OMG. Thank you so much! You are my hero! Coop door installed and tested. Works great! Now, I just hope it lasts longer (5 days) than the expensive automatic door I ordered from Amazon.

Can you make one video with a photosensor? THX

The best idea👍👍👍

The best👍👍thank you

I don’t want it to be over complicated so here’s a bunch of random wiring and mis matched components, I hooked the wires here but I’m not sure I have to but somehow it seemed to work, let’s hook it to this acid filled car battery and this doodad and that doohickey , Banda bing Banda boom bobs your uncle chickens are out!

Swayze Homestead, what is the distance of travel of the antenna?

like it. i was a bit dubious about an antenna motor however i think it will more than do the job seeing your set up. now just some personal ingenuity and make it happen. thanks for the video.

Thank you!! I have been searching FOREVER on how to wire these up correctly. Although I Plan on using this setup for led lights instead of a motor.

Simpliest get effective video I've seen so far!!Thanks for the help!!!!

What was the overall cost of everything?

It's been 3 yrs now. How's the parts been holding out?

Super simple! Big thanks!

Hi mr. swayze, what about when the chickens sit at entryway of coop door, they crap on everything! that will get in way of door sliding. You'll have to hang a paint scraper. chickens crap in their water, in their food, you name it!

very intresting approach :)

I used a cheap electronic magnet a spring and a timer really super simple if you have power to your coop not self closing but we need to check the chickens a couple times a day anyway so this was a really good compromise for us ...the spring I used was just a screen door spring $3 at TS ...the door magnet was Amazon I think less than $15 and any timer with on and off will work ....All told it was less than $30 and foolproof! I set the timer to energize like at 5pm and turns off at sunrise time....we simply go down every night and make sure door is clear and just pull it closed so the magnet holds it then with the timer denergizes the spring yanks the door open! Cheap and simple! You could also use a 12v magnet and a battery and have a little solar charger to charge the battery ....worse case if the battery crapped out early the door simply opens as opposed to the fully automated doors which I would just stay closed ....a disaster if you are away on a weekend

I can’t program this crazy timer!!!!

Do you have a construction/build video? Everyone would love to see how you attached antenna to doo, etc. Simple stuff yes but you have an amazing simple design we would all like to diy :)

Hi, How’s this going ? I have read through entire thread of questions And answers below. CN you provide the latest video for your modified design including detail of the current controller you have?

thankns

Thanks 🙏🏻

simple and well thought out. i wonder if it would work with a dusk to dawn sensor in place of the timer?

Love the design and simplicity of this system, I do feel the door to fast closing may injure a hen. So would you think a motor speed control switch would be a good idea?..

Can you share the amazon link to that antenna motor?

Did you eliminate the charge controller? When I look at your wiring diagram it isn’t included. Thank you.

Do you have any idea how you would wire the controller so you could use it without a switch. One of your viewers said he did it, but I can’t get it to work. I’ll order the switch if necessary, but would like to try to get it working this way if I could. Thanks in advance for your help. You also said you improved yours, but I haven’t seen an updated video. Have you make one?

Can I use a smaller 12 volt battery instead of a car battery?

Can you give us the item number for the charge controller. I’d like to try the solar set up that Richard mentioned, but need to know which charge controller to order.

hey uploader, why does the "entire kit" link in the description have a ""Electromagnetic Power Relay with Socket Base" and two "Micro Switch SPDT" but as far as i can tell it's not in the video or imgur diagram link? It is also missing a timer so i am wondering if these are required as i am not very experienced in making these things. thanks

hi mate i am about to order this from ebay www.ebay.co.uk/itm/30W-12V-Dual-USB-Flexible-Solar-Panel-Battery-Charger-Kit-Car-Boat-Controller/392360768040?var=661361218334 but not sure whether i should pick the 10,20,30 or 40 a controller. Any suggestions?i dont really know what that means to be honest or whether it depends on my battery, i am using a golf cart 12 volt battery. Thanks and would apprieciate any help from anyone thanks.

If you have 120 power nearby just slap an outlet in your coup (and motion controlled light too? So you can work in the dark and also scare predators?) With a 120 outlet you won't need the battery and solar panel either...simply buy a 120v D12v DC power supply on Amazon ....about $8 to $20 or so depending on amperage load ...2 amp Max power supply is $8. And it comes with a plug in terminal block ....the power supply looks like all the rest of em that come with electronics and appliances .....it even has the special plug ....but you just plug the terminal block adaptor and connect your antenna/timer set up right to that instead of a battery ....Just saying if someone thought you have to have a battery ....only need a battery if there is no power to or next to your coop. I imagine a power antenna motor does not pull much amperage ....any one know? back yard hens thread two people said only 1.3 amps but another said 5 amps are ....one nice thing about using a 120 volt to 12v adaptor is it is intrinsically protected whereas the battery set up requires a fuse to be safe from fire

Many thanks for the video and specific list! I ordered the items and look forward to putting it all together as soon as they arrive.

Great Job....problem with a timer is that you have to keep changing the time over the course of the year....best to use a Dusk/dawn switch and a simple DPDT Relay and you are done and never have to touch it again...

It's a good idea, but the reason for the weep hole at the bottom is to drain off any water that collects inside of the box. I built one with it upside down and it didn't last long because the condensation cannot drain and it fries the motor. It needs to be upright if you want it to last several years...

Loved your video, it's why I watch KZbin, to see how innovative people can be. No fat on your design, again I loved it. Now I need a chicken!

Can I just say, you don't even need the timer. Use the load outputs from the charge controller and the door will open as soon as sun hits the solar panel and close again at sunset.. The charge controller has the timer function already built in.

Great work! Do you happen to have the wiring diagram? I have seen the diagram you posted on imgur. But it does not include the charge controller. I prefer the setup with a charge controller, because it is not all solar panels that come with built-in controller. I need help wiring this pasteboard.co/IfDfnCu.jpg Thank you.

Hello...congratulation for that awesome chicken coop door opener!!i bought all staff and i cant connect all things together as you show in this video... can you please make a sketch of connection?thank you very much!!!

hello, I am installing an automatic chicken coop door for my universities chicken team, did you ever get the chance to upload the updated video of your new coop door so I can follow that? would be much appreciated, if not I will just follow this one and the digram you posted in the comments and hope for the best.

Hi I am doing this and so far so good. Question, can you show how you attached the door to the antena? If you have a picture? The antena fully closed does not have anywhere to tie in the door?

Got it, thanks

Where did you get your timer?

Should have done a demo of it working.

So much easier and I plan to give this a shot. I knew the other ones were overcomplicated but couldn't put my finger on it why I thought that. You helped me figure out what I was missing. Radio signal wire...that was it. The only thing I may do different is have it open the door when the antenna is shut off versus on.

Nice, I'll have few questions later this month, because im gonna build coop and im totally bad with wires and this stuff :/

My first iteration used a car antenna but I found the problem is that the strength of the "up/down" action was extremely limited to move a secure door or if ice or snow was to block opening. I now use a 10" actuator that does the job perfectly in all weather or with any weight for a secure door.

Don't your chickens peck at the wires?

Great Idea. I heard in the summer, at dusk, when the chickens won't go in, you can put a bright light inside the coop and that will coax them to come in earlier.

Power antennas starting at 20 bucks on eBay.

I've done something like this but my actuator closes much slower. 18" opening and takes 1 minute 40 seconds to close. I needed two 5 pin relay and two timers. Your antenna closes really quickly and the setup looks so much simpler, and cheaper. I love having an automatic door, good or bad weather I don't have to deal with it and the birds are safe every night.

Good job. Can I ask how long did that walmart battery last?