Need a challange? - Can someone help with some code?

Question

Hello Everyone,

Well, I am just about ready to start constructing my Chicken coop automatic doors. (I am building 2 automatic doors) I got away from the DeWalt drill motors

and just bought 2 12v 30a step motors. I needed to combine some code into another code I am using from Seth's code from his coop door project. Seth has

a site called, "Land to House" I am wanting to add the Helloworld code to his code because Helloworld is how I got my LCD and RTC (real time clock) to work

together. Do I post the code here or do I zip it and send it to you so I'm not going overboard here. Is someone willing to take a look at it? How do you wish I present

the code to you? Thanks in advance. Everyone has been so helpful so far. It will not let me attach a file.

vandia · Accepted Answer

While I honestly haven't read ALL the comments here (read half them a few weeks back), I may be wrong or missing things. If so, please forgive me! I just took a look at the code, and while most of my C knowledge is from C++ in 2004, and C# for Unity, I was hoping I could at least help SOME, since you didnt' get a response yet today. there's a 2 second delay after the door down switch activates Line 108 of your code linked in your last comment gives a 2 second pause before running "motor up" (open). The limit switch goes past the trigger and is no longer closed I'm not really just what you mean by "limit switch", but it looks like you are checking each sensor NOT just to run motor up/down (line 101/106), but also within those functions. I'd personally just rewrite those, though I understand why some people would want to check further before opening.... it just seems redundant to not check on a timer instead for something such as this. That's why you have the 2 second timer before opening/closing. Even 2 seconds apart seems like extra drain. int reed1Pin = 2 ; Either way, I'd check that reed1pin (line 22) is set to read the proper door switch, and that this door switch is connected properly. Otherwise, your problem is elsewhere is in the conditions for calling "motorup()" too soon... IE: the sensor for light is not working properly, or needs to be set higher than the current value to trigger it to open. In an afterthought, if it's not been discussed: Make sure you still have somewhere safe for your pets to go if they don't get into your little project before the door may trigger... and you may want to add an extra sensor to detect motion before it closes, to ensure nothing gets stuck in there. Either one when you're away may lead to you being disappointed in your project. ^_^;

jlangbridge · Answer

My sincerest condolences for your loss. Take the time you need, of course. I'll be here, adjusting code and fiddling with devices.

From what I can tell, you have here the basics; motors will activate according to light levels, and there is minimal code for a real-time clock, but I've removed most of the control structures. Don't worry, we can add them back in as soon as I know exactly what you need. Nothing is lost, it's just been trimmed down, ready for things to be added back later.

UPDATE: Here's the link: [C] //Locking, Automatic Chicken Coop Door //By Seth Johnson Land To House llc - Pastebin.com

nealbopper · Answer

Hello James,

I hope all is well with you? It's been a busy spring. I cannot believe it's been a month already since my father passed.

I was staining and resin coating my bee hives and now that that's all done, I have started building my chicken coop door.

I built the door yesterday, double checked the stepper motor would lift the 17x18x1/2 in piece of plywood and it did no problem.

I loaded up your code and ran it through the motor and switches and it worked as it should. The only thing that's not showing

proper data is the LCD. I am not sure if I need to enter the date and time so I left the code alone and just wanted to send you a note.

Thank you for taking the time to help me out. I am just about ready to start installing all the stuff. I have the solar panel,

lawnmower battery and solar regulator all ready to go. Just need to finalize the code and mount it all into by box and start running wires.

Neal

nealbopper · Answer

I'm sorry, I am using Arduino Uno. I have a 2 wire 16 inch Linear Actuator. L298N - H-Bridge Motor Controller (I got it to run the actuator open and closed by switching the wires around on the existing code. It just wouldn't retract when I closed of light to the light sensor. ) I have a 6 x 24 LCD screen (with piggy back for ease of wiring.) DS3231 RTC (real time clock) Sun light sensor or a photoresistor

jlangbridge · Answer

Aha! I see an error or two. For example, line 170. In C, you can't have "nameless" code. Line 170 starts off with {, and a few lies later finishes with }. Inside, there is some code, which looks suspiciously like initialization code. For this to work, this needs to be inside a function, that is to say a portion of code that can be called (for example, lines 102 and 135). This might be a bit of work, but we'll get this done

vandia · Answer

I figured it was either a wire not connected right, or the switch wasn't held, lol. For "keeping the motor running", I presume you mean "remove the requirement for the switch if it malfunctions"? If so, there's an easy one, and a complex way. In example, on line 121, you have: if ( switchState2 = HIGH && lightVal < 200 ) You can remove "switchState2 = HIGH && " from the equation, so it will check the triggers if the lightVal is under 200. You would also need to remove the corresponding "switchState# = " from any other if statements, and remove the "if" statement altogether if that switch number is the only condition. Also, if switch 1 is bad, you have to remove all statements statement says: if ( switchState2 = [HIGH/LOW] ) and anything between the { and } directly after, or your code won't run at best.... or you'll have a coo-coo chicken coop at worse. XD The "harder way" is actually a time saver if you can get help writing the code (because I'm honestly better at DEBUGGING than writing, and don't want to steer you wrong since I can't test it). Write a condition that checks if both sensors or high or low. I can give you a guestimate example: if ( switchState1 = HIGH && switchState2 = HIGH ) { #means both sensors are read as being pushed, so one is malfunctioning #(command to jump to routine checking sensors and ignoring "if(switch pressed)" if ( switchState1 = LOW && switchState2 = LOW ) { #means neither sensor is read as being pushed, so one is malfunctioning or motor stopped #(command to jump to routine checking sensors and ignoring "if(switch pressed)" else while(#run regular routines including switch requirements) If you need me to write the complete script, I can help help later.... but prefer to save time ATM in case you can do it yourself, since I have to post updates for an Edison project I'm making, and my phone broke so I lost many pictures of it. @_@ Let me know how it goes!

jlangbridge · Answer

Okay! Everything is installed, but sleep is kicking in (close to midnight here). I don't think there is a way of showing line numbers in the Arduino IDE... I've had a quick look, and reorganized a little bit the setup() function, adding your LCD hello world code. I still have a bit of work to do, though... The code is here: [C] //Locking, Automatic Chicken Coop Door //By Seth Johnson Land To House llc - Pastebin.com If anyone wants to take over.

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Need a challange? - Can someone help with some code?

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