Hello,
I recently got inspired to make an automatic chicken coop door, which opens at dawn and closes at dusk. I have searched the forum and could not find a direct answer to my questions. I got some of my inspiration from this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwyfGqe3AsI&feature=relmfu
In essence i want to use a 12v battery (car or tractor) to power this door, probably being recharged via a small solar panel. I want to use a 12v timer to activate the door, not a photosensor as in the video. I'm gonna use a car's window motor with a chain/ cable to raise the door, to prevent the possibility of stuck poultry.
I also think it would be a viable option to use a car door pressure switch to sense the poultry door to stop the motor.
I had an idea to make the design more secure against predators. I want to use a car door's power lock motor to act as an electric deadbolt, powered by the same circuit as the window motor. ( when the bottom pressure switch is activated, the "deadbolt" lock the door, so it could not be forced open by some raccoons.
I have a few concerns.
Are there any decent 12v DC timers, that would work for this application. I was not able to find one.
Would this circuit be a viable starting point ? http://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=45515&d=1345360890 except with the timer in place of the photosensor ?
I am decent at soldering so that is a viable option if the need arises for a custom board.
Thanks in advance
Scott
I recently got inspired to make an automatic chicken coop door, which opens at dawn and closes at dusk. I have searched the forum and could not find a direct answer to my questions. I got some of my inspiration from this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwyfGqe3AsI&feature=relmfu
In essence i want to use a 12v battery (car or tractor) to power this door, probably being recharged via a small solar panel. I want to use a 12v timer to activate the door, not a photosensor as in the video. I'm gonna use a car's window motor with a chain/ cable to raise the door, to prevent the possibility of stuck poultry.
I also think it would be a viable option to use a car door pressure switch to sense the poultry door to stop the motor.
I had an idea to make the design more secure against predators. I want to use a car door's power lock motor to act as an electric deadbolt, powered by the same circuit as the window motor. ( when the bottom pressure switch is activated, the "deadbolt" lock the door, so it could not be forced open by some raccoons.
I have a few concerns.
Are there any decent 12v DC timers, that would work for this application. I was not able to find one.
Would this circuit be a viable starting point ? http://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=45515&d=1345360890 except with the timer in place of the photosensor ?
I am decent at soldering so that is a viable option if the need arises for a custom board.
Thanks in advance
Scott