Raspberry coop

[jthornton]

Chicken music..." Laying hens who are exposed to music lay comparatively more eggs than their non-music listening counterparts"
There are more studies out there supporting it...

Following that link then the next link in the blog did not lead to a scientific study of chickens laying more eggs because they listened to music... but maybe I just missed the real link to the study I ended up at an article talking about a research grant given to someone or another.

Mind don't seem to mind the music and I enjoy it so that's good enough for me.

I use a POE switch that you plug into the wall... then plug my POE cameras into that and view them in a browser. You can run a CAT5/6 cable 300' from the switch. Some of my cameras the CAT6 cable is just laying in the woods...

The control link is for some cloud service not controlling the Rpi over SSH.

Here is some information (from me) on setting up a Rpi, I prefer the lite OS myself but YYMZ. Once the Rpi is setup properly you can open a terminal in another Linux PC on the same LAN and SSH into the Rpi. Then you can run a command line program to open or close the door. You can't run a GUI over SSH.

Did you check out this post on a door?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-diy-automatic-chicken-door.1295391/

JT

 

[veedabowlu]

@jthornton I do not know how you didn't get to the right link...maybe my fault... here is the www address https://peteducate.com/do-chickens-like-music/#Do_Chickens_Like_Listening_To_Music

I'm really trying to do this with using a RPi zero..reason for using the RPi in the first place is running the door, and also being able to run camera(s) and solar power to be all self contained... running 1 network cable will be cheaper than battery/solar panel/charger etc...
But the RPi zero does not have POE. If there is a POE hat for the zero point me in that direction.
If using a different RPi that does have POE on board, i can do that... but will POE alone have enough power to run the door motor or am still looking at a battery, etc...

The SSH was to run command line... if I need a GUI then i could use real VNC...

Right now, in the morning, the girls door is being opened by a string on the door, and at the end of the day, door closed by an opposite string...but when at my job, I want to be able to pull out my phone, and check on them (cameras) remotely...

Yes I did look at that post... I did miss where the muffler bearing went, and where the flux capacitator was hooked up.... @Mouthpear must be an electrical engineer...which I AM NOT...

 

[jthornton]

I use a POE switch that you plug into the wall... then plug my POE cameras into that and view them in a browser. You can run a CAT5/6 cable 300' from the switch. Some of my cameras the CAT6 cable is just laying in the woods...

The POE switch is for my cameras which are viewed on my LAN and have nothing to do with the Rpi except for the Rpi is connected to the LAN via the switch. I have 120vac in my coop.

That link is not to a study just someone's blog trying to make money from you purchasing products that they link.

Peteducate.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Pet Educate is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies.

Without a citation to the actual study they don't have any creditably.

I thought @Tsheaby did an excellent job explaining how to build a chicken door...

I don't use my phone or cloud apps for anything like that so I'm not much help with that.

JT

 

[Mouthpear]

If using a different RPi that does have POE on board, i can do that... but will POE alone have enough power to run the door motor or am still looking at a battery, etc...

First off, you need to test your system at Full Operation and at Normal Operation. You need to know how many Amps/Watts you will be drawing. There are many videos on youtube.

POE operation greatly depends on How and what equipment you are using. POE just means Power Over Ethernet CABLE. So to answer your question, "will POE alone have enough power to run the door motor": That depends on how and what you plan to use.

If you use your computer Ethernet Module and have a seperate Power sources that will support that motor, then you send receive data and power through cat5, then yes it can work.

If you use a dedicated Switch managed or unmanaged with POE capabilities. Then yes, if the Switch has the rated power output. Some are only rated at around 30W per port and will only support small pan/tilt and bullet cameras, while other more expensive switches are 60W per port and can support larger pan/tilt cameras.

This is the one I would and will be putting in my next coop, when I get around to building it.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075FZQX1...olid=34WRH0Z505BAV&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

If you don't have AC power run to your coop the I suggest that you have a battery setup. If you will be running a RPi, Switch and cameras then you will need at least two good quality batteries and a charger to maintain. Really, having cameras run from the coop is an expensive undertaking if you want good quality video and capabilities.

Right now, in the morning, the girls door is being opened by a string on the door, and at the end of the day, door closed by an opposite string...but when at my job, I want to be able to pull out my phone, and check on them (cameras) remotely...

If you want to automate the door. By looking at the pictures you provided, it looks like you could do what his guy did. I like how he did it. His is done with a gear box and 3D printed stuff but you can do the same with a car power window motor (already has the gearbox and spool) and cables. If you need help with the wiring just post the pics of the parts you have or links to what you might buy and I will get a diagram together.

You can control it with one of these.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CMD3J1...colid=1WK8MTJGC8EY1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it&th=1

Yes I did look at that post... I did miss where the muffler bearing went, and where the flux capacitor was hooked up.... @Mouthpear must be an electrical engineer...which I AM NOT...

"I did miss where the muffler bearing went, and where the flux capacitator was hooked up..." I am going to take this as a friendly jab rather than a demeaning mocking. It could go either way. In any case I try and give as much information but try to keep the TASK itself as simple and economical as possible.

must be an electrical engineer...which I AM NOT...

I'm not either. LOL
In the army my MOS was 31U Signal Systems Support Specialists.
I have degrees in computer networking.
But I work as a carpenter foreman for a large general contractor when they have projects here.
In the meantime I weld and work for a buddy of mine as a welder's helper.
So all this may sound weird but when I tell you I am a medically retired disabled Veteran it might make more sense.

 

[RainbowHen]

How creative! You've done a great job!

 

[jthornton]

Some are only rated at around 30W per port

I only use my POE switches for cameras so for example in my Chicken Coop Deux I have this POE switch which is rated at 65w and UP TO 30w per port. I only get Gigabit switches any more and when I replace one it's with a Gigabit switch.

I have 3 Amcrest camers the Rpi and an incoming line plugged in to that switch.

I've also used a POE splitter in the past to break out 12vdc from the LAN cable.

JT

 

[veedabowlu]

@Mouthpear "the muffler bearing went, and where the flux capacitator" was meant to be a impressed compliment, as a lot of those posts went over my head...same with the "electrical engineer" comment. I do know what POE means, I just did not know the voltage capabities other than most people using it as a 5V source to power a RPi.

I'm still on the fence about running AC power to the coop. I have run ONE 220V feed to an automotive lift I have in my garage, and even then I cheated a little bit as 70% of the conduit was already there (220V)... I added to the conduit, and removed the previous wire, and ran new wire from a to b. If running AC to the coop, I will run a NEW circuit OR do the same thing add to the current conduit and run new wire... and run a network cable to the coop for the cameras & RPi control...

IF I can get away with just running the network cable to the coop, and power the Rpi, two small (either POE or USB) cameras, maybe some LED lights, and momentarily power a SMALL motor to move the door...that would be great.

I was thinking of originally moving the door with screw drive much like a CNC machine.
(Idea still in the works) Also started to think of mounting this motor to the door and using one wheel to roll the door open/closed... mounting an encoder wheel to motor...eliminates the open and closed limit switches... more code to have to find...

I am very open to suggestions/advice... I do have an old 12V power window motor, that moves pretty quick, so I would have to slow it down/ reduce amps, (via resistors which does generate heat) I have run 6V car starters on 12V (starts car very well) BUT I have never tried running 12V motor on 6V...would only assume it would turn window motor half as fast...
I have thought of solar power/battery/charger-maintainer. BUT again IF I can get away with just POE supplied power, that would be golden.

 

[DaisyG2317]

I cut out a door, opposite the sliding door...View attachment 2336117 built small aluminum door "frame" inside the cut out making the cut out "hole" smaller...since it is a round roof and water runs down...a weatherstrip gasket sits inside on the door "frame" keeping the water/rain running down inside door.View attachment 2336118
the bottom of the door on the outside has an aluminum strip to 1) keep door curved 2) strengthen door... on the inside of the door are aluminum guides (finger like) to aid in closing the door (You can also see the roof "vent" cut out in this picture)

(Side note the oscillating/multi tool, on the ground IS the greatest thing since sliced bread)

This is totally off topic, but what is that gorgeous potted plant there??!

 

[veedabowlu]

This is totally off topic, but what is that gorgeous potted plant there??!

The purple one? That is my wife's doing...tradescantia pallida AKA "purple secretia, purple-heart, and purple queen"

 

[jthornton]

IF I can get away with just running the network cable to the coop, and power the Rpi, two small (either POE or USB) cameras, maybe some LED lights, and momentarily power a SMALL motor to move the door...that would be great.

Like @Mouthpear said it does depend on which POE switch you get as to how much power one port has. Of course you could just run another cable for the door motor if it does not exceed the current rating. You can power a Rpi with a POE splitter like this one. You could power the door from a separate cable with the 12v splitter I mentioned above.

JT