“Hey google, open the chicken door”

[Gavinthesheep735]

I just tested it last night not to open a door or any thing just testing the text and wiring diagram worked well. The reason i would do something like that is because it could be used to control other things as well e.g. lighting, temp, and other things and and could be controlled from your phone as well, for instance you can use it to adjust the time the light is on in addition to the regular amount of sun light.

 

[Gavinthesheep735]

You could also make it so it shuts the door say a half hour after the light sensor detects that the sun has gone down. in my area that could be quite useful because in the winter the sun goes down at around 4:30 PM or so but in the summer the sun goes down between 8:30 and 9:00 PM.

 

[Gavinthesheep735]

My first door was controlled with the Arduino but found out it was a bit flaky and would fail sometimes requiring a reboot. For $40 the Raspberry Pi 3 B with the added terminal board is the way to go.

JT

I just saw your post and you could be right, I have not tested my board long enough to know if it fails or not.

 

[jthornton]

You could also make it so it shuts the door say a half hour after the light sensor detects that the sun has gone down. in my area that could be quite useful because in the winter the sun goes down at around 4:30 PM or so but in the summer the sun goes down between 8:30 and 9:00 PM.

I also found light sensors to be a bit finicky to say the least. I use the Python astral library to know down to the second all the sun times (dawn, sunrise, sunset, dusk) for my location each day. My code updates the sun times each day at 12:01AM. This makes it rather simple to close the door at dusk year round no matter what the weather or overcast is. I have had my door close in the middle of the day with dark clouds once...

JT

 

[Melky]

I have to go out to feed at sun up anyway and collect empty feed container at sun down so my own two hands are much cheaper. I think after you high tech it, your eggs are going to be $50.00 a dozen plus the maintenance costs if it breaks.

 

[jthornton]

I have to go out to feed at sun up anyway and collect empty feed container at sun down so my own two hands are much cheaper. I think after you high tech it, your eggs are going to be $50.00 a dozen plus the maintenance costs if it breaks.

How did you come up with that number? You mean I get paid for maintenance? But wait it's never broken so I don't ever have to do anything to it...

My first egg cost me $1,000.00 more or less so I don't understand your point.

JT

 

[The Moonshiner]

I remember when a coop was high tech if it had electricity to it for a light.
Then lights went to being on timers and feeders and waterers went to being automatic.
Now there's auto doors and cameras inside.
Maybe soon there will be coop cleaning roombas and drones to fly out and collect eggs.
People could have chickens without actually having to interact with them at all.

 

[aart]

my own two hands are much cheaper. I think after you high tech it, your eggs are going to be $50.00 a dozen plus the maintenance costs if it breaks.

It's not about 'cheaper'...it's about 'techies playing with stuff'

 

[olayak]

Have you tried using IFTTP to correct Google home or Alexa to the coop door opener? As someone else said, you could have to either have it connected to WiFi or have it plugged into a smart plug.

 

[Gavinthesheep735]

I have to go out to feed at sun up anyway and collect empty feed container at sun down so my own two hands are much cheaper. I think after you high tech it, your eggs are going to be $50.00 a dozen plus the maintenance costs if it breaks.

How did you come up with that number? You mean I get paid for maintenance? But wait it's never broken so I don't ever have to do anything to it...

My first egg cost me $1,000.00 more or less so I don't understand your point.

JT

if it is DIY it should not cost you that much especially if you are a made in china clone fan my arduino kit which is quite comprehensive cost me around $70.00 I think.

And again like aart said

It's not about 'cheaper'...it's about 'techies playing with stuff'

we enjoy it