Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I adjusted the exhaust soon after I made the post this morning. It does make a difference, but it is still way too fast. However, hopefully the exhaust, lowering the pressure from the outlet that the chopper is on and the long length of hose will all contribute to it being slow enough. If not, I'm sure there would be things I can do to alter the exhaust so it lets out the air even slower.

F&F, as you will have no doubt noted, I set the door up so that it is open on power off and closed on power on, as you suggested. This is probably best in the case of power outage, as we discussed. However, my only concern is that the solenoid seems to get very hot when the power is supplied to it for a while. Givent hat I'll probably only have the door open for a few hours a day, I can't help but think that it may be best to have the door open when power on and close when power off.

Any thoughts?

Does the power go off that often.

F&F - yep I know I can do that, I was just seeing what you and others thought about me operating the reverse of what I am now.

Power outages are infrequent and I'll not be using it when nobody is at home, so I think it is best to recerse it. Afterall - don't want the door openning during the day due to a short power outage, chooks getting out and then the thing closing so they can't get back. This could theoretically happen when I am away or something. Mind you - I'll build a thing that will slide into place over the entrace for when I go away and stuff.

Les - really not my work mate. All credit goes to Dicko and F&F . I'll take a smidgen for creating the need and being open to suggestions

The Clang at each end of the stroke is probably the door rattling and hitting the sides of the runners.
There is nothing to hit at the top of the stroke, and there should be clearance at the bottom of the stroke.
This was done so that the frame is never under any load due to jamming.
(Reminds me... Ocasionally check that there is no Cr@p in the bottom of the door)
A bit of stuff (Rubber) up the inside of the runners should be able to cure the noise.

Also, next to each of the outlets on the cylinder is a small screw. These are shock absorbers.
Screw them in, and the last 15 mm of the "Exhausting" air will be restricted, slowing the last bit of travel,
Screw them out and the piston will slam backwards and forward.

Thanks mate - will have a play tomorrow (if I remember - had a few too many beers and wines, becoming a ritual while I'm on holidays and after a long day out in the yard ).

Try Scouts

Nah - I prefer beer

Agreed, I've very rarely had a stubbie answer back at me!

But there was that time after a week on the houseboat with "The Mates" that I swear my can was talking to me.....

Guys, sounds like a great engineering feat to get this one up and running.

I was going to be build an electric unit for our chook house, but in the end relented and purchased the unit from the UK.

It is extremely simple in concept but is a bit of a marvel of engineering in terms of how he has covered all the options. it has been running for 3 months now and has not had a single hiccup.

he has also done a great job of interfacing a Light sensor into it as an optional setup - it is controlled by a POT for the actual light level to open and close.

basically we set the door to open on a time at 6:30AM each morning - or when it is light enough to trip the Light Sensor, and then close automatically at night at 8:30 - or when the light sensor tells it is dark enough - this way we do not have to mess around with changing timers for Summer/Winter etc.

I think having seen the setup and how it all comes together someone with a bit of electrical design nouse could do the whole thing for about $50 AUD in materials.

Might be a a market for something like this in OZ as it cost nearly $300 for the whole lot to get here

Craig

Heh craig - that's the exact reason why I didn't go that way. Bit hard to justify spending $300 to save myself the trouble of closing the chook door

LOL, why spend $300 when mates can engineer and supply one for free thats worth $1500

Didn't want to say it that way

We have had our chooks for a few weeks now, and they are starting to lay. I ended up getting 21 (a miscount in our favour).

I've been freeranging them for a couple of weeks, but am using a manual door at this stage. I need to make a couple of adjustments to the chook pen before I can install the chopper - in particular, I need to move the laying boxes, which I made too high in the pen, resulting in the chooks sleeping in them instead of on the perches (which are lower).

I should then be able to install the chopper

:D:D:D:D:D:D