Car antenna for automatic door opener

[twoquinns]

We're working on plans for an automatic door opener for our coop and have a question for those of you who have used car antennas. We're wondering if the motors for these antennas hold up over time or if people have trouble with them burning out. It seems like opening a door is a much bigger load on the motor than just raising and lowering the antenna alone.

 

[yellowchicks]

Try the automatic car window motor.

 

[Wxguru]

Or do the water pump (pond pump) and bucket trick with a couple of pulleys. I have the parts except for the pump...I still need to grab one

 

[Indoroowet]

We're working on plans for an automatic door opener for our coop and have a question for those of you who have used car antennas. We're wondering if the motors for these antennas hold up over time or if people have trouble with them burning out. It seems like opening a door is a much bigger load on the motor than just raising and lowering the antenna alone.

All depends on what kind of door you are trying to open or close.
Really, is there a need to have a door as heavy as you see in bank vaults ???

With that out of the way, an automatic car antenna has a very long stroke.
Use that long stroke to your advantage.
Make a flip-up door, just big enough to get one chicken in and out at a time.
Then add an extension on the bottom of the door to increase the *length* of that door.
Attach the end of the antenna to that extension and you will find that the antenna will open the door very easy.

Principle sketch here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/932465/automatic-coop-door#post_14307473

 

[Davidhalpern2]

3 yrs with absolutely no problems!