The Electric/Hydraulic Spreader Control from Buyers Products gives you industry leading value and performance in proportional spreader operation. Electric control systems eliminate the need for bulky hydraulic controls in your cab. Two systems are available, both featuring proportional valves housed in a weather-protective enclosure and a weatherproof, corrosion-free wiring harness. HV715EPG/HV1030EPG The 3 Function Controller with LED Display has spinner, auger-conveyor and electric pre-wet controls. It's available in two models for higher or lower GPM needs. These models have a "G" in their model number to signify that you can add a Garmin GPS receiver as an option. With the Garmin GPS unit, you gain more precise and cost-saving performance. The GPS feature plugs in easily on any truck. Set for current conditions, it continuously calculates your vehicle speed and adjusts spreading accordingly to reduce waste and cost. HV715EP/HV1030EP The 12V Programmable Controller with LED Display has auger-conveyor/spinner controls. It's available in two models for higher or lower GPM needs. The GPS option is not available for these models.
Specifications
| Auger/Chain Flow Rate Max (GPM) | 15 |
|---|---|
| Auger/Chain Flow Rate Max (LPM) | 57.5 |
| Auger/Chain Port | 5/8 SAE ORB (-10) |
| Flow (GPM) | 22 |
| Flow (LPM) | 85 |
| Functions Supported | Spinner / Auger |
| GPS Capable? | Yes |
| GPS Included? | Yes |
| Included Control Type | Manual / Auto |
| Inlet Port | 5/8 SAE ORB (-10) |
| Load Sensing Port | - |
| Spinner Port | 5/8 SAE ORB (-10) |
| Tank Port | 5/8 SAE ORB (-10) |
| Type | Fixed Displacement |
| What's Included | Valve And Control |
Advanced Electric/Hydraulic Spreader Control System with Integrated GPS for Precision Material Management
The Electric/Hydraulic Spreader Control with GPS, engineered for optimal performance at 22 GPM, represents a significant advancement in material spreading technology. This sophisticated system from Buyers Products integrates cutting-edge electrical control with robust hydraulic actuation, delivering unparalleled precision, efficiency, and reliability for professional spreading operations. Designed to overcome the inherent limitations of traditional hydraulic systems, this solution liberates valuable cab space by eliminating bulky hydraulic levers and hoses, offering a streamlined, intuitive interface for operators. Its core design principle revolves around proportional control, ensuring that material output is meticulously matched to operational requirements, thereby maximizing effectiveness while minimizing waste.
Hybrid Electric/Hydraulic System Architecture: The Best of Both Worlds
At the heart of this advanced spreader control system lies a meticulously engineered hybrid architecture. This innovative design capitalizes on the strengths of both electrical and hydraulic technologies. Electrical signals from the in-cab controller provide precise command inputs, which are then seamlessly translated into proportional hydraulic flow adjustments. This method bypasses the mechanical complexities and spatial demands of purely hydraulic in-cab controls, offering several distinct advantages:
- Space Optimization: By relocating hydraulic valving to a weather-protective enclosure on the truck chassis, the cab remains uncluttered, improving ergonomics and operator comfort.
- Enhanced Control Fidelity: Electrical signals offer rapid response and fine-grained control, facilitating more accurate adjustments to spreader functions than traditional mechanical linkages.
- Reduced Maintenance and Wear: Eliminating complex hydraulic lines and components from the cab interior reduces potential points of failure and simplifies routine maintenance.
- Durability and Environmental Resilience: The proportional valves are strategically housed within a robust, weather-protective enclosure, safeguarding them against harsh environmental conditions, road salt, moisture, and debris. Complementing this, a weatherproof, corrosion-free wiring harness ensures signal integrity and longevity across diverse operational climates.
The synergy between electrical command and hydraulic execution ensures that power is delivered precisely where and when it's needed, allowing for highly efficient and responsive control of the spreading process. This system is purpose-built for demanding applications, ensuring consistent performance even in challenging winter maintenance scenarios.
Proportional Control: The Foundation of Precision Spreading
Proportional spreader operation is a critical differentiator for this system. Unlike traditional on/off or step-based controls, proportional control allows for continuous, infinitely variable adjustment of hydraulic flow to the auger-conveyor and spinner mechanisms. This translates directly into a host of operational benefits:
- Consistent Material Distribution: The ability to precisely modulate flow rates ensures a uniform application of spreading material, regardless of variations in vehicle speed or terrain. This is crucial for effective de-icing and anti-icing treatments.
- Material Optimization: By avoiding over-application, proportional control significantly reduces material waste. This not only lowers operational costs but also minimizes the environmental impact of chemical and abrasive runoff.
- Enhanced Safety: A consistently applied spread pattern reduces the likelihood of dangerously slick spots or areas with insufficient coverage, thereby improving public safety on treated roadways.
- Versatility Across Materials: Whether spreading granular salt, sand, pre-wetted aggregates, or other materials, the system's ability to fine-tune flow rates ensures optimal performance for each specific type, consistency, and density of material.
The system's capacity for a maximum flow rate of 22 GPM (85 LPM) is particularly noteworthy. This high flow capacity ensures that the system can adequately power demanding spreading operations, allowing for rapid material delivery when required, and accommodating larger, more powerful hydraulic motors typically found on heavy-duty spreader units. This robust hydraulic capability, combined with precise electronic control, forms the backbone of its industry-leading value and performance.
Integrated GPS Functionality: The Apex of Intelligent Spreading
The inclusion of GPS capability, signified by the "G" in model numbers like HV715EPG/HV1030EPG, elevates this spreader control system to an intelligent material management solution. This feature represents a paradigm shift from manual estimation to data-driven precision, offering significant advantages:
- Speed-Proportional Spreading: The integrated Garmin GPS receiver continuously monitors and calculates the vehicle's ground speed. This real-time speed data is then fed into the control system, which dynamically adjusts the auger-conveyor and spinner speeds. The result is a consistent application rate per square unit of surface area, regardless of vehicle velocity fluctuations. If the vehicle speeds up, the system automatically increases material flow; if it slows down, flow is decreased proportionally.
- Optimized Material Usage: By precisely matching spread rates to vehicle speed, over-application is virtually eliminated. This leads to substantial savings on spreading materials, which often represent a significant portion of winter maintenance budgets. Conversely, under-application, which can compromise safety, is also prevented.
- Environmental Stewardship: Reduced material usage directly translates to a smaller environmental footprint. Less salt and chemicals are introduced into the ecosystem, mitigating concerns about water quality and vegetative impact.
- Enhanced Operational Efficiency: Operators can focus more on driving and less on constantly adjusting spreader settings. The automated adjustments reduce operator fatigue and minimize the potential for human error, leading to more consistent and effective operations across an entire fleet.
- Simplified Calibration and Setup: The GPS feature integrates seamlessly. Once basic settings for desired application rates are entered, the system handles the continuous adjustments, simplifying the operational workflow.
- Data Logging Potential (Optional/System Dependent): While not explicitly stated, GPS integration often opens avenues for advanced data logging and reporting capabilities, allowing municipalities and contractors to track material usage, coverage areas, and operational efficiency over time, fostering continuous improvement and accountability.
The "G" designation ensures compatibility with a Garmin GPS receiver, which can be easily plugged into the system, making integration straightforward on any compatible truck. This turn-key approach to intelligent spreading ensures that the benefits of GPS-driven precision are readily accessible to operators seeking to optimize their material spreading efforts.
Controller Configurations and Operational Capabilities
Buyers Products offers two primary controller configurations, each tailored to specific operational requirements:
HV715EPG/HV1030EPG: The 3-Function Controller with LED Display and GPS Capability
This premium controller is designed for comprehensive material spreading tasks, offering three distinct functions managed through an intuitive LED display:
- Spinner Control: Provides proportional control over the spinner’s rotational speed, directly impacting the spread width and pattern. Fine adjustments allow operators to precisely manage material throw, adapting to varying road widths, obstacles, and application zones.
- Auger-Conveyor Control: Offers proportional control over the material feed mechanism (auger or conveyor chain). This function dictates the volumetric flow rate of the spreading material from the hopper to the spinner. Precise control here is paramount for achieving the desired application density.
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Electric Pre-Wet Controls: This advanced feature allows for the integration and control of an electric pre-wetting system. Pre-wetting involves applying a liquid brine solution to dry granular material (like salt) just before it's spread. The benefits are significant:
- Improved Adhesion: Pre-wetted material adheres better to the road surface, reducing bounce and scatter, especially at higher speeds, leading to more effective use of material.
- Faster Activation: The brine solution kick-starts the melting process immediately upon contact with the road, leading to quicker de-icing action.
- Reduced Material Loss: Less material is lost to wind drift or bouncing off the pavement, enhancing efficiency and reducing environmental impact.
- Enhanced Performance at Low Temperatures: Pre-wetting can extend the effective working temperature range of granular salts.
The LED display provides real-time feedback on settings, operational status, and potential diagnostic information, empowering the operator with clear visibility and control. These models are available in variants suitable for either higher or lower GPM needs, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of hydraulic systems and spreader sizes. The HV1030EPG, for instance, is designed for higher GPM requirements, such as the 22 GPM specified in the product title, catering to larger or more demanding spreading equipment.
HV715EP/HV1030EP: The 12V Programmable Controller with LED Display
This controller provides robust and reliable control for core spreading functions, offering a streamlined solution where GPS integration or pre-wetting capabilities are not required:
- Auger-Conveyor/Spinner Controls: Similar to the EPG models, these controllers offer precise proportional control over the auger-conveyor and spinner. This ensures effective and consistent material application for standard spreading tasks.
- 12V Programmable Functionality: The programmable aspect allows operators to save and recall preferred spreading settings for various conditions or material types. This reduces setup time and ensures consistent application across different shifts or operators.
- LED Display: The clear LED display provides essential operational data, allowing for easy monitoring and adjustment of settings in real-time.
While equally robust and efficient for their intended purpose, these models do not support the GPS option. They are ideal for operations that prefer manual control, have simpler application requirements, or are working within specific budget constraints where the advanced GPS and pre-wetting features are not deemed essential. Like their EPG counterparts, they are available in models to suit varying GPM needs, ensuring flexibility in system design.
Detailed Technical Specifications Analysis
A closer examination of the provided specifications reveals the robust engineering and comprehensive capabilities of this Electric/Hydraulic Spreader Control system:
- Auger/Chain Flow Rate Max (GPM): 15 GPM (57.5 LPM) - This specification indicates the maximum hydraulic flow dedicated to powering the auger or conveyor chain mechanism. A flow rate of 15 GPM is substantial, allowing for rapid and consistent material delivery, capable of handling dense materials and high application rates across a wide range of spreader capacities. The metric equivalent, 57.5 LPM, provides clarity for international applications.
- Auger/Chain Port: 5/8 SAE ORB (-10) - The use of SAE ORB (O-Ring Boss) fittings is a hallmark of high-quality hydraulic systems. This type of fitting provides superior leak resistance compared to pipe threads, ensuring a robust and reliable connection in demanding mobile environments. The -10 size refers to the fitting's nominal internal diameter, indicating a sufficient conduit for the specified flow rates to the auger/chain motor.
- Flow (GPM): 22 GPM (85 LPM) - This is the system's overall maximum hydraulic flow capacity. A 22 GPM system is considered a high-flow setup for spreader controls, capable of powering not only the auger/chain and spinner simultaneously but potentially also auxiliary functions or larger, more powerful hydraulic motors. This ensures versatility and ample power reserves for demanding applications.
- Functions Supported: Spinner / Auger - Confirms the primary operational capabilities, facilitating comprehensive control over material discharge and spread pattern. The EPG models expand this to include pre-wet functionality.
- GPS Capable? Yes / GPS Included? Yes - For the specific product in focus (Electric/Hydraulic Spreader Control With GPS 22 GPM), this confirms that the system is fully equipped with GPS functionality out of the box, offering immediate access to speed-proportional spreading benefits.
- Included Control Type: Manual / Auto - This highlights the system's operational flexibility. Operators can choose between manual adjustments for specific situations or engage the automatic (GPS-driven) mode for consistent, speed-proportional spreading, catering to diverse preferences and requirements.
- Inlet Port: 5/8 SAE ORB (-10) - This is the primary hydraulic input port where pressurized fluid enters the valve block from the hydraulic pump. The -10 size is consistent with the system's overall flow capacity.
- Load Sensing Port: - - The dash indicates that this system is not designed for load-sensing hydraulic pumps. This is common for fixed displacement pump systems, where the pump continuously delivers fluid at a constant rate, and the control valve manages flow distribution and pressure relief.
- Spinner Port: 5/8 SAE ORB (-10) - Similar to the auger/chain port, this indicates the robust connection for the hydraulic motor driving the spinner. The consistent fitting size simplifies plumbing and maintenance.
- Tank Port: 5/8 SAE ORB (-10) - This is the return port for hydraulic fluid to flow back to the reservoir (tank) after performing work. The sizing ensures efficient return flow, preventing back pressure build-up.
- Type: Fixed Displacement - This specification is crucial. It signifies that the control valve is designed to operate with a fixed displacement hydraulic pump, which delivers a constant volume of fluid per revolution. While load-sensing systems can offer greater energy efficiency by only producing pressure and flow on demand, fixed displacement systems are known for their simplicity, robustness, and cost-effectiveness, making them well-suited for many mobile equipment applications like spreaders where consistent power is often preferred. The system’s proportional valves manage the distribution and pressure to the actuators.
- What's Included: Valve And Control - This indicates a complete, integrated package comprising both the hydraulic valve manifold and the electronic control unit, simplifying procurement and installation for end-users.
Benefits and Applications in Real-World Scenarios
The Electric/Hydraulic Spreader Control with GPS offers a compelling array of benefits that directly impact operational efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness across various professional applications:
- Winter Road Maintenance: Municipalities and private contractors responsible for snow and ice removal will find this system indispensable. The precision spreading, especially with GPS, ensures optimal use of de-icing agents, reducing costs and environmental impact, while enhancing road safety.
- Agricultural Applications: For spreading fertilizers, seeds, or other granular materials, the precise, speed-proportional control ensures uniform application across fields, optimizing crop yield and minimizing waste.
- Groundskeeping and Landscaping: Applying aggregates, topsoil amendments, or specialized chemicals can be done with unmatched accuracy, preventing over-application in sensitive areas and ensuring even coverage.
- Environmental Compliance: With increasing scrutiny on the use of spreading materials, the ability to precisely control application rates and potentially log usage data (via GPS) helps organizations meet regulatory requirements and demonstrate responsible material management.
- Reduced Operator Strain: Automated adjustments via GPS reduce the cognitive load on operators, allowing them to focus more on safe driving and less on constantly monitoring and adjusting spread settings, leading to greater comfort and productivity during long shifts.
- Enhanced Durability and Longevity: The robust construction, including the weather-protective enclosure and corrosion-free wiring harness, ensures maximum uptime and a long operational lifespan, even in the most challenging conditions. This translates to lower total cost of ownership over the life of the equipment.
This system stands as a testament to intelligent design, offering a comprehensive solution that marries powerful hydraulic performance with precise electronic and GPS-enabled control. It is an investment in efficiency, sustainability, and operational excellence for any organization engaged in material spreading.
Conclusion
The Electric/Hydraulic Spreader Control with GPS, featuring a robust 22 GPM capacity, represents a pinnacle in spreader technology. By ingeniously combining the strengths of electrical command with hydraulic power, and integrating advanced GPS functionality, it delivers an unparalleled level of precision, material optimization, and operational efficiency. From its clutter-free cab experience and proportional control for consistent material distribution to the cost-saving, speed-proportional adjustments afforded by GPS, this system is engineered for the modern demands of professional material spreading. The choice between 3-function GPS-enabled controllers and 2-function programmable models ensures flexibility for diverse operational needs, all while maintaining the hallmark durability and reliability expected from Buyers Products. This comprehensive solution provides not just a control system, but a strategic asset for achieving superior results, reducing environmental impact, and maximizing the return on investment in material spreading operations.
