Question for the "techie" people out there - automation, wifi etc.

[CajunChooks]

This is a photo of the door in my second coop, I made it from all wood parts.

Very nicely made frame by the way what do you call that attachment for rolling up the cord, on the shaft of the motor? Trying to find something on eBay.
Thanks for all the sharing and info! I will post my code and dashboard screenshots once I get there

 

[jthornton]

Very nicely made frame by the way what do you call that attachment for rolling up the cord, on the shaft of the motor?

I mounted the gear motor on a piece of aluminum angle and turned the spool on my lathe. A thought I just had one could glue some washers to a shaft coupling to make a spool without any special tools. I might be persuaded into making one or two spools...

JT

 

[CajunChooks]

I mounted the gear motor on a piece of aluminum angle and turned the spool on my lathe. A thought I just had one could glue some washers to a shaft coupling to make a spool without any special tools. I might be persuaded into making one or two spools...

JT

Thank you sir, I might try the washer work around. I guess even some longer screws onto the coupling holes might work too.

I do have access to a lathe at the makerspace in the university I work at, but I haven't gotten certified for it. Maybe when they open I will try to make that my project to learn and get the clearance to use it (that's how they do it, teach you, you make a widget, then they clear your ID card to turn on whatever machine you have clearance for). If they are not planning on opening for a while, I might try to persuade you with a "lathing fee"

Again, thanks for all the info and brainstorming! That's why I am loving the BYC community!

 

[jthornton]

I should have a 3-D model of the spool, I'll have to look when I go out to the machine shop.

JT

 

[CajunChooks]

I should have a 3-D model of the spool, I'll have to look when I go out to the machine shop.

JT

Oh, if you do, I would really appreciate the file! I am getting a 3D printer soon, in which case I think doing a full solid print might be strong enough for this

 

[jthornton]

@fcruz I'm creating a tutorial for the Raspberry Pi here. I recommend the lite install to not have all the fluff and problems with a full install. So far the OpenBox desktop is the only one that properly displays the colors and fonts for PyQt5.

JT

 

[CajunChooks]

@fcruz I'm creating a tutorial for the Raspberry Pi here. I recommend the lite install to not have all the fluff and problems with a full install. So far the OpenBox desktop is the only one that properly displays the colors and fonts for PyQt5.

JT

Nicely done documentation - but honestly, I am confused what it is for? a control display?
Yea, I only do lite installs with a headless setup... I don;t think I have ever used the desktop.
My plan so far is to run node-red to set up some of the routines locally (reed sensor trigger stopping motor, etc) but expose the higher level functionality (controlling door remotely, sending PIR motion sensor data, etc) by using MQTT, which will talk to my existing smart home setup (Home Assistant). I will add some other functionality on the raspberry Pi in the coop which will be running the camera, like a DHT22 temp/humidity sensor, controlling a couple of PC cooler fans to circulate air out of the highest point in the coop etc
PS.: the motion sensor si to try and see if any of the chickens stayed out after door closed, but also for potential intruders later in the day

By the way, I took your suggestion on the DC motor and shaft coupling, see photo below. I think at first I am going to try to rig something that can function as a spool by inserting long screws on the holes in the coupling:

 

[CajunChooks]

@jthornton I just looked at your website, we seem to share a lot of hobbies - obviously the IoT and electronics stuff, but also the home brewing

 

[AgnesGray]

I'm late to the conversation, but this is our control app on my phone.

We have a motion sensor in the run so it auto closes after motion in the run stops unless we see on camera that everyone is in and we can close the door in the app earlier. We set up the automatic rules based on luminance rather than on a fixed timer, but have the option to override the rules manually. Also have rules and control of the fan, electric fence, and (not pictured) cameras. One other rule we set up as a safety net with the automatic door opener is that is there is motion in the run, the door doesn't open automatically so we can check it out when we get up before letting the chickens lose in the run if there is potential a predator that made it through the fence.

 

[CajunChooks]

I'm late to the conversation, but this is our control app on my phone.
View attachment 2222057

We have a motion sensor in the run so it auto closes after motion in the run stops unless we see on camera that everyone is in and we can close the door in the app earlier. We set up the automatic rules based on luminance rather than on a fixed timer, but have the option to override the rules manually. Also have rules and control of the fan, electric fence, and (not pictured) cameras. One other rule we set up as a safety net with the automatic door opener is that is there is motion in the run, the door doesn't open automatically so we can check it out when we get up before letting the chickens lose in the run if there is potential a predator that made it through the fence.

Very nice!!! Also, I like your logic on the door automation and luminance! Another option is to use an API for sunset/sunrise times, but your motion on the run idea makes it so that the chickens are deciding when to close the door!

What is this dashboard (or the system more broadly) running on?