DIY Thread - Let's see your "Inventions".

[ozexpat]

Yes mate, you have nailed it. Depends on how you want to control it, you could fire it for a period of time from a timer, or use limit switches to turn it off. Just depends how 'smart' your timer is.

Switches are simple devises though, you can get them from all kinds of places, fridges, car door (int lights) and so on. The tricky part with those is the re-start. A switch has power when closed and not when open, so the devise hit the switch, open circuit and devise has the power cut, but when you want it to move again the switch is still in the open position. I feel that the re-start will be the tricky part to overcome, certainly not impossible though. I will try have a think about it and do that drawing I was thinking about yesterday. That three position window switch you were thinking about might work as a 'on-off-on' deal, but I don't think it will change polarity. I need to look into that some more.

If you decide to look at the timer, given the stroke speed you may be able to do it cheaper than first thought. I picked up this unit from Bunning's to run a fan on and off in my still air. It is as fine as 1 minute (no seconds). If you have a 1 or 2 minute cycle, it could handle them easily, every day.

Features include,
7 day pre program,
20 setting per day (20 on and 20 off)
1 min accuracy
battery back up
and mains outlet
$13.90

http://www.bunnings.com.au/products_product_excalibur-7-day-mini-digital-timer_P7050097.aspx

You could set this to fire for 1 minute every 2 hours via a reversing relay. Without testing it, I would think that it would travel in one direction for a set time, then the other the next time the timer starts. Clean and easy. If you hunted about you might be able to get the same style plug in timer that can handle 30 second increments for a few bucks more.

thats what I was fist thinking. i too have been thinking about open circuits caused by the limit switch.

I could run it a minute out, a minute back but in the center of the actuators reach - eliminating the need for limit switches to control the stop. I can adjust the effect on the turner by placement along the fulcrum

 

[el pollo rey]

Automatic waterer


And an important step... toad proof the toilet valve.

the toad proofing is critical

 

[el pollo rey]

When I built my coop, I used the space inside the wall for a feeder. It saves space inside the coop. There is a small door on the exterior wall to fill from, and on the inside of the coop, the feed goes down into a tray. The tray can be removed for cleaning, but so far, it has stayed very clean. Water cannot get in since the fill door is under the roof of the run so it stays nice and dry. I'm sure I'm not the first person to do this, but this set up works very well for me.

nice design

 

[Pancholoco]

I have seen those devices on the incubator warehouse website. Initially I was only going to use styrobator turners and as everybody seemed to be using lights as a heat source I could not justify the expense. I have been using the STC-1000 as a thermostat here with great results and under 20 bucks its a dream.

The new heat source is a fan heater I picked up for 15 dollars, and is working great here. I will put those in my current Philippines bator.

For the future cabinet ( just a design at the moment), I may try the incukit. It seems easy.

While a round motor may be simpler, I am really trying to learn this stuff and am determined to get the linear actuator to do what I want. lol

Fan Heater? Any link or pictures

 

[loveourbirds]

for a simple timer you can use a turner motor out of an egg turner for little giant or hovabator. get the one with the nylon end that is off center. mount it shaft side up. where the offcenter part hits to microswitches on opposite sides. this will time at 2 hours, with two separate circuits, no dead spots. for limit switches some liner actuators come with them, if not put 2 more momentary lever switches on the bottom end stop points.

pic of timer motor:

link to where to get it, it might be a couple pages in. http://incubatorwarehouse.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?p=1&q=turner+gqf

 

[Bens-Hens]

I was hunting out some info for Oz and found this thread. The writer never says what he want's it to do...but I bet anyone here that reads it will know exactly that he wants to put an automatic pop door on his chicken coop!

Worth a read Oz, works well with that PM i just sent you.

http://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?TID=115538

As for a DIY timer, a local chain here does this low cost version you could look at building a timer trigger for your turner. $19.95 for this one, goes down to a second.

http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=KA1732

 

[cake]

how can the crib be used? I have an extra crib sitting around in pieces, and if I can put it to use that would be fantastic!

I saw someone on here that used crib sides for a perch and had a drawer underneath to catch poo.

Tell everyone you are having a baby get what you need and call it off lol

LMAO. My family (and my in-laws) would KILL me. They're so desperate for more grandbabies.

 

[deserthomestead]

I saw someone on here that used crib sides for a perch and had a drawer underneath to catch poo.

LMAO. My family (and my in-laws) would KILL me. They're so desperate for more grandbabies.

I would be killed too, lol - especially since my latest is only 3 months old!

 

[Maligator]

the toad proofing is critical

Do you have any plans/instructions for this design? I am looking to build something similar and keep a 5 gal waterer inside the coop. Would love to know what you used to construct this!

 

[KDK1]

Do you have any plans/instructions for this design? I am looking to build something similar and keep a 5 gal waterer inside the coop. Would love to know what you used to construct this!

I think "el pollo rey" was just commenting on my waterer. Here is a link to the build page. Click on pics for directions of that stage of the build.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/g/a/6259817/arcw-automated-redneck-chicken-waterer/