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Arduino controlled automatic chicken coop door opener + extras

Former Member

I am just going back to school to become an electrical engineer. While i am currently taking lots of pre reqs i am doing my best to learn on my own. I am new to this site and hope you guys will be helpfull in the future. I thought i would post my current project here for all to see. Maybe you guys will have some ideas and helpful tips.

 

A few nights ago i had a raccoon get in with my chickens. While none were killed, one was hurt. I decided i need to make an automatic door for their coop. They normally have an open door to come and go as they choose when they choose. This was the week link, and at about 2 am i was chasing a raccoon out of the coop with a flashlight. Never again! I'm not in an area where i can use a "simple" pop boom solution. I have an arduino (one of the first off the presses Duemilanove) that i have decided to put to use. I will be using a small harbor freight solar panel, a second hand store drill, an old motorcycle battery, my arduino, an H-bridge, a locking wood chicken coop door and a handful of other parts. I am adding a speaker to play a song so the chickies know its bed time, and a light to help with egg production. It is a relatively simple project but a great learning one for me. I am still learning coding so for simplicity i am using ArduBlocks for the coding. This has aloud me to rapidly prototype my project. I am waiting for a few parts to show up and i will begin the project in earnest. I will post photos and hopefully video as i go. Until then, here is my extremely messy teaser photo.

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    I am using a light sensor and an old rc car as an analog so i can write the program and have it ready when i have all the parts. The light sensor will be replaced with my solar panel who's primary purpose is charging the battery, secondary is "is there light". The Rc car has a H-bridge, and i tapped into it to approximate the H-bridge and drill motor that will wind the cord and raise/ lower the door. Not shown in the photo is the speaker that plays "Ode to joy" 10 minutes before the door closes so they chickens know its time for bed. I am also adding a light that will turn on for a few hours to help with egg production.

  • in reply to Former Member

    Excellent start.

    You've clearly thought what you need, and more importantly a way to do it.

    The re-use of available parts also means the design is easier, as you know the hardware will work.

     

    Best advice for coding is work on each section, and get it working, rather than trying to do it all at once.

     

    You may also want to use some energy saving tricks later.

    Nick Gammon has some excellent easy to follow instructions here.

    http://www.gammon.com.au/forum/?id=11497

     

    Mark

  • in reply to Former Member

    Chicken coop projects are quite popular at the moment.

    Here are some additional resources:

     

    Auto Chicken Coop Opener

    Automatic chicken coop door.

  • in reply to Former Member

    Hi Will,

    Welcome to E-14 forum and thanks for sharing your great idea and progress so far. I will be looking forward to your posts as your project takes shape. Sounds like you have a clear goal and a good plan to get there.

    John

  • Today i worked out in my shop and made the hardware for my door. It is a simple guillotine style, but with a set of locks at the bottom so the door can't be lifted by a curious raccoon. I mounted it all inside my coup tonight and it goes up and down like a charm. Tomorrow i work on putting all the electronics into it.

    imageimage

  • in reply to Former Member

    Looks like a very good design and well made.

    John

  • in reply to Former Member

    I like the locks idea.

    So simple yet so effective.

     

    One consideration.

    Will the door twist or warp when it gets wet/dry/ hot/cold.?

    The last thing you need is binding.

     

    Mark

  • in reply to mcb1

    Good point Mark, Maybe he could cut it somewhat short on all sides and use a strip of that brush like material that use on doors to keep the draft off. That way it's still warm and plenty of room for it to rack and bend as we know it probably will over time.

  • Valid point guys but i have taken that into consideration. I am pretty use to working with wood. The body of this guy is 3/4 furniture grade plywood. It would be stable in all put laying in a puddle. Well, enough for me anyways. The runner guides are some quarter sawn walnut that has been around for awhile. Even if that does expand a bit i left enough clearance that it shouldn't interfere with the door operation. Lastly the entire thing is on the inside of the coop under a roof. I left plenty of overhang on the coop when i built it so my chickens will stay dry and warm. I have also worked paste wax into the entire project with a heat gun. It should be just fine. The bottom of the door is also cut at a slight angle to minimize the contact point and help prevent the chickens from filling it with crud.