Understanding the Sentry Pac Pro™: Why No Cables in the Bin?

About a year and a half ago, we acquired TGM and Sentry Pac and rebranded it as Sentry Pac Pro™. This change reflects our commitment to providing proven proactive protection for your grain storage needs. Today, I want to dive into a question I often get asked: Why don’t we have cables in the bin?

It's a common curiosity. People want to know how we manage to operate effectively without cables in the bin. The truth is, we’ve been doing it this way for over forty years, and it’s not a new concept. There are thousands of these units still operating across the country, some of which have been running for over thirty years. I personally have one that we purchased in 1991, and it continues to work without any issues. No sensors in the bin, just reliable performance year after year.

The Problem with Cables

Cables in the bin can provide some information about what's happening inside, but they also have limitations. For instance, when those cables alert you that your grain is hot or that there’s carbon dioxide buildup, it’s usually too late. When grain gets hot, it starts to rot, which invites pests and can lead to rapid deterioration of your stored grain.

Many systems respond to these problems by over-aerating, which can dry out the grain unnecessarily. This reactive approach is not how we operate. Instead, Sentry Pac Pro™ focuses on proactive protection. You won’t need cables in the bin if you can maintain the grain in optimal condition from the start.

Maintaining Optimal Condition

The key to preventing issues is ensuring adequate airflow through your bin. By leveling your grain and ensuring even airflow, the Sentry Pac Pro™ can do its job effectively. I have firsthand experience with this. I once stored popcorn for five years after a market crash, and we delivered it just a couple of points off the desired moisture content. All we did was run the Sentry Pac—no cables, no hassle.

Using cables means dealing with tangles, magnets, and all sorts of complications. We removed them from our operations forty years ago after a mishap with a temperature cable. Since then, we’ve embraced a more streamlined approach. Everything is outcome-based with the Sentry Pac Pro™. You simply program it for what you want to deliver, whether that’s corn at 15% moisture or soybeans at 13%. Set it, push auto, and let it run.

Automated Functionality

One of the standout features of the Sentry Pac Pro™ is its ability to manage rewetting. If you need to increase the moisture content of your soybeans, the system can automatically adjust based on natural conditions. It samples air temperature and humidity every fifteen minutes to make informed decisions without needing a team of experts or constant phone calls to monitor conditions.

Our EMC calculations involve a lot of complex math, which the system handles for you. Unlike other systems that require outside input, the Sentry Pac Pro™ operates independently, ensuring optimal performance without outdated data from cables inside the bin.

Moving Grain and Preventing Loss

When you encounter a hot spot in your grain, the best course of action is to move the grain. Over-drying by excessive aeration can lead to financial loss. It’s crucial to avoid losing money twice: once from the hot spot and again from over-drying. With Sentry Pac Pro™, you won’t have those hot spots to worry about.

We can maintain an even temperature throughout the bin, which is especially important if you’re holding grain for extended periods. The longer you store grain, the better the prices tend to be. Last year, we saw swings of thirty to forty cents, which can make a significant difference in profits.

Benefits of Sentry Pac Pro™

If you’re storing popcorn, having a Sentry Pac Pro™ is essential. It ensures you can deliver your product at the desired moisture content to receive that premium price. A good reputation for storing quality grain translates into more business opportunities. Additionally, we’ve calculated the savings from rewetting soybeans. For example, rewetting forty thousand bushels from 9% to 13% moisture can cost around $1,500 (energy consumption, fan run times), but over five years, it can make you more than $70,000.

That’s a significant return on investment!

Another advantage of Sentry Pac Pro™ is that you can manage multiple bins with a single unit, when CFMs (cubic feet per minute) are similar. This means you don’t need to overspend on multiple Sentry Pac Pro™ units. You can run different programs for different commodities, maximizing efficiency without compromising on management quality.

Conclusion: Why No Cables?

So, why don’t we have cables in the bin? Because we’ve been managing grain successfully without them for decades. Our advanced calculations and proactive systems ensure that your grain stays in optimal condition with less hassle. If you’re looking to enhance your grain management, the Sentry Pac Pro™ is the only solution you need.

Thanks for taking the time to learn about our approach to grain management. If you have any questions or want to know more about the Sentry Pac Pro™, feel free to reach out! 308.352.8624 info@sentrypacpro.com.