Wi-Fi Chicken Annexe Door - Part 3

With the annex door installed into the annex gate we can move onto mounting the actuator on a base and make the actuator arm.

The door actuator is ready to install.

Wi-Fi Chicken Annexe Door - Part 2

In this session we installed the wi-fi door into the annexe gate.

Removed the annexe gate and took it into the workshop.

Wi-Fi Chicken Annexe Door - Part 1

 Making another door this time for the chook run annexe gate.

I stuffed around for quite a while making the first one for the chook run this one took less than one hour!

This one will cop the weather so we are using exterior 3mm plywood.

Wi-Fi Chicken Door - Upgrade 1

Yesterday we did the cookie sheet upgrade to external annex door. Today we are doing the same upgrade to the internal chook run door.

Removing the door frame.

Wi-Fi Bird feeder - Part 6

Modifications to stabilise the feeder.

Adding some improvised brackets at the base of the feeder.

Wi-Fi Bird feeder - Part 5

Worked out how to mount the bird feeder assembly atop the bamboo pole.

Finding the balance point.

Wi-Fi Bird feeder - Part 4

 

This morning we are making a stand for the Wi-Fi Bird Feeder.

Don't have any preconceived ideas about this one and certainly no napkin sketch. Let's go for a stroll around the place and see what we can find.

Wi-Fi Bird feeder - Part 3B

 Demo video.

Wi-Fi Bird feeder - Part 3A

In the last session we mounted the water valve on a round plywood base.

Components are sitting on two fence palings that I dressed in the planer/jointer machine. Thinking... shuffling things around.

Wi-Fi Bird feeder - Part 2

 This time I'm discarding the supplied hardware; mounting foot and pipe clamp and instead using a mounting block to which the actuator will be secured with nuts & bolts.

Happy with that so remove from the actuator to fix on the plywood disc.

Wi-Fi Bird Feeder - Part 1

I still have things to do with the Wi-Fi Chicken Door, some refinements and also need to paint everything.

Taking a break from that and starting a Wi-Fi bird feeder. This is for our Bluey the rose-ringed parakeet AKA ringneck parrot.

Bluey visits us morning and afternoon.

Wi-Fi Chicken Door - Echo Show Demo

This video shows how the wi-fi chicken door can be controlled via the Smart Life app on Amazon Echo Show.

Wi-Fi Chicken Door - First time for chooks

 

Wi-Fi Chicken Door - Part 11C Final

 Assorted videos as I built the box frame around the door.

Wi-Fi Chicken Door - Part 11B

 Finishing the install with some testing videos up next.

Wi-Fi Chicken Door - Part 11A

 The wi-fi chicken door is installed and working - yay

Wi-Fi Chicken Door - Part 10B

After gathering the tools we need went out to start installing the chook door and then... the heat got to me!

Wi-Fi Chicken Door - Part 10A

Construction photos showing the main components and configuration of the device via the Alexa app on my Samsung J7 Pro phone.

For testing am using my 14" band saw to secure the actuator mechanism (wi-fi valve)

Wi-Fi Chicken Door - Part 9B

 In the last session we decided to use the wi-fi valve mounting hardware and here we are making a new frame for the smaller 3mm MDF door using the previous chicken door.

The new door will slide inside the previous door which is now the new doors frame - confusing!

Wi-Fi Chicken Door - Part 9A

Having another go with a revised valve mounting arrangement and a lighter weight door. The actuator was struggling to lift the door not helped by me jamming it a few times stressing the servo mechanism.
I put that one aside for the Bluey bird feeder.

This time we'll use the supplied mounting hardware.

Wi-Fi Chicken Door - Part 8

 The 3mm plywood sliding door has been replaced with 3mm MDF.

The wi-fi valve was doing the job but the actuator arm was struggling a bit to complete the lift.

More thinking...

Wi-Fi Chicken Door - Part 7B

In this session we are routing the pulley, assembly and working mock-up.

Wi-Fi Chicken Door - Part 7A

With the door and frame assembled we can now start working out how to mount the water valve with a string connection to the top of the door - new ground.

This is where we finished the previous session.

Wi-Fi Chicken Door - Part 6

For this session we are up to the point where the frame sides and the bottom (base) have been screwed together with the door sliding nicely up and down. In the next session we will fit the frame top and take it from there. Oh... lovely day.

We can start putting it all together.

Wi-Fi Chicken Door - Part 5

Back after lunch... we are going to route channels in the frame sides. I haven't used the router table for over 12 months, had to clear away all the stuff that was stored on top and brush off all the sawdust - and cobwebs.

Preparing to route the side frame channels but things came to a abrupt halt - false start! Got held up with a router table problem!

Wi-Fi Chicken Door - Part 4

In this session we are assembling the frame.

Two screws for each corner.

Wi-Fi Chicken Door - Part 3

With the Wi-Fi Valve setup and operating we can start making the door frame and the actual door that will slide up and down inside a frame.

After rummaging through my limited timber supplies this should get us started.

Timber is so  expensive these days!

Wi-Fi Chicken Door - Part 2B

With the smart valve setup and operating we can start making the actual door that will slide vertically inside a door frame.

This is the desk return, to the left is the main desk with Lenovo AIO desktop with Canon printer plus other stuff. Made another higher stand to accommodate the Amazon Echo Show 8 on the left.

Wi-Fi Chicken Door - Part 2

The ZigBee Wi-Fi Valve has just been delivered by Amazon!

Ordered yesterday here today 

Wi-Fi Chicken Door - Part 1

Looking for a way to let the chooks in and out main chook run and the adjacent chook annex. With that in mind doing some research to come up with some ideas to make a wi-fi controlled chicken door that would sit inside the chook run gate, at the bottom and centered. 

 

The main reason for doing this is related to the morning egg laying ritual so I can remotely let the girls (at separate times) in and out too do their egg business. I am browsing Amazon looking for suitable wi-fi smart shut-off water valves (actuators) - compatible with Alexa.

The one above looks good with a choice of two Android apps, checkout the video!