- Mar 15, 2011
- 56
- 0
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I'm going to dump this back in because I think the content has value to this forum. If the moderators don't agree, I'll retreat.
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Here is a more detailed description of my electronic control scheme.
WARNING! If you are not interested in this kind of thing, don't read on, it will be very boring.
The PLC computer is a little brick box that accepts data from various sensors like temperature sensors, float switches, optical sensors, and force (weight) sensors. The input data is then analyzed by the computer and will activate things like automatic valves, lighting, heating and cooling devices, and alarm devices like lights and horns. The unit also has the ability to automatically modify the way it responds to various conditions based on the needs of the operator. I chose these examples because they are what I am employing in my chicken house. There is an infinite amount of I/O devices that can be used with these things. Almost all manufacturing plants these days have these. The more advanced units have SCADA capability. This stands for Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition. What this does is allow data trending, remote control, remote alarm notification, and even remote manual control of the system through the Internet, e-mail, text message, and smart phone apps.
The PLC computer will be connected to an RS485 transceiver pair that will connect to a computer in my house. I'm doing this because the chicken house is about 300 feet from the human house and running data cables is too costly. The transceiver will be connected to a computer that acts as a webserver and an SMS gateway. This way I will have a website that I can view all of the conditions of the chicken house and even modify some of the actions of the PLC through any web connected computer in the world. It will also send time-based emails and text messages showing the conditions of the chicken house. This will include water level, food level, temperature, heating or ventilation status, and any system alarms. The alarms will also be sent to me via email and text message on an event-triggered basis.
The feeder(s) will have infrared optical sensors mounted in them that will sense the level of the food. An alarm will be sent when the level reaches 25%. I considered using auger motors from a feed bin to refill but this is an overkill.
The waterers will have float switches that will sense the level of the water. An alarm will be sent when the level reaches 25%. This is not likely to happen as refilling will be done automatically.
The ventilation fan will have an airflow sensor that will sense whether the fan is operating. If the PLC tells the fan to run, but for some reason it does not move any air, an alarm will be sent.
The power chicken door will have a linear actuator that opens and closes it. A photosensor will detect when it is light or dark outside. The PLC will take the data from the previous day and make a decision of when to open or close the door. This will also be used to turn on the interior lights to coax the chickens into the chicken house when it gets dark. The door will have limit switches on it to determine if the door is open or closed. If the actuator fails, the PLC will send an alarm if the door does not fully open or close after the command is sent to open or close it.
The temperature sensor will tell the fans or heating lamps to turn on. If all of the birds are feathered out, the heating can be eliminated easily through an input command via text message or local operator interface. An alarm will be sent if the ventilation or heating fails to bring the temperature to an acceptable level.
I am also working on a system that will use a combination of motion sensors and barrier beam sensors to determine if a predator is trying to gain entry to the chicken house. An alarm will be sent and various anti-predatory measures will be put into place like exterior lighting and water jets.
Finally, I am considering an irrigation-type shallow well that will provide water to the chickens. Our water table is pretty high here, and I can hit water at about 30 feet. At this depth, you can use a "driven" well instead of hiring out a drilling rig. I don't have live water out to the chicken house, so without the well I will have to haul water. (Suck)
If you made it this far, give me your comments and suggestions.
Mike
========================================================
Here is a more detailed description of my electronic control scheme.
WARNING! If you are not interested in this kind of thing, don't read on, it will be very boring.
The PLC computer is a little brick box that accepts data from various sensors like temperature sensors, float switches, optical sensors, and force (weight) sensors. The input data is then analyzed by the computer and will activate things like automatic valves, lighting, heating and cooling devices, and alarm devices like lights and horns. The unit also has the ability to automatically modify the way it responds to various conditions based on the needs of the operator. I chose these examples because they are what I am employing in my chicken house. There is an infinite amount of I/O devices that can be used with these things. Almost all manufacturing plants these days have these. The more advanced units have SCADA capability. This stands for Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition. What this does is allow data trending, remote control, remote alarm notification, and even remote manual control of the system through the Internet, e-mail, text message, and smart phone apps.
The PLC computer will be connected to an RS485 transceiver pair that will connect to a computer in my house. I'm doing this because the chicken house is about 300 feet from the human house and running data cables is too costly. The transceiver will be connected to a computer that acts as a webserver and an SMS gateway. This way I will have a website that I can view all of the conditions of the chicken house and even modify some of the actions of the PLC through any web connected computer in the world. It will also send time-based emails and text messages showing the conditions of the chicken house. This will include water level, food level, temperature, heating or ventilation status, and any system alarms. The alarms will also be sent to me via email and text message on an event-triggered basis.
The feeder(s) will have infrared optical sensors mounted in them that will sense the level of the food. An alarm will be sent when the level reaches 25%. I considered using auger motors from a feed bin to refill but this is an overkill.
The waterers will have float switches that will sense the level of the water. An alarm will be sent when the level reaches 25%. This is not likely to happen as refilling will be done automatically.
The ventilation fan will have an airflow sensor that will sense whether the fan is operating. If the PLC tells the fan to run, but for some reason it does not move any air, an alarm will be sent.
The power chicken door will have a linear actuator that opens and closes it. A photosensor will detect when it is light or dark outside. The PLC will take the data from the previous day and make a decision of when to open or close the door. This will also be used to turn on the interior lights to coax the chickens into the chicken house when it gets dark. The door will have limit switches on it to determine if the door is open or closed. If the actuator fails, the PLC will send an alarm if the door does not fully open or close after the command is sent to open or close it.
The temperature sensor will tell the fans or heating lamps to turn on. If all of the birds are feathered out, the heating can be eliminated easily through an input command via text message or local operator interface. An alarm will be sent if the ventilation or heating fails to bring the temperature to an acceptable level.
I am also working on a system that will use a combination of motion sensors and barrier beam sensors to determine if a predator is trying to gain entry to the chicken house. An alarm will be sent and various anti-predatory measures will be put into place like exterior lighting and water jets.
Finally, I am considering an irrigation-type shallow well that will provide water to the chickens. Our water table is pretty high here, and I can hit water at about 30 feet. At this depth, you can use a "driven" well instead of hiring out a drilling rig. I don't have live water out to the chicken house, so without the well I will have to haul water. (Suck)
If you made it this far, give me your comments and suggestions.
Mike
I thought I had purchased enough merchandice from the special interest groups that the current parties would have taken care of this snow! Why isnt my Tax dollar being earned????
Yeah I had fun writing that!
