HighTech Coop Project - Solar Auto pop door with LED coop light on timer

[ambishop]

I am working out in my head a proof of concept and trying to get my hands around a project that others may find interesting.

The concept is to use some high-tech products to make a fully self sustaining solar based system without breaking the bank. I would love to hear other ideas on how to make this better, but it is an idea now.

Fully Automated Solar powered (with battery backup) pop door, and interior LED Coop lighting operating automatically on sunrise/sunset with additional manual operating switch.

I got the idea to use an automotive antenna to control the pop door from another website but wanted to improve on the design and make it MUCH much easier. The idea is great however I have some ideas on how to make it much better




Parts required:
12V car battery

12V auto relay Bosch style something like this $5



Light sensor $7.50



Automatic antenna 3 wire $35

Solar panel regulator $7.00



Solar panel $15



optional

waterproof LED light $12


Delay off Timer $17



The overall concept is quite straight forward with minimal wiring. A relay is used as the light sensor has a negative trigger and the automatic antenna requires a positive trigger. A simple automotive relay can be used to change the polarity.



Basic wiring

Relay
12V battery from solar regulator pin 86
12V battery from solar regulator pin 30
12V ground from sensor red wire pin 85
Remote power on to antenna to pin 87

Light Sensor

Sensor Black wire battery ground 12V ground from solar regulator
Sensor White wire battery power 12V battery from solar regulator
Sensor Red wire to pin 85 on relay

Three wire automatic antenna
Power wire 12V battery from solar regulator
Ground 12V ground from solar regulator
antenna Power on wire to pin 87

manual switch
additional optional switch manual contact closure switch on wire to 87 from battery

Since we have a solar system with battery backup that can function based on outdoor light, why not take advantage of the power? Pin 87a on the relay will have power when it is dark outside. As a result we can simply power an interior 12V LED light using pin 87a on the relay and ground from the solar regulator.

Basically this simple design will give you power on the relay pin 87 in daylight and then switch off at night and alternatively power on relay pin 87a at night and switch off during the day. In order to control how long the power is running during the night you can get a simple delay off time like the one in the photo above and program it to turn off at anytime. the one image above from ebay runs from 15 minutes to 10 hours as desired.

This is how I envision this system.

At daybreak, light sensor comes on activates the pop door by running the automotive antenna. At nightfall, light sensor goes off pop door is closed using the battery backup and interior lights or whatever desired to run on 12V will come on and run as long as programmed.

I know this is a little technical but I am sure many will grasp the concept and help me improve on this before I put something like this together. It is really quite simple, and has lots of functions. Plus not very expensive. Just need to build a water tight box for the battery and the very small electronics such as relay timer if used.

Please tell me your thoughts as I would like to improve on this concept before putting it all together

 

[Corazon Ranch]

Can I ask why use a 5W panel that cost $3/watt? Especially since everything else is 12V? Also, you should be able to get them much cheaper than that.

I like your design, the antenna is very clever!

 

[ambishop]

Right, you could use any wattage panels that are sufficient to charge the battery. One thought I also had but did not put in this post was the ability to put in a car remote door lock/unlock receiver such as a standard car alarm remote. This way you could connect in parallel to the remote turn on lead of the antenna the relay from the door locks and remotely open and close the pop door. What I have not figured out is the best way to "reset" that circuit once triggered so that it does not override the light sensor if I happen to have forgotten about it. My one quick solution is to put the remote door lock relay on a 2 hour timer as well. that way when you press the remote to open the door it just opens the door for 2 hours unless manually "locked" with the remote or the light sensor is energized.

 

[Corazon Ranch]

Problem is, I very much doubt that you will be able to charge an automotive battery with a 5W, 18V PV module. That is less than one third of an amp per hour, in full sun. It would takes years! But then again, you won't be discharging it much, I imagine? Still, there are many electrical losses in any system, and lead acid batteries will not hold a charge long without sufficient input. Just speaking from experience, my house and ranch are off the grid, running on a 12V / 800Ah battery bank and 800 W of PV.

Regarding the remote, I think its a fantastic idea but I have no idea how to implement it. I'll see if I can get my hubby to look at it and the rest of the plans. You never know, maybe the solution will be obvious to him (he sometimes has that gift).

 

[yakibert]

Innovative! I like it.

 

[BGeezie]

How much weight can the opener pull up and down?

 

[Corazon Ranch]

I should say, I meant that FLOODED lead acid batteries won't hold a charge long. Our batteries are also lead acid, but they are Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) batteries. I would suggest instead of an auto battery, get one of those small AGMs that are designed to be used in solar powered gate openers (Mighty Mule is what my in-laws have, and that brand is sold everywhere). Just a thought! Hope I'm not being obnoxious.

 

[chiques chicks]

Do you really need a charge controller with a 5 W panel? Just curious.

 

[Corazon Ranch]

Quote:
Yes. Batteries are very particular about how they are charged. You can get away without one sometimes, but the lifespan of the battery will suffer.

And if you are not using a charge controller, matching the solar input to the battery being used becomes hugely important. You could end up draining the battery instead of charging it, especially if the solar panel does not have an internal diode (but you can add one in-line).

 

[Jubilee1111]

Corazon Ranch, you are a fountain of knowledge about solar power.

Please continue to share. This is good stuff.