Chickenguard Malfunction

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While this is an old thread, one thing that was not mentioned was to check to make sure that the string is not wrapped around the motor shaft. This is something that happened to me & caused problems with opening/closing of the door. I took the unit off the coop, removed the front control panel, like I would if I had to replace the batteries. Next, removed the motor connector from the front control panel. Next, I removed the spindle & the motor in order to free the string from the shaft. Plugged the motor cable into the controller and went through the door calibration process in order to properly wind the string back onto the spindle. Once that was done, attached the controller panel back to the housing & then the entire unit to the coop. Recalibrated the door and I was back in business. I can now see the difference in speed in the opening & closing of the door. Another thing to look out for is the time. If you have AM/PM reversed, then this can also prevent the door from automatically opening / closing.
 
I appreciate finding this old thread.

I am having the same issue with the STANDARD unit, but also with the fun of the up and down buttons somehow switching operations. Down button makes it go up, up goes down--but only it will only go up (with the down button) when I try to calibrate and then errors. This started to happen before I opened the box up, so it is not possible for the leads to have been switched.

Already replaced the batteries. Spool seems fine. I tried the secret menu and there is a test menu. This seems to error on the down button at first, but then is ok (still with down going up, etc.). The factory reset did not work.

I found the online manual and will be trying more solutions later.
 
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You might have to open the unit and check to see whether the string has gotten looped around backwards on the spindle. This will make it not work properly and can even have it go in the wrong direction. I had a similar issue with the door not working correctly. I took the unit apart, especially the motor so that I could more easily turn the spindle. I then unwound the string to the point where it was incorrectly looped and rewounded it back up correctly. After re-attaching the spindle, motor and then putting everything else back together, the unit worked just fine.
 
Should I make a new thread? I have problems with my chicken guard too. But a different one as described in this thread so far. And I like it if more similar problems and options are gathered in one thread.

My chickens were locked in this morning. The door didn't open.

The chicken guard gave a warning: Door blocked - Calibrate door. But the sliding door was not blocked.
  1. I replaced the batteries, but thy are not empty. This is not the problem.
  2. The sliding door is fine, the wire is not strangely wrapped. This is not the problem.
  3. I tried to reset: disconnect / batteries out en connect again: same warning.
Then I dismantled the thing and took it inside. I thought there might be a problem with moisture because of the storms we had a few days ago. And took it in to let it dry.

Read manual http://digitalbrochure.cosanostradesign.com/books/rjaf/#p=2 (no clue) and the instruction from chickenguardusa: hold the button in the middle for 8 seconds. I did but after that is goes back to the same error message: Door blocked - Calibrate door.

It tried a few times, and found the motor is not crashed. I got a question once to open the door, I did and it went up. A few inches. Then it stopped. I get again the same message: to the same error message: Door blocked - Calibrate door. Tried again. And again. And again.

While I am typing this message it seems a miracle is happening.

It seems to work again. I can calibrate now for the up and the down position. I had good hopes, because the error message is gone now.

But after selecting manual up / down I tried if/how it works. The chicken guard doesn't respond like it should. This is not what I calibrated. And the clock fails too. 😭

I am concerned the electronics or the contact from the engine to the screen is kaput. I try again tomorrow and if the problem doesn't go away, I'm afraid I have order a new one. Well it worked for 4.5 years.

But if anyone has an idea to help me out? :celebrate
 
I made a new thread. Because there was no response here. The problem probably solved by getting the chickenguard inside the house to dry. (Search for chicken guard open close)
 

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