Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Thought there was no use going any further with using power door actuators if it wouldn't have enough pulling power to raise the flap under water so did a controlled laboratory test today.

Flap setup:
50mm connector through side of plastic box with elbow on end so water can be put into box to cover the flap
Actuator and power relay mounted on metal upright
Red/black leads for power
Brown/white leads for providing earth to either side of actuator to raise/lower the flap

Flap closed:
Brown lead shorted to earth
Leads connected to ute battery to supply power and water above the 50mm flap, water on floor was caused when flap was closed which pushed it out over the elbow

Flap open:
White lead short to earth
Flap was pulled open easily and able to keep it open
Right toe belongs to cameraman - sorry Janet, know how you are feeling the cold (shorts and thongs weather here)

The power door lock kit comes with a 15amp fuse, I changed it to a 5 amp and tested several times, when testing further and adding more actuators, will see what current is used (by seeing which fuse size doesn't blow) - before someone jumps in and advises using an ammeter, the power to the actuator is on for only 200msecs

Further connectors will be put on either side
Side 1 will be the inflow from the fish/sump tank
Side 2 will be the outlet to the next GB if the flap is closed - this will be higher so that water will only flow on if the flap is closed and the water level then rises
The connector on the box will allow the water to flow into the GB if the flap is open, this will become clearer as the project progresses

This was a quick mockup only, comments are welcome but bear in mind that this was an initial test only

love your power supply

Yeh - its pretty mobile

I was happy it worked

your a ledge Les!

Yeh - but its the steepness and depth of the cliff face I'm worried about

you don't have to jump just look at the view for a while

LOL!! You are too funny, Les!!

SaWeet!

What is it you are trying to do?????

when I see how much fun you are having, I want to retire too!

DT,
With the normal setup, all grow beds are fed water from the fish tank together, this means if you have 3 GBs that hold 250litres each, a minimum reserve of 750 litres is required for when all GBs flood at the same time.

The next step is to work out a reasonably cheap and effective means of feeding each GB in series and thus only 250 litres reserve is needed, alternatives looked at are:
sprinkler solenoid valves - require 75kpa to operate
zero pressure solenoid valves - too expensive
Ball valves - too expensive

I am trying power door actuators to lift and lower a flap over a 50mm (2") pipe and thus divert the water flow (this was recommended by Steve - then he volunteered me), the pics above are the flap being raised and lowered in water to make sure it works before mounting it on a GB

I will be putting up progress reports and a final costing (eventually :glasses10: )

For those who have been following this on previous threads, I have worked out a simple gadget to monitor the water level and switch the door actuators/water valves

What are we gonna call this thing ("an abomination" is not acceptable )

I'm having a ball :tongue10:

DT
this all began *here on page 5*, previous pages give some info leading up to the door locks

Consider it a step closer to 'the grail' Les, nice work mate.

I reckon with all the open source design that is going on here at BYA, our collective brains will crack it sooner or later. Thanks for sharing, will watch with interest...

It's a shame you're so old Les, just think what you could come up with if your mind was still at peak production!!