This probably is far from the best solution, I admit, but since we already had a Smart Things security system set up, and I am not a programmer, I just got an extra Smart Things outlet and an electric pulley (like they have for automatic blinds), picked up some free wood at home depot to make a sliding upwards door, and set the Smart Things program to open and close the chicken coop door at sunrise and sunset. I also linked Smart Things through Alexa so if I need to override the program, I say, "Alexa, turn on chicken coop door." And the door will voice command open (or closed depending on which state it was in when I make the command, or control with thr Smart Things app if im away from home. Next step is to plug it into a solar panel on the roof of the coop. I've also got a hose hooked up to their drinking water when I go on vacation. I was working on an egg alert motion sensor, but that's not working correctly yet. Automated feeder would be easy to add if I had a good food holding option which i would hook up to the sunset switch to ensure all my chickens and ducks were safely inside. All of this just to not have to get up early, or to not have to rush home to close their door manually... and to take a periodic vacation from the homestead. (I have a chicken cam to check in.) If this is too on the grid, you could just get a separate sunrise and sunset timer to open/close the door.)
Deb Rebel wrote:
R Jay wrote:
Check out www.ebook777.com....lot of free downloadable ebooks.......several on Arduino and Raspberry Pi in the "hardware" category.
Books on Python and C++ languages are in the :software" category.
Most are in .PDF format, but a few are .EPUB
Thank you for the link! My better half is good at coding, it is his forte. My geekness runs more to hands-on. I should have been a machinist, born a generation too late, and still, am a much better bench-woman with fab and solder than he will ever be. (proven by employment and projects)
Again, thank you for the link.
