Automatic Chicken Coop Door - Auto Closes Coop - Beta Version 1.0

[Reinbeau]

Please be sure to post plans somewhere as you guys refine your designs. I'd love to be able to do as you say, Rob, have that door shut at a certain time (now that daylight savings time is over, 5 pm would work great, of course, that would have to be adjusted after New Years and the return of the light). I'm not so concerned with opening it, although that would be cool, too!

 

[aiwetir]

iirc there is a christmas light timer that you can set to turn lights on n minutes after sundown, it's got a light sensor on it. i haven't seen one, just been told about it. this may be the best timer if you could get it to turn the lights off instead of on.

 

[CedarLake]

Thanks for the warm welcome Been lurking for a few months and I finally have something to say.

I will take pics as I build it. Except for the rod that I can get easily, I have all the parts to do this. What I don't have much of is time :-(
But since at 5:30 it's already starting to get dark here and I normally don't get home from work til after 6, I'd better make time before it gets really cold. Our German Shepherd seems to keep most predators away, but I'm sure there are foxes and such coming out at night. Occasionally coyotes come near the house, but not until around midnight or so.

Will definitely keep writing updates both here and on my blog.

 

[Peepthis541]

Seems like you guys know a lot more about how to manipulate these little motors. Reverse the polarity, etc.

Radio Shack sells these motors.
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102828

Would it be capable of winding up a string that would say open and close a drawbridge style door? Or top hinged door?

I think my main concern would be stopping the motor after the door has opened/closed. And reversing the rotation for the opposite effect (open or closing of door).

From what I understand from Robs postings, a motor like this could be powered by an old cell phone plug?

Just wondering if this could do the trick. It might be the easiest auto-door that would work well with my current setup.

 

[CedarLake]

Probably not. You'd need something that moves slower, with more torque, like a power window motor or a windshield wiper motor.
Something like this https://www.bgmicro.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=9401 is probably more suitable. I haven't actually used this motor, but it looks "hefty" enough.

The motors I plan to use came out of a remote control car and cost me about $3.95 from a surplus outfit, but they will need to be geared down or they will be too fast. As far as controlling the motor goes, you will probably need limit switches or a timer. How comfortable are you with assembling electronics? Can you solder? When I'm done with my door project I'd be happy to write up how it all works and perhaps make up a parts list so DIYers can find the needed parts and build one for themselves.


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[aiwetir]

probably the easiest way to stop a motor like this is to simply have the door push up against a regular old light switch (easy throw type) which cuts the power.

 

[Peepthis541]

Quote:

I think the motor you are describing is the one I saw at Radio Shack. If you check out the motors they have listed on their site, maybe you'll see it. So, how would you gear down a motor like that?
I have no experience soldering, but I have a good friend who does. So, I can ask him for help.

Thanks for the advice, I'll keep up the brainstorming too. It'll be cool to see what we all come up with!

 

[Peepthis541]

http://www.sciplus.com/category.cfm/category/172

The first motor listed, "Tough Gear". Has a low 7 rpm at 12 vdc.

What do you think about that?

 

[Peepthis541]

I wonder if we could use the electromagnet concept for door release or lock by using the current from the dc power source.

 

[Nifty-Chicken]

That was actually one of my first designs (seriously, I've been through it all over the past 2 years) and decided it wasn't a good fit.

My first design was to have the electromagnet always powered and then cut the power at night which would release the door. I found that this wasn't energy responsible and it was hard to find an electromagnet strong enough to hold up a door without the unit getting hot, and if power failed the door would close (not good to lock them out). I then moved to a pull or rotating solenoid system to release the door, but this lead me to trying the door actuator which was cheaper, readily accessible, and stronger (at the lower currents).

Keep the brain juices flowing!