[Slatz]

With Apologies for the picture, my ideas for a DIY pop hole opener.

All the bits can be had from Maplins but can be sourced cheaper on Ebay.

Theory is the light activated switch starts the motor turning at dawn until the door hits the microswitch and stops.  When it gets dark the reverse happens.

List of parts
2 microswitches £3.17
1 Motor and bracket £6.99
2 6V batteries  £13.98
1 Light sensitive switch £5.99
1 Solar powered charger £14.99

Total £45 ish, bit of time with the soldering iron, when I've built it I'll report on success/failure  (£33 if you get the bits off Fleabay)

[poultrygeist]

I gave this a lot of thought a couple of weeks ago and couldn't figure out a way of fixing the microswitches nor returning the door unless i used a solid rod.
we have a sideways opening hatch which can be a bit sticky at times.

well done for sourcing it all. be interesting to see the working model.

rob

[Slatz]

Just spotted this motor and gearbox, cheaper and probably less chance of the door slipping closed.

For a sideways opening door could you do something with rack and pinions?

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?criteria=rack%20and%20pinion&source=15&SD=Y

[poultrygeist]

That looks a good way of doing it. Are the microswitches IP rated or would they need to be internal ?

I'm very good at picking holes in someone else's hard effort !  

Rob

[Slatz]

Cheap and cheerful, internally mounted.

Whole thing to be mounted in a ice-cream tub.  (Bonus, I'll have to eat some ice-cream)

[poultrygeist]

Spoken like a true engineer !!  

Being a forward thinking designer, I mounted my door externally.
I could modify it to an internal vertical slider but at the moment my OH is getting up at 6.30ish so unless she starts holding me at knifepoint to do it, I'll leave things as they are.

I'm lucky in having a 240v supply to my shed next to the chook house so I could use an ac/dc psu in the shed to power it all. But at the mo I need to do other things first so I'll watch you do all the tweeking, then copy, and claim all the glory.  

Rob

[poultrygeist]

If you want the final production drawings doing on Autocad, let me know.

Rob

[Slatz]

Fine by me,  all bits ordered, I'm now at the mercy of Royal Mail before I can start building.

[Leaf]

sorry to be a pain that drawing doesnt work, trying to do one for you now

[Leaf]

Ignore me if you want, just trying to help, dont think it can be done with micro swithes either end as as soon as it opens/close you break the circut, you cant take 6v paralell from a 12v series. either.
on the light swith theres to many variables, i.e clouds, birds mess, leaves etc.
water would get straight in and short it.
What happens if you want open it manualy?

How about using more of a ram system, to eliminate the motor and 2x micro swithes, and a timer to eliminate the light switch, and have some kind of quick release clip so you can open manualy.

Hope i havent P***ed you off too much
Mal.

[compostqueen]

oh just get up early  

[Slatz]

Not p'ed off at all.  This is an experimental set up so all feedback appreciated.

[Foxy]

Is is just me or are these guys speaking in a foreign language - judging by the hierogylphics (slatz!) some sort of Egytian?  :shock:  :shock: What sort of chickens do you have in Egypt then?  

[alibean]

Ooooo crikey! My brain is aching just looking at this lot (well surpasses long forgotten Physics GCSE)  

Best of luck as in theory it sounds like a great idea.  If it works could you post an idiot (and I MEAN idiot) proof plan  - failing that you might want to go on Dragon's Den........

Good luck xxx

[poultrygeist]

Ignore me if you want, just trying to help, dont think it can be done with micro swithes either end as as soon as it opens/close you break the circut, you cant take 6v paralell from a 12v series. either.
on the light swith theres to many variables, i.e clouds, birds mess, leaves etc.
water would get straight in and short it.
What happens if you want open it manualy?

How about using more of a ram system, to eliminate the motor and 2x micro swithes, and a timer to eliminate the light switch, and have some kind of quick release clip so you can open manualy.

Hope i havent P***ed you off too much
Mal.

I know http://www.chicken-house.co.uk/door_opener.htm use a photosensitive opener. Be interesting to know how they keep theirs clean. I guess you'd just have to wipe it every so often.

Think you'd have to have some sort of latching relay somewhere.
I'm a bit rusty on this sort of thing.
If you use an ip54 box for it all, water or dirt wouldn't be a problem.
The rack and pinion system seems a good positive idea. Or a very good gravity (ie. weighted door) return system.
Could even run the motor for a set number of seconds to drive it up then again down.
It'll need a lot of testing and tweeking but I think it's a nice project to play with and could give you a few good lie-ins.  

Rob