Reddit reviews Add-A-Motor - Chicken Coop Automatic Door Accessory Motor - Model D20-120V
We found 7 Reddit comments about Add-A-Motor - Chicken Coop Automatic Door Accessory Motor - Model D20-120V. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
CUSTOMIZABLE - Heavy duty motor adapts to your coop, connects to any type chicken coop door (wood, metal, or plastic) to make it "automatic"POWERFUL MOTOR - No counter-weight needed. Motor can lift and lower a door up to 10 pounds, with door openings up to 25 inches or moreSAFETY FEATURE - Included safe connector prevents damage if door is frozen closed or jammed and closes slowly to prevent injury to poultryEASY SET UP - Installs in about 15 minutes. No Complicated Programming. Simply rotate a dial to set how high and low to reel your doorINCLUDES - Motor, mounting hardware, universal door connector, AC power adapter, and illustrated instructions. Works like a reversible motorized fishing reel
While I was researching for my automatic blinds project I ran into this:
http://www.amzn.com/B007IZJWNQ
Which, aside from the webcam server would allow you to do what you're looking for without the raspi
http://www.amazon.com/Add-A-Motor-D20-Chicken-Coop-Motor/dp/B007IZJWNQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410702792&sr=8-1&keywords=automatic+coop+door
I got a little ahead of myself posting the video. I'm excited it works! I've still got some more to do, at which point I'll do a complete post about the process.
It's pretty easy though. Everything runs off an extension cord right now. The security camera is this:
http://www.amazon.com/Zmodo-ZM-SH75D001-WA-Camera-Two-way-Monitoring/dp/B00ZZ4HX1K
The coop motor is this:
http://www.amazon.com/Add-A-Motor-Chicken-Automatic-Motor-D20/dp/B007IZJWNQ
and we turn it on and off using a WeMo Wifi plug:
http://www.amazon.com/WeMo-Enabled-Electronics-anywhere-Compatible/dp/B00BB2MMNE
I use one and it works great, you do have to get a separate timer and build a sliding door with little to no friction but it’s cheaper than all the others I’ve see and we just had our second light snow today and it’s still going strong. Good luck!
https://www.amazon.com/Add-Motor-Automatic-Accessory-D20-120V/dp/B007IZJWNQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?keywords=automatic+chicken+coop+door&qid=1573611131&sprefix=automatic+chi&sr=8-7
Think a lot about how you're going to clean out the coop in your design. Nice big doors with good access will make your life a lot easier. Also, keep in mind that chickens will attempt to roost literally anywhere they can manage to fly and perch to, and will manage to get poop into any of those spots, so make sure you design well for that eventuality especially where food and water are concerned. And don't underestimate predators. Be thorough with your security.
Edit: Also worth mentioning: I dropped $100 on an automatic door opener (this one), and it's seriously the best $100 I've ever spent. My ladies get to go out right at the crack of dawn every morning and I don't have to be home to shut them in in the evening. Of course, if you build a super secure run you might not have to worry about that in the first place, but still, chickens are generally safer in a coop at night no matter how secure you make the run.
This is pretty useful for the lazier folks.
Works great. Just add a zwave switch.
You already have a vertically-sliding door, so you're halfway there. All you would need to do is buy the motor-kit. I've installed one a while ago, very easy to DIY with instructions. Some of them require a power outlet, some of them use solar, but almost all of them will let you power them off a 12V battery
example: https://www.amazon.com/Add-Motor-Surface-Chicken-Automatic/dp/B007IZJWNQ/