dryer Master in the first place?
We purchased DM because any of the factory controls we had tried just did not work. We spoke to a neighbor that was running a DM at the time and they were completely satisfied. The DM was money well spent and I would not run without.
How does the Dryer Master change the way that you dry, or help your drying operations from an operational perspective?
The DM allows me to be more available during harvest season. I do not have to babysit the dryers all day and night I just have much more confidence in the DM sensors and don't feel I have to check constantly.
How often do you calibrate the moisture sensors?
I try and calibrate every chance I get. It seems once the dryers have been running a while I have to calibrate less often. I try to check it every couple hours.
And what is your calibration procedure?
My sampling procedure is this, for the input sensor I take several samples from the leg that is feeding the dryer. I average the moistures and wait about 12 min and start the calibration on the DM. For the output sensor I hit the green button and take small samples the entire time the light is flashing (30 seconds). I run that sample through the tester about 3 or 4 times and enter in the average moisture
You run two dryers. How do you allocate product between the dryers?
Normally for the first half of harvest one dryer is drying corn and the other soybeans. When I have them both in corn and if we are harvesting inconsistent moistures I try to keep one drying higher moisture and one in the lower. We then unload both dryers into the same bin to get some blending between both of them.
Have you found a financial difference in your drying performance using Dryer Master? In what way?
The DM system has saved us time and money. I have consistent moistures coming out of the bin, we are not over drying like we did with previous controls, and the system is user friendly.
