Learning Center

Check what's in your kit

Lay out the Full Automation Kit or Guidance Only Kit and identify every part before you start the install, so nothing is missing halfway through.

  • Full Automation Kit
  • Guidance Only Kit

Before you bolt anything on, open the box and match every part to this page. Then you know nothing is missing before you are halfway through the install.

The Ditch Assist® Full Automation Kit and the Guidance Only Kit share the same Control Module, harnesses and mounts. The Full Automation Kit adds a valve, its hoses and the Valve Bypass Kit, so the app can raise and lower the implement for you.

Before you start

  • The kit box and the packing slip that came with it
  • A clean bench or tailgate to lay the parts out on
  • Know which kit you bought. If the box has a valve and hoses in it, it is a Full Automation Kit.

Time: about 10 minutes.

How the parts work together

Full Automation Kit: how the parts connect A tractor pulling a scraper with the Full Automation Kit, with numbered markers. 1: an RTK base on a tripod sends corrections to 2: the GPS receiver on a mast on the scraper, which rises and falls with the cutting edge. The receiver is cabled through the GPS breakout harness to 3: the Ditch Assist control module on the scraper tongue. The module talks to 4: the tablet in the cab over its own Wi-Fi, and drives 5: the proportional valve on the tongue, which raises and lowers 6: the lift cylinder. 7: four hoses run to the tractor remotes, one pair on constant flow for the valve and one bypass pair so the lever can still work the implement. 8: the power harness runs straight from the tractor battery, through its fuses, to the module. 12345678Wi-Fi
Full Automation Kit. The GPS receiver on the implement tells the Control Module where the cutting edge is. The module talks to the tablet over its own Wi-Fi and drives the valve, which raises and lowers the implement.
  1. RTK base. Sends corrections to the receiver for an RTK fix.
  2. GPS receiver. On a mast on the scraper, so it rises and falls with the cutting edge. Its cable runs to the Control Module.
  3. Control Module. On the tongue. Reads the receiver, runs its own Wi-Fi and drives the valve.
  4. Tablet. In the cab, on the module's Wi-Fi. The app works out the target and shows the guidance.
  5. Valve. On the tongue. Raises and lowers the implement when the module tells it to.
  6. Lift cylinder. Moves the cutting edge up and down.
  7. Tractor remotes. Four hoses. One pair feeds the valve on constant flow. The bypass pair lets the tractor lever still move the implement.
  8. Battery and power harness. Straight from the tractor battery, through the harness fuses, to the module.
Guidance Only Kit: how the parts connect A tractor pulling a scraper with the Guidance Only Kit, with numbered markers. 1: an RTK base sends corrections to 2: the GPS receiver on a mast on the scraper. The receiver is cabled through the GPS breakout harness to 3: the Ditch Assist control module, which sends the position to 4: the tablet in the cab over its own Wi-Fi. The tablet shows which way to move the implement, and 5: the tractor remote is hosed straight to the lift cylinder, so the operator works the lever. 6: a dashed outline labelled Valve later shows where a proportional valve goes if one is added. 7: the power harness runs from the tractor battery, through its fuses, to the module. 1234567Wi-Fi
Guidance Only Kit. The same receiver, Control Module and tablet, with no valve. The tablet shows which way the blade needs to go and you move it with the tractor's own lever. A valve can be added later.
  1. RTK base. Sends corrections to the receiver for an RTK fix.
  2. GPS receiver. On a mast on the scraper, so it rises and falls with the cutting edge.
  3. Control Module. Reads the receiver and sends the position to the tablet over its own Wi-Fi.
  4. Tablet. Shows which way to move the implement.
  5. Tractor remote. Hosed straight to the lift cylinder. You move the implement with the lever.
  6. Valve later. The dashed box is where a valve goes if you add one.
  7. Battery and power harness. Straight from the tractor battery, through the harness fuses, to the module.

Find each part

  1. Find the Control Module

    It is a black sealed box with DITCH ASSIST on its face. It has two mounting ears on each side and four ports along one end.

    The Control Module connects everything. It powers the GPS receiver, reads its position, runs the Wi-Fi link to the tablet and, on a Full Automation Kit, drives the valve.

    Photo of the black Ditch Assist Control Module: a white Ditch Assist logo on a black plate, two mounting ears on each side and four ports along the bottom edge
    The real Control Module, ports along the bottom edge.
    The Control Module and its ports Front view of the Ditch Assist Control Module: a black sealed box with the Ditch Assist name on its face, two mounting ears on each side and four ports in two pairs along its bottom edge. The ports are A, B, C and D. Mount the module with this edge facing down. Below: the two large plugs on the main harness go into ports A and C; the two Deutsch plugs from the kit seal ports B and D. DITCH ASSIST Mounting ears (4) for a bracket Ports A, B, C, D Mount it with the ports facing down Harness plugs (2) On the main harness. Into ports A and C. Deutsch plugs (2) In the kit. Seal ports B and D.
    The same module drawn with its parts named. The two large plugs on the main harness go into ports A and C. The two Deutsch plugs from the kit seal ports B and D. Each plug only fits its own port.
    • Sealed case (IP67). Works from −40 °C to +85 °C.
    • Runs on 12 V and 24 V machines (9–32 V).
    • Reads the receiver over an RS232 serial cable and has its own Wi-Fi.

  2. Find the main harness

    It is one cable with four ends. Lay it out flat so you can see all four.

    The main harness and its plugs The main harness is one cable with four ends. At the top, two large plugs on short tails go into ports A and C of the Control Module. A 12 ft leg on the left ends in the connector the power harness plugs into. A 6 ft leg on the right splits into two small plugs that push onto the two valve solenoids on a Full Automation Kit. The leg at the bottom ends in the GPS connector, where the GPS breakout harness for your receiver plugs in. 2 large plugs into Control Module ports A and C Power leg, 12 ft The power harness plugs in here Valve leg, 6 ft 2 small plugs onto the valve solenoids (Full Automation) GPS connector the GPS breakout harness plugs in
    The main harness. Two large plugs go into the Control Module. One leg takes the power harness, one goes to the valve, and one takes the GPS breakout harness.

    Where each end goes is on Connect all cables.

  3. Find the power harness

    It has two round ring terminals at one end; they go on the tractor battery. Along the way are its fuses and an on/off switch, and there is a plug at the other end.

    The power harness, battery end to plug The power harness runs from the tractor battery to the main harness. Its two ring terminals go straight onto the battery's positive and negative terminals. Along the harness are its fuses, which must be pushed fully in, and its on/off switch, which is also an emergency stop. It ends in a Deutsch plug that locks into the main harness. Ring terminals + − Battery only Fuses push each fully in On/off switch an emergency stop Deutsch plug into the main harness
    The power harness, drawn on the tractor battery where it ends up. The battery is the tractor's own, not part of the kit. It connects to the battery only: never to a trailer socket, an auxiliary block or a cab power strip.

    The power harness unplugs from the main harness. You can leave it on the tractor for good, or fit an extra power harness on each tractor you run.

  4. Find the GPS breakout harness

    It is a long cable, 258 in. (21½ ft), with a different plug at each end. One end is made for your brand of receiver. It powers the receiver and carries its position to the main harness.

    The GPS breakout harness The GPS breakout harness is a 258 inch (21 and a half foot) cable. One end plugs into the GPS connector on the main harness. The other end is made for your brand of receiver and plugs into it. The cable carries power out to the receiver and the receiver's position messages back to the Control Module. For receivers without their own Ditch Assist harness there is a DB9 cable, which plugs into the DB9 port on the receiver maker's own harness. Main harness end into the GPS connector 258 in. (21½ ft) carries power out and GPS messages back Receiver end made for your brand of receiver Other receivers a DB9 cable, into the DB9 port on the maker's harness
    The GPS breakout harness. Harnesses exist for most farm receivers, including Emlid. For other receivers there is a DB9 cable: it plugs into the DB9 port on the receiver maker's own harness, the port that harness has for sending GPS messages to other equipment.

  5. Full Automation Kit: find the valve

    It is a heavy metal block with a black coil (a solenoid) sticking out at each end and red plastic caps in its ports. Leave the red caps in until you fit each hose, so no dirt gets in.

    Photo of a Ditch Assist proportional valve: a steel block with red plastic caps in its ports and a black solenoid coil at each end
    A valve as it comes in the box, with its red caps in.
    The proportional valve The proportional valve as it comes in the kit: a metal valve block made of three sections, with a solenoid coil sticking out at each end of the middle section and red plastic caps in its ports. 1: the solenoids, where the two small harness plugs push on. 2: the ports stamped P and T, for the two hoses to the tractor. 3: the two ports in the middle section, for the implement's hoses. Leave the red caps in until you fit each hose. T P 11 22 3

    The same valve drawn with its parts numbered:

    1. Solenoids. One at each end. The two small plugs on the main harness push on here.
    2. P and T. The two hoses to the tractor go here: P is pressure in, T is the return.
    3. The implement ports. For the implement's raise and lower hoses.

    Your valve may look different: the model depends on your region and equipment. The two common ones, Bucher and Rexroth, are drawn on Fit the hoses and mount the valve.

    • The standard valve is for closed-centre hydraulics and suits most equipment.
    • There is also a valve that can be set for open or closed centre, and a higher-flow valve for very large implements. Ask Ditch Assist support if you think you need one.

  6. Full Automation Kit: find the Valve Bypass Kit

    It is two hydraulic hoses, two quick couplers and two elbow fittings.

    The Valve Bypass Kit The Valve Bypass Kit: two black hydraulic hoses with a fitting on each end, two quick couplers and two elbow fittings. Bypass hoses (2) Quick couplers (2) Elbow fittings (2)
    The Valve Bypass Kit.

    The bypass hoses go to a second pair of tractor remotes. With them you can move the implement by hand with the tractor lever, without unplugging the valve and without the app's Raise and Lower buttons.

  7. Find the mounts and plugs

    Look for four smaller parts.

    Mounts and plugs in the kit Four smaller parts to find in the box: the magnetic mounts that hold the Control Module by its mounting ears; the RAM mount for the tablet; the steel valve bracket, a length of angle iron drilled for the valve (Full Automation Kit); and two Deutsch plugs that seal the two spare ports on the Control Module. Magnetic mounts for the module RAM mount Valve bracket Full Automation Deutsch plugs (2) seal ports B and D
    The magnetic mounts hold the Control Module by its mounting ears. The RAM mount holds a 10-inch tablet in the cab. The valve bracket is a length of steel angle iron, already drilled to match the valve's mounting holes (Full Automation Kit only). The two Deutsch plugs seal the two spare ports on the Control Module, B and D.

    Keep the two Deutsch plugs somewhere safe. They are small, and the module needs them.

  8. Check you have a GPS receiver and a tablet

    GPS receiver: your own compatible receiver, or one bundled with the kit. It goes on the implement and sends its position to the Control Module. See What your receiver must send.

    Tablet: the Android tablet and its 12 V cab charger are not in the standard kit. The recommended tablet is the Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ (11-inch), which can be bundled with your kit. Use a 10-inch or larger tablet: on phones and small tablets the app can lay out badly, crash or miss features. See Get the tablet ready.

Common mistakes

  • Expecting the tablet in the box. It is bought separately, or bundled on request.
  • Plumbing in a valve from another supplier. Use only the Ditch Assist valve.
  • Throwing out the two Deutsch plugs. They seal ports B and D, and the module needs them.
  • Pulling the red caps out of the valve early, which lets dirt into the ports.

Next: Connect the power harness to the battery.

Related

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