I would like to use a 110 volt, 1/2 hp more or less, DC reversing motor to move and close a horizontal, heavy fabric, thermal, curtain blanket and then to move and open back the blanket in a greenhouse. There are very expensive commercial greenhouse systems that exist to perform this task. Since I have a hobby greenhouse that is 30 ft. wide by 80 ft. long, I need a much more affordable system. Horizontal wires that run the length of the greenhouse at approximately the 8 ft. height will be used to support the blanket and for it to slide along when mechanically closed and reopened. My idea is to use a boat lift type motor rig to perform this task with modifications to work in the greenhouse. The boat lift motor rig will consist of the 110 volt, 1/2 hp more or less, DC reversing motor, that will be connected to a small round pulley on the motor shaft, then a belt to a larger pulley. The larger pulley is connected to a large toothed round gear. The gear will be attached to an approximate 1 and 1/2 inch diameter, metal hollow pipe that is approximately 30 ft. long. This rig will be attached at one end wall of the greenhouse at 8 ft. high and at the other end of the greenhouse also will be an approximate 1 an 1/2 inch diameter, metal hollow pipe that is approximately 30 ft. long. This pipe also will be attached to the end wall of the greenhouse at the same 8 ft. height. Attached to these 2 pipes will be say 1/4 inch aircraft cable that will be approximately 160 ft. (2 x 80 ft. length of greenhouse) long. Initially 80 ft. of the cable will be wrapped around the pipe at the non motor end of the greenhouse. The remaining approximate 80 ft. of cable will run the length of the greenhouse and will be attached to the pipe at the motor end of the greenhouse. The curtain blanket will have a 30 ft. long horizontal bar attached to it. This 30 ft. bar will be attached to the aircraft cable at the non motor end of the greenhouse. As the motor turns the 2 pipes by wrapping and unwrapping the aircraft cable, the attached curtain blanket will be pulled the 80 ft. length of the greenhouse.
What I want to accomplish is as follows:
1. Be able to slowly, if possible, (say over 20 - 30 minutes) close (move forward) the blanket with the motor rig at a preset time in the evening and for the motor to stop when the blanket is fully pulled to the motor end of the 80 ft. greenhouse.
2. Be able to slowly, if possible, (say over 20 - 30 minutes) reopen (move backward) the blanket with the motor rig at a preset time in the morning and for the motor to stop when the blanket is fully pulled back to the non motor end of the 80 ft. greenhouse. To accomplish this, this reversing DC motor will need to reverse direction to reopen the blanket.
I tried to research on the internet how to accomplish the above, but everything described similar processes in vague and technical terms of using various types of electromechanical timers, electromechanical relays, limit switches, microcontrollers, MOSFET circuits, transistors, arduinos, bridge rectifiers, etc. I have zero knowledge of all of these devices and am totally confused.
I need some very, very, specific steps, specific products and where they can be purchased to be able to accomplished this. Again, I have zero knowledge of all these devices. Thanks very much for your help!
Alan
What I want to accomplish is as follows:
1. Be able to slowly, if possible, (say over 20 - 30 minutes) close (move forward) the blanket with the motor rig at a preset time in the evening and for the motor to stop when the blanket is fully pulled to the motor end of the 80 ft. greenhouse.
2. Be able to slowly, if possible, (say over 20 - 30 minutes) reopen (move backward) the blanket with the motor rig at a preset time in the morning and for the motor to stop when the blanket is fully pulled back to the non motor end of the 80 ft. greenhouse. To accomplish this, this reversing DC motor will need to reverse direction to reopen the blanket.
I tried to research on the internet how to accomplish the above, but everything described similar processes in vague and technical terms of using various types of electromechanical timers, electromechanical relays, limit switches, microcontrollers, MOSFET circuits, transistors, arduinos, bridge rectifiers, etc. I have zero knowledge of all of these devices and am totally confused.
I need some very, very, specific steps, specific products and where they can be purchased to be able to accomplished this. Again, I have zero knowledge of all these devices. Thanks very much for your help!
Alan