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Troubleshooting - Common problems with a Prattley autodrafter and 5000 indicator

Common problems encountered using a Prattley autodrafter and a Tru-Test 5000 indicator.

Updated over 2 weeks ago

This article applies to Prattley series 600 autodrafters:

  • 3-Way Swing Gate AutoDrafter

  • 5-Way Swing Gate AutoDrafter

  • 2-Way Electric AutoDrafter

  • 3-Way Slide Gate AutoDrafter

  • 3-Way Electric AutoDrafter

These autodrafters include a PAD6 control box and a 5000 indicator (JR5000, ID5000 or XR5000).

💡 Live Chat, email and phone support is available, see Having trouble?.

Are your sheep not drafting?

First thing to check are that the POWER, SCALES and AUTO SETUP lights are lit on the PAD6 control box.

Is Status light POWER lit?


If not, check if the POWER light is flickering or off, it means there is an insufficient power supply. You will need to check battery and cable connection as it will cause issues with gate functioning.

  • Check Battery Clips, wires and solenoid loom.

  • Check mains supply to regulated DC.

  • Check battery voltage.

  • Check Inline fuse.

Is Status light SCALES lit?

If completely off then there is a connection issue between the autodrafter and the 5000 indicator. If flickering then it maybe okay as it is waiting for draft data from the 5000 indicator.

  1. Double tap AUTO SETUP to take KEYLOCK off.

  2. Tap and hold until lights start cycling.

Is the Bluetooth symbol showing on 5000 indicator (indicating Bluetooth connection established)?

If not then look to establish a Bluetooth connection.

Re-pair Bluetooth connection

📝 For details of connection procedures refer to Step 1 - Connecting the Tru-Test 5000 indicator to the PAD6 control box via Bluetooth.

Is the AUTO SETUP light off (but MANUAL is on)?

If there are no lights next to AUTO SETUP check the MANUAL button. If there is a light on next to MANUAL the user will only be able to manually open and shut gates.

  1. Double tap AUTO SETUP to take KEYLOCK off.

  2. Then click AUTO SETUP to change the mode to automatic.

  3. Then tap the AUTO / 4 button on the remote.

Are the gates not operating correctly?

  1. Check the air supply into the Air box.

  2. Ensure its set to 4.5 to 5.0 bar (65 - 72 psi).

  3. Make sure the air hose is not kinked.

Are your sheep drafting the wrong way?

Are the front gates locked or too loose?

On the Prattley autodrafters there has been a batch where the bolts on the bottom holding the gate motors come loose. The motor will shift and the gates get out of sync. Symptoms include gates locking up and/or coming too loose.

In this situation:

  • Turn off power.

  • Put autodrafter on its end (entrance gate).

  • Check alignment of motors.

  • Use small amount of Loctite and then tighten up the bolts.

Gates should move freely and line up with a small gap in the front.

When do I clean and maintain the autodrafter?

  • Regularly wipe dust and grit off all gate rails.

  • Use silicone spray to keep the gate rails smooth (so the gates open freely).

  • Don't spray silicone spray on the actual Air ram.

Problems operating with EID readers?

  • Always use separate power sources for both the drafter and EID reader.

  • Make sure batteries have a good charge on EID reader and 5000 is plugged into a 12 V battery, otherwise the read on the panel will drop away.

Is the gate opening when an animal presses against it?

The gate motor (electric model) which controls the opening of the gate is not adjusted correctly; make sure it is securely fastened in the correct positioning to ensure proper gate closure (use a screwdriver to move/tighten screws).

Are you connecting to a third party indicator?

If the LEDs stop blinking and a 5000 indicator is not found the PAD6 control unit will be in Bluetooth slave mode and able to accept a connection from a Gallagher TSi or a computer.

Radio Remote issues

Is the Radio Remote not connecting properly?

When you press any Radio Remote button the remote light on the PAD6 control unit should flash. If this is not happening:

  1. Check the pairing procedure.

  2. Checking the battery.

Pairing procedure

  1. Disconnect power to PAD6 control box, then power it back up.

  2. Double click on AUTO SETUP button so that the KEYLOCK light comes off.

  3. Hold down the two side buttons until the gates start working again.

If this doesn't work then try:

  • Powering off both the 5000 indicator and PAD6 control unit

  • Turn the 5000 indicator on

  • Turn the PAD6 control unit on

  • Perform steps 2 and 3 from above

Checking the battery

Make sure the battery light flashes when a button on the remote is pressed. If not, the battery needs replacing or the battery (AA battery) has disconnected from terminals.

If all else fails then plug in cabled remote and send away for further inspection.

Do you need to change the battery on a Radio Remote?

To change the battery:

  1. Unscrew the Radio Remote.

  2. Take out the battery and replace it with a double AA battery.

  3. Re-screw up the Radio Remote.

Having trouble?

If you need help, click on the Live Chat bubble in the bottom right-hand corner of this screen or email sf-support@datamars.com or ring our Support Team.

Support team

Phone support is available by ringing our Support Team in your region:

  • 0800 243 282 (New Zealand)

  • 1800 248 774 (Australia)

  • +353 212 428 844 (Ireland & Europe)

  • +1-888-431-0957 (North America)

  • +44 2045717717 (United Kingdom)

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