Maker Pro
Maker Pro

Automatic chicken door

Redmeat

Aug 13, 2020
8
Joined
Aug 13, 2020
Messages
8
I built an automatic chicken door using mhcozy 2 channel wifi switch and an actuator that is control on a timer to open and close using google home app..everything works fine but I would like to add a garage door safety eye sensor to prevent any dog tragedies.. Does anyone know how of if that is possible? Thanks
 

Harald Kapp

Moderator
Moderator
Nov 17, 2011
13,098
Joined
Nov 17, 2011
Messages
13,098
More details about what you want to do? Your post is a bit sparse on information.
 

Alec_t

Jul 7, 2015
3,331
Joined
Jul 7, 2015
Messages
3,331
Sounds like your project could use a pulse-coded IR transmitter (such as used in TV remotes) one side of the door opening and a matching IR receiver the other side to make a broken-beam detector. The detector would control a relay or electronic switch to cut off the actuator supply for some defined time. The devil would be in the detail.
 

Redmeat

Aug 13, 2020
8
Joined
Aug 13, 2020
Messages
8
More details about what you want to do? Your post is a bit sparse on information.
Garage doors have a sensor on each side of the door. Infrared? If the beam is broken the motor will reverse to avoid anyone getting crushed. I would like to somehow wire garage door sensors on my automatic chicken coop door so if the beam is broken the door stops coming down. I want to avoid the door crushing a dog or chicken. I am not sure how the sensors even work or how to add it to my switch for it to work. Not sure if this is what you are looking...the switch i am using is a 2 channel wifi switch i linked above.. I dont know if I can somehow wire it to the switch or wire it to another relay and intall it after the switch and before the actuator? Should I send pictures of what I have? Thanks for your help
 

ChosunOne

Jun 20, 2010
467
Joined
Jun 20, 2010
Messages
467
Typical garage door beams have two different parts of a beam (usually IR) on each side of the door: One unit is the IR transmitter and the other is the IR sensor-cum-switch. The switch is the two contact points of a NO (Normally Open) relay. As long as the receiver "sees" the IR beam from the transmitter, it keeps the relay activated its (the relay's) contacts remain closed. When something interrupts the IR beam (or if power to the transmitter or receiver fail), then the contacts go open.

As long as the contacts are open, circuitry in the garage door opener keep the door from closing. The protocol for stopping or reversing the action of the door is in the garage door opener control PCB, not in the IR beam receiver, if that helps understand how that works. The beam is just a transmitter that sends a focused IR beam and the receiver is just an IR receiver that closes a relay when it sees the beam and controls a relay. You can say it (its relay) gives the door opener PCB "permission" to close the door, but doesn't actually initiate opening or closing itself. When something breaks the beam (or power to either unit fails, or if the beam gets misaligned), "permission" is denied. Whether that causes your control PCB to stop the door closing or reverse the action and completely re-open the door depends on how you program whatever PCB you're working with.
 

Redmeat

Aug 13, 2020
8
Joined
Aug 13, 2020
Messages
8
Thanks for your help. Could I use a 12 volt relay and install it after my 2 channel switch before my actuator and attach the sensor to that? I only need it to stop the door not reverse or anything fancy..even if it stays half closed until the next command given by the app controlling the switch would be fine. Thanks again.
 

Mouthpear

Jul 20, 2020
24
Joined
Jul 20, 2020
Messages
24
I was going to link you to my video where I use an MHCOZY 4ch Smart Switch with RF Capabilities as a controller, a TPDT relay and a counter and uses a pressure switch, to trigger the door to go back up and give the chicken a chance to either get outta the way or go inside. Then use a SONOFF DW2 Wi-Fi Wireless Door Window Sensor combined with a SONOFF B05-BL-A19 Wi-Fi Smart RGB Bulb to let you know if the door is down or not.

But then I read this

"I only need it to stop the door not reverse or anything fancy..even if it stays half closed until the next command given by the app controlling the switch would be fine."

Was even going to give you a diagram too.

Terminal wRelay Blade Mini wCounter wIndicator Light wDoor Sensor wAlarm wLarge Limit.png

Either way this post is like two years old and you probably already have what you need. I'll just leave this here for anyone else who wants to do this and use.

What did you do in the end? Update? Pix?

BTW I hope you appreciate my dry humor.
 
Top