Configure a Topcon Digi-Star Scale

Use these instructions to set up and connect a Topcon Digi-Star scale to the FeedComp App. Before you begin, make sure the scale is properly connected to a mixer so it can collect the data that will be sent to FeedComp.

IMPORTANT: Before you proceed with the recommended configurations below, take a look at your Topcon Digi-Star user manual. It contains excellent visual illustrations for working with the scale, connecting cables, and navigating the menu and digital display. Most importantly, it contains instructions for working safely with the electrical equipment:

After reviewing the manual, follow the sections below to verify your scale and setup, configure the required scale settings, connect the scale to the FeedComp App, and calibrate the scale (if needed):

Supported Scales

  • Topcon Digi-Star scale indicator (EZ2810 and EZ3410). Make sure the scale is Bluetooth-compatible (marked by a on the lower left corner of the scale).
  • If you use Trioliet Shifttronic products with your scale, contact FeedComp Support at fwsupport@vas.com or 888-225-6753 to ensure that you apply the correct settings for your configuration.

New to Working with Scales?

NOTE: If the scale is already installed on the mixerClosed A piece of farm equipment that mixes all the loaded ingredients for a feed recipe. Mobile mixers are most common, but stationary mixers also exist., skip ahead to Configure Scale Settings. If the scale needs to be replaced, use the instructions in the Topcon Digi-Star manuals to mount the new scale, reconnect the wiring, and proceed to Configure Scale Settings.

If a scale is not already mounted and connected to your mixer, complete the hardware installation instructions in the operators manual. If you're installing a scale for the first time, it helps to understand how the mixer and scale components connect:

  1. The mixer has load cells that measure how much weight is on a mixer.
  2. The mixer's junction box houses all the wiring for the load cells. Topcon Digi-Star's manual shows how to connect the wires in the junction box:

  3. The load cell cable connects the mixer's junction box to the scale. Topcon Digi-Star's manual shows how to connect the load cell cable from the junction box to the scale:

After installation is complete, return to this page and follow the steps in Configure Scale Settings.

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Configure Scale Settings

Use the steps below to review or configure the settings on your scale to match the Required Scale Settings. Correct scale settings are critical for reliable communication between the FeedComp App and your scale. If the required settings are not configured correctly, the scale and app can fall out of sync, especially during pause and resume actions. This can cause the scale to remain in HOLD, prevent weights from updating correctly, or result in missed weight during feeding.

NOTE: If you have a scale indicator with a number pad, you can manually enter each Direct Access Number (D.A.N.) for each parameter in Required Scale Settings, then review or configure each setting.
  1. Power on the Topcon Digi-Star scale.
  2. Press Select repeatedly until the Menu is displayed.
  3. Press and hold Function until you see the menu choices.
  4. Repeatedly press Select to select Menu 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5.
  5. Press Enter to view setting names. Pay close attention: the setting name only displays once.
  6. Check whether the setting is configured to the value listed in Required Scale Settings:
    1. Press Net/Gross or Select to change an incorrect value.
    2. Press Enter to save the correct value and move onto the next setting.
  7. Repeat the steps to review or configure each setting in each menu until you see Exit.
  8. Press On.
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Required Scale Settings

Confirm that the scale settings match the settings listed below.

Menu 1

Parameter Name Direct Access Number (DAN #) Parameter Value
Scale IDClosed Identifier Setup (SCALID) 1003 TMR-01
Display Unit (LB-KG) 1008 LB or KG
Remote Input (RMINP) 1401 Do not set to HOLD.
Remote Input 2 (RMINP2) 1411 PRINT. Do not set to HOLD.

Menu 2

Parameter Name Direct Access Number (DAN #) Parameter Value
Remote (REMOTE) 2001 ON
Scoreboard ModeClosed The value that appears most often in a set of data. (SCOREM) 2101 12
Front Panel Zerout (ZEROFP) 2103 OFF
Scoreboard Mode 2 (SCRM2) 2104 0 (Trioliet 11)
Operation Status (OPSTAT) 2111 0
Tare Auto Print (TAREAP) 2301 ON
One Line Print (ILPRT) 2302 ON
Print Format (PRTFMT) 2304 PRTAC1
Remote Display (RMDISP) 2401 EZ3MUX
Remote Terminal (RMTERM) 2402 OFF
Auto Detect Remote Display (AUTODRD) 2403 ON
Bar Graph Mode (BARGRP) 2411 OFF
Weight Graph (WTGRPH) 2412 ON
Non-Digi-Star Display (NONDSP) 2417 OFF

Menu 3

Parameter Name Direct Access Number (DAN #) Parameter Value Note
Display Count (COUNT) 3001 Preferred Value (.01, .02, .05, .1, .2, .5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, or 100) Only set this value if you need to change how the scale increments are displayed. The scale also uses this value to round the preset amount. This setting cannot be changed in the app.
Motion (MOTION) 3101 0 (OFF) —

Menu 4

Parameter Name Direct Access Number (DAN #) Parameter Value Note
Pre-Alarm Method (P MTHD) 4001 WEIGHT —
Pre-Alarm (P-ALM) 4002 Preferred Value If you set this value, a warning is activated when the indicator approaches this value. For example, if you set the value to 50 (lbs/kgs), a warning alerts you when 50 (lbs/kgs) are set to be loaded or unloaded.
Preset Daily (PRTDLY) 4006 1 —
Preset Clear on Print (PRCLPT) 4009 ON —
Weight Toggle (WEITOG) 4012 OFF This setting hides the preset message display after 10% of the target weight has been loaded or unloaded.
Tolerance Method (T MTHD) 4201 WEIGHT If the scale tolerance is 0, the value can be either WEIGHT or PERCENT.
Tolerance (TOLER) 4202 0 —

Menu 5

Parameter Name Direct Access Number (DAN #) Parameter Value
Remote Display (RMDPPT) 5001 COM3
Radio Port (RADPRT) 5002 COM3
External Radio Port (EXRPRT) 5003 COM2
Printer Port (PRPORT) 5005 COM3
Scoreboard Port (SCPORT) 5006 COM3
Opstat Port (OPSTAT) 5007 COM1
DDL Port (DDLPRT) 5009 COM2
20MA Mirror Port (20MAMR) 5011 COM1
Scoreboard 2 Port (SCR2PRT) 5015 COM2 (Trioliet 1)
Bluetooth Port (BLPORT) 5016 COM3
Remote Display Port 2 (RMD2PT) 5018 COM3

Menu 6

Parameter Name Direct Access Number (DAN #) Parameter Value
Auto Print (AUTO PRINT) 6231 OFF
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Connect the Scale to the FeedComp App via Bluetooth

After you verify the scale settings, connect the scale to your mobile device via Bluetooth:

  1. On the scale, enter 90022 and press Select.
  2. If the display shows an error message, press the Zero button four times, then press ON. The keypad shows the current Bluetooth setting as ON or OFF.
  3. If Bluetooth is OFF, press the Function button to select ON, then Enter to save the setting.
  4. Open your mobile device's Bluetooth settings.
  5. Connect to the scale.
  6. After it is connected, shut down the app completely and make sure it is cleared from your list of background apps.
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Calibrate the Scale

If you are using a brand new mixer, calibrate the scale to ensure weight measurements are accurate and that ingredients are loaded correctly during feeding. To learn how to calibrate the scale, watch Topcon Digi-Star's video or follow the instructions below:

IMPORTANT:
  • Before calibration, ensure that the mixer is empty and parked on a level surface.
  • To perform the steps, a known weight needs to be used. Do not proceed with known weight calibration unless you have a known weight product that can be used during the calibration process (the more weight, the better).

Calculations Used in Calibration

Calibrate the Scale

  1. Set the Topcon Digi-Star scale to zero.
  2. Put the Known Weight product into the mixer.
    1. Example: 5,280 lbs
  3. Record the Scale Weight shown on the scale indicator.
    1. Example: 2,200 lbs
  4. Calculate the Weight Factor by dividing the Known Weight by the Scale Weight. Record this number.
    1. Example: 5,280 / 2,200 = 2.4
  5. Press Select until you see Setup, then press Function until you see SETUP.
  6. The scale displays the Setup Number. Do NOT change anything, just press the ON button once.
  7. The scale displays the Current Calibration Number. Record this number.
    1. Example: 16,000
  8. Calculate the New Calibration Number by multiplying the Weight Factor (per Step 4) by the Current Calibration Number (per Step 7).
    1. Example: 2.4 x 16,000 = 38,400
  9. Type in the New Calibration Number, then press ON to save your changes.
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Check the Scale Setup Number

  1. Power on the Topcon Digi-Star's indicator.
  2. Press the Select button until the screen displays SETUP.
  3. Quickly press and hold the Function button until the scale's 6-digit Setup Number is displayed.
  4. If you need to change the Setup Number, enter the new number using the keypad, then press ON to save your changes.

    5. The screen then displays "CAL" followed by the scale's 5-digit Calibration Number.

  5. Press ON to return to the gross weight.
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Troubleshoot Scale Issues

For a list of scale issues and solutions, see Topcon Digi-Star's video:

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