Looking for Timer recommendations for automatic door

[ErinG]

We just built my 75 year old mother a coop, we have the automatic door ready to go, but I'm having trouble finding a timer that I think she will be able to change and use easily. We use a wifi outlet and I love it, but they don't have wifi out at the coop.
She's able to use a 30 minute increment one they already have, but I'd like something with 15 minutes or the exact time.

Any recommendations?

 

[cavemanrich]

I don't know how your automatic door is operated, and controlled, so no idea on suggesting a timer.
If the 30 minute one works,,, then stay with it. Remember to take into account that the daylight time is changing rapidly this time of season.
My auto-pop door is operated with light sensor. No need to change time settings. when it is light in the morning,,,,,,,, opens... At dusk it closes.

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[ErinG]

It is a drapery motor, so power on: open, power off. Power on: close, power off. I need it to go four timer per day. A system like yours sounds like it could work great for their situation, can you tell me more about it or link it?

 

[cavemanrich]

Interesting concept using a DRAPERY MOTOR,, as power device
Post a link to the one you are using,,, so others can try using same,,, in their projects.

Found just what will work for you as timer.

Here is product description..

PRODUCT OVERVIEW​

This handy digital timer is easy to program and offers eight different time schedules for programming your lights to go on and off to the nearest minute. Turn the lights on and off at night, in the morning and at different times on the weekend. This digital timer features a large LCD display, an integrated circuit and two outlet plugs.

• Eight different time schedules
• Programmable to the nearest minute
• Different timer schedule options
• Push button functions: on, off, auto, week, hour, minute, clock, program
• Red power indicator light

Here is a quick jump link to product.
https://www.harborfreight.com/digital-timer-95205.html

 

[cavemanrich]

A system like yours sounds like it could work great for their situation, can you tell me more about it or link it?

I have a purchased pop door. Ador1.. Has worked really well since 2017, with a change in $5 battery each year.
https://adorstore.com/products/ador1-automatic-chicken-door

 

[Swbertrand1]

Interesting concept using a DRAPERY MOTOR,, as power device
Post a link to the one you are using,,, so others can try using same,,, in their projects.

Found just what will work for you as timer.
View attachment 2818930

Here is product description..

PRODUCT OVERVIEW​

This handy digital timer is easy to program and offers eight different time schedules for programming your lights to go on and off to the nearest minute. Turn the lights on and off at night, in the morning and at different times on the weekend. This digital timer features a large LCD display, an integrated circuit and two outlet plugs.

• Eight different time schedules
• Programmable to the nearest minute
• Different timer schedule options
• Push button functions: on, off, auto, week, hour, minute, clock, program
• Red power indicator light

Here is a quick jump link to product.
https://www.harborfreight.com/digital-timer-95205.html

We use something similar, but it is not super-easy to use, especially when it comes to changing the timer settings. My boyfriend changes them once per month on a schedule that was set by making tweeks over the last several years.

Here is our timer setup. Note: This is a 12V system with two sets of timers because we have two doors to open and close each morning and evening. With one door, we'd have two timers and one control board (blue item in photos). The black box is a battery monitor that tells us the 12V battery voltage at all times. The orange item at the bottom of the photo is the 110V battery maintainer that's plugged into a 110V outlet up near the battery in the top of the coop to charge the 12V battery.

 

[cavemanrich]

We use something similar, but it is not super-easy to use, especially when it comes to changing the timer settings. My boyfriend changes them once per month on a schedule that was set by making tweeks over the last several years.

Here is our timer setup. Note: There are two sets of timers because we have two doors to open and close each morning and evening. With one door, we'd have two timers and one control board (blue item in photos). The black box is a battery monitor that tells us the 12V battery voltage at all times. The orange item at the bottom of the photo is the 110V battery maintainer that's plugged into a 110V outlet up near the battery in the top of the coop.

Nice setup,,, and I do understand all that complex wiring.
Curious of the power units used for the door opening.

 

[perkolator]

I've used many electrical timers over the years for various things. The better ones I used were all mechanical timers -- the ones with either the removable pins, or the little tabs you slide over (that one had 15min increments I believe). The digital ones have been ok, as long as they were not the cheap ones.

 

[ErinG]

Thank you guys, I did find a bluetooth outlet that would have worked fine, but for her I decided to just get the Pullet Shut door with light sensors. It's going to be much less hands on for her to keep her birds safe.
We've had our drapery motor set up for over ten years. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N8T8OLQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I use a wifi outlet to control it, works great.

 

[Swbertrand1]

Nice setup,,, and I do understand all that complex wiring.
Curious of the power units used for the door opening.

Thank you. The doors are powered by 12V linear actuators. It's a 12V system except for the battery maintainer that uses 110V power. Here's a photo of one of them: