The Hydro-Control VI is a stand-alone moisture control system by Hydronix for concrete batching plants. It reads microwave moisture sensors (Hydro-Mix or Hydro-Probe Orbiter) in real time via RS485 and controls water addition valves during the mixing cycle — ensuring every batch hits the target moisture content regardless of variations in aggregate wetness. The 8.4-inch colour touchscreen shows live moisture trends, mix cycle status, and I/O states in a multi-language interface.

How do the AUTO and CALC modes work?

In AUTO mode, the controller progressively adds water while the sensor continuously measures moisture in the mixer — stopping at the exact target regardless of batch weight. This handles day-to-day aggregate moisture variation without operator intervention. In CALC mode, the controller reads the dry-material moisture from the sensor, calculates the exact water volume needed for the batch, and adds it in a single shot at maximum fill rate. CALC mode suits fixed-weight batches where water addition speed matters more than adaptive control.

How does the Hydro-Control VI integrate with batching plant systems?

RS232 links to the batching plant control system for recipe transfer and remote start/stop. Ethernet provides network connectivity for central monitoring. USB handles firmware updates, recipe backup, and mix log export. An optional expansion board (part #0180) adds 8 digital inputs for recipe selection, 2 analog inputs for a load cell and temperature sensor, and 2 analog outputs. The OPTO-22 optically isolated I/O modules are field-replaceable and available in 110 VAC or 24 VDC configurations.