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DIY ESP32 based chicken coop door. Control based on time, light or via app

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Re: DIY ESP32 based chicken coop door. Control based on time, light or via app

#51

Post by nullwarp »

tengbretson wrote: post #31

I have an automatic chicken coop door from the company Run-Chicken. It is one of the most brilliantly designed products I've ever owned. It has an app for setting up the opening and closing rules, which can be rather sophisticated, based on both time and light conditions. The device itself has no WIFI, bluetooth, or a radio of any kind . To program the device, you push a button to put it into a programming mode, then…

Have the same door, has worked flawlessly for the two or so years i've had it I don't even think about it.

Really clever piece of engineering on the programming mode for sure.

Re: DIY ESP32 based chicken coop door. Control based on time, light or via app

#52

Post by enachb »

ukd4ve wrote: post #33

I have a similar setup, but used an actuator for the door, so it can't be pried open by a racoon. I use Home Assistant rules to open and close the door according to readings from a light sensor in the coop.

This. I have had a gravity based door mechanism for 2 years and eventually your door gets jammed. I started with one limit switch and calibrated number of turns, but even that over time started to get into weird conditions.

Cheap linear actuators from Amazon with built in limit switches are the way to go IMHO: https://www.amazon.com/ECO-LLC-Actuator-Mounting-Brackets/dp...

Re: DIY ESP32 based chicken coop door. Control based on time, light or via app

#53

Post by dekhn »

finnjohnsen2 wrote: post #39

The esp32 devboards are magnificent, as it is so easy to replace the need for official Arduino boards - Arduino compatible - platformIO supported - very cheap - they are usually tiny - great wifi and Bluetooth - gpio pins for the different protocols (i2c etc) - easy to power (tolerance and options in usb and pins) - lots of exciting new models and active development like the esp32c3, the D1 minis and different models…

you can also drop the Arduino bit and use FreeRTOS. Also many of my ESP32 projects end up on a solderable breadboard with a level shifter to deal with 3.3v. But most of what I work with today is 3.3v.

Re: DIY ESP32 based chicken coop door. Control based on time, light or via app

#54

Post by traviswt »

hedora wrote: post #21
traviswt wrote: post #5

I have a door from Run-Chicken, mechanically it's still good but the electronics went out in it. I'd love to have something like this running it, going to give it a shot.

If you can rip out the old motor and tie a string to the door (drill a hole in the piece that moves?), you can get a standalone motor from chicken guard. (You’d want the pro model or cheaper; their new all-in-one would have you replace the old door)

I might do this, but the servo still works. So long as I can still drive the servo, I think I'm good. It's open loop, so I'll need to watch something to determine when the door is fully shut.

Re: DIY ESP32 based chicken coop door. Control based on time, light or via app

#55

Post by [deleted] »

dekhn wrote: post #53
finnjohnsen2 wrote: post #39

The esp32 devboards are magnificent, as it is so easy to replace the need for official Arduino boards - Arduino compatible - platformIO supported - very cheap - they are usually tiny - great wifi and Bluetooth - gpio pins for the different protocols (i2c etc) - easy to power (tolerance and options in usb and pins) - lots of exciting new models and active development like the esp32c3, the D1 minis and different models…

you can also drop the Arduino bit and use FreeRTOS. Also many of my ESP32 projects end up on a solderable breadboard with a level shifter to deal with 3.3v. But most of what I work with today is 3.3v.

[deleted]

Re: DIY ESP32 based chicken coop door. Control based on time, light or via app

#56

Post by thelastparadise »

wiredfool wrote: post #32
daveevad wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Turns out that the LOS between the wifi dongle and the AP went through the roost, and chickens absorb enough wifi signal to drop it off the net. That sounds like a chicken motion detection system to me.

Chicken presence anyway. I tell you the bugs you see when deploying something in the real world...

And the chickens will eat the bugs when you deploy them to the real world..

Re: DIY ESP32 based chicken coop door. Control based on time, light or via app

#57

Post by Petersipoi »

petee wrote: post #28

One problem I see with this is not stranding chickens outside if they didn't return fast enough; I guess you could count by breaking a light beam, or stepping on a plate. Second would be adding a good lock to the door -- raccoons are very crafty, and love stealing eggs

> and love stealing eggs

and chickens.. in my experience

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