Hello

I plan to install a 12V battery solar charged dusk to dawn sliding door on my chicken coop.

I am very good with mechanics but to bad in electronics so I hope I can find some help to get the wiring done.
I can solder that's not a problem if this help with the solutions.

My goal is to open the door ind the morning with a LDR sensor perfect would be if I can use the solar panel to trigger the motor to open the door.
And than close it when it is dark maybe a 20 min delay after dawn to make sure all the chicken inside ....

I am not sure but are they not already limit switches in the window regulator motor ?
Here is my list what I did buy so far :

http://www.ebay.com/itm/171022580175?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

http://www.ebay.com/itm/120948253081?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

http://www.ebay.com/itm/150995347498?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

http://www.ebay.com/itm/221277827369?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

http://www.ebay.com/itm/190899488763?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1431.l2649


do I need to get a 12V Photocell to ?
I think I still need to buy relays but what relays I should use and how to wire this. After I have all the parts is it possible that I do a nice picture and somebody draws the wiring free hand with paint in the picture ? I try to read the wiring diagrams but I am just not good in this.
Maybe at this point its a little to early because the parts not here yet but my idea was to ask to maybe get a good solution from the beginning without buying the wrong parts
Well and sorry my English is not perfect I am from Germany but moved 6 years ago to the US

 

Be sure to search this forum for "chook house door" and other similar terms. This has been covered quite a bit here.

 

yes I know and I did read those but there was no window regulator involved and also I did see a video on you tube where a guy used the solar panel to trigger the door .... and i cant read normal wire diagrams so I need a easy drawing u know like ..... black wire goes to red wire goes to .... I know its little uncomfortable but if I could read a diagram I would need no help

I did read this

http://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/showthread.php?t=68685&highlight=chook+house+door

did see this
http://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=45515&d=1345360890

or that
http://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/showthread.php?t=57614

and all the other stuff but nothing is like I try to build it so maybe somebody like to help me with this wiring and the parts I need I am not so sure of the limit switches at this point because I know some window regulators have those inside so I need to check this first when it arrives .... But maybe somebody has a idea if it is possible to use the solar panel for trigger the door ?

 

Let's start with the "easy" part. The charge controller should include good instructions on how to wire your battery, charge controller and solar panel. So the power supply should be straightforward.

In my opinion it will be easier to work with a light sensor that is separate from the solar panel. The main reason for that is that the voltage on the panel will depend on what the charge controller is doing. If the battery is being charged, the panel may see light but the voltage is drawn down by the load of charging the battery. Another sensor will cost almost nothing and will simplify the circuit for detecting dawn and dusk. You might consider using the sensor and circuit from a solar garden light. These things are almost free and most use a cadmium sulfide (CdS) cell for detecting light.

I'm not familiar with the motor, so hopefully someone else can jump in here with advice on that.

 

Awesome by next week I have the window regulator incl motor and I can tell if there any limit switches in there or not.
any particular light sensor or dosent matter ?

 

It doesn't matter much. The solar lamp guys all use CdS cells, so I'm guessing that's the cheap and effective solution, but I learned here that even an LED responds to light. You'll calibrate the sensor with circuitry anyway, so anything that can respond to light should work. The solar cell from a garden light would work fine too.

 

Well so far I did the box and also did install the window motor works all ok .
I did order some limit switches but I think I will need some relays to right ?
I guess all what is missing is relays and the dusk to dawn switch u guys have a cheap site to order ?

I found this on ebay sounds expensive ... ?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/12-Volt-But...391?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f286ccbf7

And what relays should I use ?
Still wait for some parts but I will make a short video and post the link here as soon I got it all in hand.

 

Also I found this video if somebody draws it like this I can get it done hahahah well is this the way I need to wire it but I need the dusk dawn option .... also good to have is overwrite for Dusk dawn switch or the function in my solar controller check this out I think I can use the solar panel for dusk to dawn function .... also I can give it a dealy like 10 min is standard to turn the load off but can also do 1 hour .....you think this works or do I need this extra sensor for sure ?
Solar Charge Controller

 

It sounds like that controller will likely do everything you need. I'd wait until I proved to myself that it can't before looking for additional controls.

As for the circuit, I suggest you draw out a schematic or even a block diagram. This will help folks here what you're doing and will improve the feedback you get. It's just too confusing using words without a picture.

 

Hello thanks for your response well the problem is I am not good in drawing electronic symbols thats why I need help with the circuit.
But I did try to draw a picture with a description and a list with all the parts if need I can put all the ebay link in here to see exactly what I have.

The door should open after sun is up and close maybe 30 min after dark the 12V bat should be charged with the solar panel if I have enough power and it is not to difficult I like to power 1-2 led in the cub after dark.
Also maybe good to have is a switch where I can open and close the door any time regardless of daytime.

here my awesome drawing with all the parts... I should have them all by end of next week.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B5cgfP7RtXdjWUR1bW1OcU93X2c/edit?usp=sharing