Why are my bin levels not accurate?

We often get the question of why bin levels are not being displayed accurately and the answer is: it depends on the context of the question.

If the levels are not accurate due to fan runtime then it is because your system prioritizes fan runtime before establishing a bin level and a level will be established for long-term storage

once the fans have finished conditioning the grain.

If it is a matter of bin level not being accurate as far as a bushel count is concerned then that is due to the fact that the best your system can do is an estimation of grain level and bushel count. since the sensors are spaced 4-6 feet apart the system can only estimate the level within that range and that can mean thousands of bushels difference on a larger bin.

This is a result of how the system calculates the bin level. It looks at the readings from a sensor on the cable and compares it to previous readings that it has taken. If there is little to no change then the system can assume that the sensor is engulfed in grain and it can determine that the bin level is at least that high. This means the bin level could be anywhere in the 4' gap in between sensors on a cable. It's important to also remember that air movement past the sensors does not allow the system to identify whether it is in grain or not.

Another factor is grain movement. If grain is added, removed or settles within the bin, it can take up to 24 hours for the new levels to be identified.

The bottom line is your software is a monitoring and conditioning system first and does not prioritize bin level as much. The system wasn't designed to be an inventory system, just to provide ballpark numbers.

Note: While the fans are running it is very hard for the system to establish a bin level and calculate the average bin moisture, especially when the bin is almost empty. If you are happy with conditions of your grain and you want to get this average grain moisture displayed, turn your fans off and wait ~12 hours for the system to get the bin level determined.