Cooptender coop door problems help needed

[Zwillingsmama]

All lights are off in the morning the thing is totally dead until we reboot it. Than we can manually override it. Battery is fully charged at least that is what the led said and we measured it today. Today for the first time we had a problem with the override and the motor just buzzed briefly and died and the lcd screen went black ( the led lights were still on) later today we were able to close the door manually and the motor worked/ sounded ok. I am sure tomorrow morning all lights will be off until I reset it and everything looks normal light wise - it just will not open or close dusk to dawn. At this point we are leaving it close and are letting the girls out through the human door.

 

[cavemanrich]

Looks like Cooptender just about breathe er last..
If you can redo it yourself, then that would probably be the route to take.
Or get a different model. You already know what I'm satisfied with.
JT can help you out if you decide to convert it yourself. He is very good at electronics, and has made his own openers from scratch.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

All lights are off in the morning the thing is totally dead until we reboot it. Than we can manually override it. Battery is fully charged at least that is what the led said and we measured it today. Today for the first time we had a problem with the override and the motor just buzzed briefly and died and the lcd screen went black ( the led lights were still on) later today we were able to close the door manually and the motor worked/ sounded ok. I am sure tomorrow morning all lights will be off until I reset it and everything looks normal light wise - it just will not open or close dusk to dawn. At this point we are leaving it close and are letting the girls out through the human door.

Are you sure the lights aren't off because the unit is in power saver mode, which is what it does when the battery voltage drops below 11 volts? If that's the case pressing the # key should bring lights and display back without a reset.

Do you disconnect or turn off the solar panel when you reset?

To return Coop Tender to automatic door operation, turn Coop Tender off and then back on.
Note 2: If a solar panel is connected to the door, you will need to switch the panel off or disconnect it before power cycling. The charge/power light should not be on.

If the system is working in manual, I seriously doubt there is a problem with the electronics.

To try to figure out what is going on, I would recommend disconnecting the battery and solar panel, run the unit off AC and program the unit to open/close off the timer instead of using the light sensor. This removes 3 physical things that could possibly be causing this problem. If you can get it working under those conditions it narrows down where the problem is.

Also, be aware that debris building up under the door can prevent the door from activating the limit switch that stops the motor. I don't know exactly what happens in that situation, but I suspect the motor tries to keep running using excessive battery power. I don't know what would stop the motor. If that happened at night and the battery voltage fell below 9 volts, the door would not open the next morning.

If voltage drops below 9 volts, the door will not open. This is to ensure that there is sufficient voltage to close the door. Once voltage rises above 9 volts, the door will open if it is set to do so.

btw, I downloaded the manual; that's what I'm quoting.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

Today for the first time we had a problem with the override and the motor just buzzed briefly and died and the lcd screen went black ( the led lights were still on) later today we were able to close the door manually and the motor worked/ sounded ok.

This here tells me it's a problem with the battery/charging system. Electronics typically don't act like this. The fact that problem went away as the day progressed, i.e., the solar panel had time to charge the battery, tells me the battery/charging system is at least part of the problem. That's why I think it is crucial to remove it from the equation until this can be sorted out.

 

[aart]

Even tho I know about about auto-doors or electronics,
am loving the problem solving going on here.

 

[Zwillingsmama]

To answer a few questions. We put a switch btw solar panel and coop to make the disconnect easier when to reboot. The battery is fully charged when the lights come back up. Since the door opens manually I doubt it debris built up.
Someone mentioned putting it on a timer. I don’t think there is a timer setting.
We tried putting it on AC but didn’t get it to work either.

 

[jthornton]

Interesting and now that i am thinking about it that makes sense. I am stupid when it comes to electric stuff that’s my husbands job. But than do you have an idea why it would start working again after we exchanged the fuse?

The fuse could have been blown and that would stop it from working.

JT

 

[jthornton]

Can you post a photo of the electronics?

JT

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

Since the door opens manually I doubt it debris built up.

The possible debris build up I was talking about would be at the bottom of the door that keeps the door from making the limit switch. What happens when you close the door in manual? Does it cut off automatically when it reaches the bottom? If yes, then the switch is working OK.

Someone mentioned putting it on a timer. I don’t think there is a timer setting.

Here's how you do it:

To change the door programming:
1. Enter the menu by pressing any number button-you will see Coop Tender Menu appear on the LCD for about 2 seconds and then Stop Door which is the first menu entry
2. Press the [8] button to scroll down to +Set Control
3. Press the [6] button to select +Set Control. You will then see Dusk-to-Dawn. If not, press the [2] key until you see it since it is at the top of the submenu list.
4. From here, press [6] to select Dusk-to-Dawn, or press the [8] button to scroll down to Time Schedule and then press the [6] key to select and set your schedule.
...
As you enter a number on the screen, the cursor will automatically advance and the system will move to the next setting until settings are complete. You may use the [#] key at any time to accept the entry which is presented on the screen.
After you have entered all values on each screen, you will see “Set” and the system will revert to status display mode
It is a good idea to watch the LCD display for 1 cycle to verify that the settings you input are displayed.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

We tried putting it on AC but didn’t get it to work either.

Disconnect the battery and solar panel, plug in AC and try it using Time Schedule instead of Dusk to Dawn. If the Time/Date isn't already set, you will probably need to do that first.