Bringing critical farm water infrastructure online with real-time monitoring and instant fault notifications.
For Tasmanian dairy farmer Josh Cables, reliable access to bore water is critical to keeping the farm productive. The bore supplies a centre pivot irrigating approximately 20 hectares of pasture during summer and, with the upgraded system, can also support other farm water requirements throughout the year.
After more than 25 years, the bore’s ageing control system was no longer keeping pace with the needs of the farm. A previous motor failure had also exposed a much bigger issue: with the pump operating around 40 metres below ground, Josh had little visibility of what was happening until something went wrong.
MATelec Australia upgraded the installation with a HydroWHIZ VSD Control Panel, incorporating bore level monitoring, automated centre pivot control, and multiple layers of pump protection. Connected to the Propitect® IoT platform, the new system gives Josh remote visibility of the bore, direct fault notifications, and supported remote control, helping him respond sooner and protect an important farm asset.
The existing bore control panel offered only basic manual operation and a run-on timer, with limited visibility of conditions 40 metres below ground. Around 18 months before the upgrade, a water supply issue went undetected, resulting in the bore motor continuing to operate under adverse conditions until it ultimately failed. The incident highlighted the need for greater visibility of bore conditions and earlier warning when attention was required.
Unable to repair it immediately, the farm went without irrigation across approximately 20 hectares for around four months, during one of the driest summers the area had experienced in 20 years.
The experience highlighted the need for greater visibility, earlier fault warning, and better protection for a costly, business-critical asset.
“That’s the trouble with a bore. You don’t know what’s happening 40 metres below ground, in our case. We’d spent a lot of money on this pump, and we didn’t have a failsafe.”
MATelec Australia replaced the ageing star-delta setup with a HydroWHIZ VSD Control Panel, giving Josh greater control, efficiency, and protection over the bore pump.
The VSD allows pump speed to be adjusted as water demand changes, while integration with the centre pivot enables the pump to start automatically when irrigation is required. A level transducer monitors bore water levels and can disable the pump if conditions fall outside set parameters, while the VSD monitors motor current and frequency for additional protection.
Connected to Propitect®, the system can now be monitored and controlled remotely, with direct email and SMS fault notifications providing earlier warning of potential issues. Josh can also access supported remote controls and adjust selected operating parameters when required.
The result is greater visibility, more automated control, and multiple layers of protection around a critical farm asset.
“For us, it’s about reliability and knowing what’s happening. Having that visibility gives us much more confidence in a system we rely on.”
Our Engineered Solutions service transforms complex requirements into custom-built control and automation systems. From initial consultation and design through engineering, manufacturing, testing, and commissioning, we follow a proven end-to-end process to deliver solutions tailored to your exact needs.
