Wallaces Farmer

T-L’s Precision Point Touch pro version adds such functions as monitoring analog water pressure and start-on water pressure.

Tyler Harris, Editor

October 1, 2021

2 Min Read
Precision Point Touch control panel.
PRO VERSION: T-L Irrigation recently unveiled the professional version of its Precision Point Touch control panel. The pro version adds some new features, like the ability to monitor analog water pressure, wet versus dry operation, and start-on water pressure. Photos by Tyler Harris

Back in 2018, T-L Irrigation launched its Precision Point Touch control panel, giving irrigators a new touch-screen option for their center pivots. Now, the company, known for its hydraulically driven center pivots, is launching its professional version of the Precision Point Touch, which Neal Schlautman, T-L engineering manager, says adds some new functions and features.

"It adds some capabilities like monitoring analog water pressure — so you get a direct readout of water pressure on the panel," Schlautman explains. "It adds safety inputs as well. It adds some relay outputs, so you get full control of your irrigation system. It adds wet versus dry operation, and start-on water pressure — you can program in the exact numerical pressure you want to start at. You could tell it to start at 19 psi. When you tell it to start, it starts the pump first, and the pressure sensor senses when it reaches 19 psi, and it starts the pivot. You also get load-control option built in.

"All of that is without having to spend additional money on separate pressure switches and load control devices, or time delays," Schlautman adds. Also included is USB datalogging, which can be set to log several different parameters of the system operation.

Simplified auto-reverse

Automatic reverse mechanisms allow center pivots to automatically stop or reverse once they reach a barricade. However, this function is typically electronic. Recently, T-L introduced an auto-reverse function mechanism with basic controls for hydraulic-drive center pivots.

 gooseneck cradle option at the point of attachment
GOOSENECK OPTION: T-L has introduced a new gooseneck cradle option at the point of attachment, which helps lower the center of gravity of the pivot span. This adds stability to the pivot when traversing difficult terrain, and when dealing with heavy winds.

"With a standard auto-reverse system, we have a slide tube that's right at the valve at the bottom of the tower," explains John Thom, T-L vice president. "With an upper-arm style, this puts the arm and all the components halfway up the tower. So, if a grower has livestock, the livestock can't cause physical damage to the auto-reverse mechanism."

Corner system attachment option

Corner systems have been used on center pivots since the 1970s, and there are a number of different ways to attach them to the end tower of the pivot. T-L recently launched a new gooseneck cradle option at the point of attachment, which helps lower the center of gravity of the corner span.

"That adds stability for challenging terrain — and also wind conditions. It's able to withstand more wind without flipping the span over," Schlautman explains.

"Right now it's an option, but we're selling quite a few of them. It's been well-received," he adds.

About the Author(s)

Tyler Harris

Editor, Wallaces Farmer

Tyler Harris is the editor for Wallaces Farmer. He started at Farm Progress as a field editor, covering Missouri, Kansas and Iowa. Before joining Farm Progress, Tyler got his feet wet covering agriculture and rural issues while attending the University of Iowa, taking any chance he could to get outside the city limits and get on to the farm. This included working for Kalona News, south of Iowa City in the town of Kalona, followed by an internship at Wallaces Farmer in Des Moines after graduation.

Coming from a farm family in southwest Iowa, Tyler is largely interested in how issues impact people at the producer level. True to the reason he started reporting, he loves getting out of town and meeting with producers on the farm, which also gives him a firsthand look at how agriculture and urban interact.

Subscribe to receive top agriculture news
Be informed daily with these free e-newsletters

You May Also Like