The use of a diode will remove having to set so many on and off times. One timer is set to open in the morning for 1 min and the other timer is set to close in the evening for 1 minute.
Your explanation is great! I recently built an almost identical system but sort of reversed... opens with one timer, closes with both. I added a small solar panel and charge controller with 12v battery. Also a manual option - up/down rocker switch that can be to isolated to prevent backfeeding the relay and actuator.
You can buy a relay on eBay for around $5.50. Relay comes with the socket base. P/N 12vdc. spec-16A. Timer is Cn101A. For $15.00. You can get wiring diagram from Progressive Automation. Only one timer is required.
I used think that a timer and DPDT relay was the way to go. Till I came across this configuration. Two SPDT timers is all you need. Very very simple in that you don't even have to figure out what contacts go to what on a relay. th-cam.com/video/wJwNZ3A2x3M/w-d-xo.html
You are wrong. There is a need for the two timers. No matter how you wire it, with just 1 timer (except for a dual ch timer) you will be using up power the entire time the timer and relay will be on. The setup here makes it so when the polarity is reversed to go up, the power is cut off, then the polarity reversing timer shuts off and the door stays up all day with no power being used. In this video he has house power but when he changes over to battery power charged by solar panels it will make a difference. This is actually the easiest way to wire a linear actuator with timers. Wiring is kept to a minimum, Easy to understand and the most efficient. th-cam.com/video/aYv3-aVQEOY/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=AztecWarrior th-cam.com/video/ClPmxFDa5m4/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=AztecWarrior Dual ch timer I mentioned. th-cam.com/video/7Oykm8wyQtU/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=AztecWarrior However I am Interested in how you would wire it not use two timers.?
@@TW-jb1gz Yes the power consumption is very low. But when you are going to be running power from a battery it matters. Especially when he will be charging that battery with solar. The sun is only out "half of the day". Now a good battery can last for a good amount of time without being charged. Like the Dual ch timer I mentioned. It lasted almost 4 months without charge. th-cam.com/video/7Oykm8wyQtU/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=AztecWarrior However once the winter months come and a good day of full sun get shorters or ar replaced with cloudy rainy days the battery won't be getting topped off as it should. So saving any amount is a very good thing. Not to mention that some people will also power other things like lights or even electric fence on that battery, so every little bit counts.
Hello, I am building a box that I would like to set a timer to open at 4pm and close the door at 6pm every day. I have the Linear Actuator so my question is..Do I need timers to do this Plus the Relay??
Better if you run two timers and two SPDT relays. So much simpler. On the relays you Simply wire, Positive to the NO (Normally Open) terminals of the relays Negative to the NC (Normally Closed) terminals of the relays. Commons of the relays are the wired to Positive and Negative of the Actuator wires. Day timer (connected to relay 1) turns on in the morning for , let's say five minutes (just long enough for the door to open fully, is all that's needed), then the timer shuts off. Do the same for the night timer (connected to relay 2). And you are done. Even better and easier to wire is, you get TWO SPDT Timers. You Simply wire, Positive to the NO (Normally Open) terminals of the timers Negative to the NC (Normally Closed) terminals of the timers. Commons of the timers are the wired to Positive and Negative of the Actuator Wires. Day timer turns on in the morning for , let's say five minutes (just long enough for the door to open fully, is all that's needed), then the timer shuts off. Do the same for the night timer.
Basically with the right timers you eliminate the relays.
hi. im just wondering. the actuator has built in limit switches. technically, you can use only one timer then leave it on so that the actuator will extend until the limit switch hits then when it turns off, the actuator retracts. does the use of 2 timers for the sake of "just to be sure not to burn the motors" thing or to save power or both? hope you can reply even this video is kind of old. thanks mate, i am planning the same setup.
Hi Brad, Need your help! I am so lost with how it gets all connected. I have purchased the following as the basic setup: A. DPDT 8 pins (or is your the DPDT 6 pin can't tell on the video). I could not follow the wiring of the DPDT for forwardiung/reversing motor B. Auto window motor Works like actuator, but don't have limit switches built in C. Two Timer same as yours D. Converter 110V AD to 12V DC (works very well came from a computer) Later, I want it to do more: 1. Monitor the temperature via a thermostat when its below 20 degree the door will not open 2. Light Sensor monitor the day light (open in the morning and close at night) 3. Limiting Switches , so the system shuts stop as soon as the door is up or down 4. Dimmer so I can control the speed in which the door opens/closes 5. LED light to help the chicken get in the coop before it totally dark 6. Go totally solar so I don't need the converter This is a project for a later date just want to have the basics for now . Any help would greatly be appreciated. I can provide photo(s), diagram(s), and item list if needed. I believe you have attained the knowledge I need to get off the ground based on the video you posted. Thanks!
I used to think that a timer and DPDT relay was the way to go. Till I rediscovered this configuration used on car power door locks and windows. Two SPDT timers is all you need. Very very simple in that you don't even have to figure out what contacts go to what on a relay. th-cam.com/video/wJwNZ3A2x3M/w-d-xo.html
I understand reversing the polarity with the relay to change the direction of the actuator. What's puzzling me is when the DPDT relay is in the "static" position (de-energized), the contacts are in one position. When you apply power to the relay, the contact reverse position and the motor goes the opposite direction. The "puzzle" is when you remove the power to the relay coil and the relay reverses position, why doesn't the actuator go back to its original position?? Are you ALSO applying/removing power to the relay contacts via the timer so nothing happens when the relay contacts reverse position until the timer re-applies power??
Because the main power from the first timer goes off before the relay timer does so there is no power going to the actuator to send it to its "home" position. If you keep power to the main timer and take it away from the relay the actuator will go back to the other position. I just run the timer for the relay a little longer than the main timer.
Thanks for the reply. The relay you showed will have a "static/home" position where it will always go to without power. It has "normally closed" and "normally open" contacts. Whenever control voltage is removed from the relay, those contacts will ALWAYS be in those positions. So, applying "constant" voltage to the contacts and then controlling the relay will control the door as long as the control power is kept on the relay coil. Once that coil voltage is removed, the relay will switch back to its static/home position and the door will go the other way. If your timers are both supplying power to the relay coil AND SWITCHING power to the RELAY CONTACTS, there will not be any voltage on the relay contacts when it reverts back to its "static/home" position and the door will not move again until your first relay comes back on and applies voltage to those "normally closed" contacts of the relay. Right???
I have a wiring diagram. I may do another video of the wiring and timer setup. I've been using a few months now and have had zero issues. It works flawlessly. May take me a couple weeks to get a new video up. We are moving right now and everything is packed up.
I'm looking for help here and came to this post. I want to feed my deer in the daylight and not the night. Thus, training the deer to eat during the day so I can have the big boys come out. I've taken a commercial trash can that you would put each week by the road for pick up....and I've cut the top 15" or so out of the can. Then I bury in the ground 10-12 inch's. It looks like someone buried a trash can with lid in the ground. I want to make that lid open in the daytime (sun out) and close at dark. I can stiffen up the flimsy lid with a frame on the inside and a smaller solar panel on the lid or nearby to power the battery. Any ideas on how I can make this work? They make a commercial one now for this but nearly $600.00 that is ridiculous, I want to devise one of my own to save money.
I've thought about setting something like this up. I may use a raspberry pi to do all the thinking though... my one question I'm left with is how do you make sure the chickens are inside when the door closes? I know my chickens and I don't know how quickly they'd catch on to the automatic door concept...
Chickens go in when it starts getting dark. Set timer to just after that. If you can, place a bright light in the coop just before it gets dark the chickens will go to the light since they have poor eyesight in the dark. They will feel more secure in the coop with light. This way will help you get them in BEFORE it get completely dark, and predators come out.
That's such a great idea buddy. I am building something like that but not for chicken Coupe. Os there any way you could share how you wired it and how you set the timer. I would really appreciate it. Thanks Buddy
This is perfect, exactly what I was going to build in my head.....and then I found this video looking for parts. Can you post the DPDT relay link? Thank.
Can someone please help? I have hooked up both timers to the Dual channel spdt relay with a 12v power supply exactly depicted in the “new method” link. Unfortunately it’s still not working. When I hook up 12v power supply the right way (positive to positive negative to negative) the power light on the relay board comes on but the 2 timers power/red lights do not. When I flip flop the power leads to 12v power supply negative to positive and positive to negative both timer power/red lights work but now the green power light on the relay board is off? I would appreciate any help trouble shooting this problem. Thanks to all!
If anyone wants a wiring diagram that uses cheap 6 dollar automotive SPST NO relays and 2 timers give me a shout. Ideally I would have used DPST NO relays but couldn't find them readily. My circuit also has an interlock relay that protects the circuit in the event of both timers coming on at the same time.
I really need your help with something . I have a similar project in school and i have some problems . Really appreciate if you could me with. Great job by the way
TJ K thanks for posting a link with more info. I love this system. It works every day. I had some problems with my actuator when the temps were -30 and -40 but a heat lamp pointed directly at it solved my problem.
Brad Rustan no prob. about to get mine assembled once all the parts arrive. it's nice to see some alternative door configurations as far as the actuator is concerned.
TJ K I spent many hours trying to figure it all out. I don't make a lot of videos but I couldn't Gide exactly what I was looking for so decided to make one. I'm still surprised there are over 3000 views already. Glad I can help someone anyway. I've learned more from TH-cam than I ever did in school.
You could have just used 1 timer ( CN101 model B ) and 2 relay to switch polarity. Google actuator relay diagram to learn how to switch polarity with 2 relay . But as long as it works.... Thank you for sharing.
Why would you need 2 relays if you already have the CN101B. That makes no sense. You need to actually find a link and post it. Googling "actuator relay diagram" just brings up a million diagrams and most of them have nothing to do with this. Not to mention we have no idea of the one you are referring to. Can you be more specific?
The use of a diode will remove having to set so many on and off times. One timer is set to open in the morning for 1 min and the other timer is set to close in the evening for 1 minute.
Your explanation is great! I recently built an almost identical system but sort of reversed... opens with one timer, closes with both.
I added a small solar panel and charge controller with 12v battery. Also a manual option - up/down rocker switch that can be to isolated to prevent backfeeding the relay and actuator.
You can buy a relay on eBay for around $5.50. Relay comes with the socket base. P/N 12vdc. spec-16A. Timer is Cn101A. For $15.00. You can get wiring diagram from Progressive Automation. Only one timer is required.
I used think that a timer and DPDT relay was the way to go. Till I came across this configuration. Two SPDT timers is all you need. Very very simple in that you don't even have to figure out what contacts go to what on a relay.
th-cam.com/video/wJwNZ3A2x3M/w-d-xo.html
You have link?
I have this for my heating system, how can I cancel the automatic timer that’s been set 🤔
Nice video.
Please, can I use this timer to power a 12volts DC fridge.
Thanks
There is no need for 2 timers if you wire the DPDT slightly differently.
But like the idea with the drawer slides. Easy peasy.
You are wrong. There is a need for the two timers.
No matter how you wire it, with just 1 timer (except for a dual ch timer) you will be using up power the entire time the timer and relay will be on. The setup here makes it so when the polarity is reversed to go up, the power is cut off, then the polarity reversing timer shuts off and the door stays up all day with no power being used. In this video he has house power but when he changes over to battery power charged by solar panels it will make a difference.
This is actually the easiest way to wire a linear actuator with timers. Wiring is kept to a minimum, Easy to understand and the most efficient.
th-cam.com/video/aYv3-aVQEOY/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=AztecWarrior
th-cam.com/video/ClPmxFDa5m4/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=AztecWarrior
Dual ch timer I mentioned.
th-cam.com/video/7Oykm8wyQtU/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=AztecWarrior
However I am Interested in how you would wire it not use two timers.?
@@AztecWarrior69_69 you are right with the power and the relay being on half of the day, however, the power consumption is very, low.
@@TW-jb1gz Yes the power consumption is very low. But when you are going to be running power from a battery it matters. Especially when he will be charging that battery with solar. The sun is only out "half of the day". Now a good battery can last for a good amount of time without being charged. Like the Dual ch timer I mentioned. It lasted almost 4 months without charge.
th-cam.com/video/7Oykm8wyQtU/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=AztecWarrior
However once the winter months come and a good day of full sun get shorters or ar replaced with cloudy rainy days the battery won't be getting topped off as it should. So saving any amount is a very good thing.
Not to mention that some people will also power other things like lights or even electric fence on that battery, so every little bit counts.
Hello, I am building a box that I would like to set a timer to open at 4pm and close the door at 6pm every day. I have the Linear Actuator so my question is..Do I need timers to do this Plus the Relay??
Better if you run two timers and two SPDT relays. So much simpler.
On the relays you Simply wire,
Positive to the NO (Normally Open) terminals of the relays
Negative to the NC (Normally Closed) terminals of the relays.
Commons of the relays are the wired to Positive and Negative of the Actuator wires.
Day timer (connected to relay 1) turns on in the morning for , let's say five minutes (just long enough for the door to open fully, is all that's needed), then the timer shuts off.
Do the same for the night timer (connected to relay 2). And you are done.
Even better and easier to wire is, you get TWO SPDT Timers.
You Simply wire,
Positive to the NO (Normally Open) terminals of the timers
Negative to the NC (Normally Closed) terminals of the timers.
Commons of the timers are the wired to Positive and Negative of the Actuator Wires.
Day timer turns on in the morning for , let's say five minutes (just long enough for the door to open fully, is all that's needed), then the timer shuts off.
Do the same for the night timer.
Basically with the right timers you eliminate the relays.
hi. im just wondering. the actuator has built in limit switches. technically, you can use only one timer then leave it on so that the actuator will extend until the limit switch hits then when it turns off, the actuator retracts. does the use of 2 timers for the sake of "just to be sure not to burn the motors" thing or to save power or both? hope you can reply even this video is kind of old. thanks mate, i am planning the same setup.
Hi Brad, Need your help! I am so lost with how it gets all connected.
I have purchased the following as the basic setup:
A. DPDT 8 pins (or is your the DPDT 6 pin can't tell on the video). I could not follow the wiring of the DPDT for forwardiung/reversing motor
B. Auto window motor Works like actuator, but don't have limit switches built in
C. Two Timer same as yours
D. Converter 110V AD to 12V DC (works very well came from a computer)
Later, I want it to do more:
1. Monitor the temperature via a thermostat when its below 20 degree the door will not open
2. Light Sensor monitor the day light (open in the morning and close at night)
3. Limiting Switches , so the system shuts stop as soon as the door is up or down
4. Dimmer so I can control the speed in which the door opens/closes
5. LED light to help the chicken get in the coop before it totally dark
6. Go totally solar so I don't need the converter
This is a project for a later date just want to have the basics for now . Any help would greatly be appreciated. I can provide photo(s), diagram(s), and item list if needed.
I believe you have attained the knowledge I need to get off the ground based on the video you posted. Thanks!
I used to think that a timer and DPDT relay was the way to go. Till I rediscovered this configuration used on car power door locks and windows. Two SPDT timers is all you need. Very very simple in that you don't even have to figure out what contacts go to what on a relay.
th-cam.com/video/wJwNZ3A2x3M/w-d-xo.html
I understand reversing the polarity with the relay to change the direction of the actuator. What's puzzling me is when the DPDT relay is in the "static" position (de-energized), the contacts are in one position. When you apply power to the relay, the contact reverse position and the motor goes the opposite direction. The "puzzle" is when you remove the power to the relay coil and the relay reverses position, why doesn't the actuator go back to its original position?? Are you ALSO applying/removing power to the relay contacts via the timer so nothing happens when the relay contacts reverse position until the timer re-applies power??
Because the main power from the first timer goes off before the relay timer does so there is no power going to the actuator to send it to its "home" position. If you keep power to the main timer and take it away from the relay the actuator will go back to the other position. I just run the timer for the relay a little longer than the main timer.
Thanks for the reply. The relay you showed will have a "static/home" position where it will always go to without power. It has "normally closed" and "normally open" contacts. Whenever control voltage is removed from the relay, those contacts will ALWAYS be in those positions. So, applying "constant" voltage to the contacts and then controlling the relay will control the door as long as the control power is kept on the relay coil. Once that coil voltage is removed, the relay will switch back to its static/home position and the door will go the other way. If your timers are both supplying power to the relay coil AND SWITCHING power to the RELAY CONTACTS, there will not be any voltage on the relay contacts when it reverts back to its "static/home" position and the door will not move again until your first relay comes back on and applies voltage to those "normally closed" contacts of the relay. Right???
Can you post the link for the timers?
I have a wiring diagram. I may do another video of the wiring and timer setup. I've been using a few months now and have had zero issues. It works flawlessly. May take me a couple weeks to get a new video up. We are moving right now and everything is packed up.
any luck on that diagram mate?
I'm looking for help here and came to this post. I want to feed my deer in the daylight and not the night. Thus, training the deer to eat during the day so I can have the big boys come out. I've taken a commercial trash can that you would put each week by the road for pick up....and I've cut the top 15" or so out of the can. Then I bury in the ground 10-12 inch's. It looks like someone buried a trash can with lid in the ground. I want to make that lid open in the daytime (sun out) and close at dark. I can stiffen up the flimsy lid with a frame on the inside and a smaller solar panel on the lid or nearby to power the battery. Any ideas on how I can make this work? They make a commercial one now for this but nearly $600.00 that is ridiculous, I want to devise one of my own to save money.
I've thought about setting something like this up. I may use a raspberry pi to do all the thinking though... my one question I'm left with is how do you make sure the chickens are inside when the door closes? I know my chickens and I don't know how quickly they'd catch on to the automatic door concept...
Chickens go in when it starts getting dark. Set timer to just after that. If you can, place a bright light in the coop just before it gets dark the chickens will go to the light since they have poor eyesight in the dark. They will feel more secure in the coop with light. This way will help you get them in BEFORE it get completely dark, and predators come out.
That's such a great idea buddy. I am building something like that but not for chicken Coupe. Os there any way you could share how you wired it and how you set the timer. I would really appreciate it. Thanks Buddy
Hey bud! Could you diagram how this is hooked up!? It would really save my brain lol
This is perfect, exactly what I was going to build in my head.....and then I found this video looking for parts. Can you post the DPDT relay link? Thank.
Can someone please help? I have hooked up both timers to the Dual channel spdt relay with a 12v power supply exactly depicted in the “new method” link. Unfortunately it’s still not working. When I hook up 12v power supply the right way (positive to positive negative to negative) the power light on the relay board comes on but the 2 timers power/red lights do not. When I flip flop the power leads to 12v power supply negative to positive and positive to negative both timer power/red lights work but now the green power light on the relay board is off? I would appreciate any help trouble shooting this problem. Thanks to all!
Brad, could you post links to where you sourced your parts?
blog.netscraps.com/diy/heavy-duty-solar-powered-automatic-chicken-coop-door.html
If anyone wants a wiring diagram that uses cheap 6 dollar automotive SPST NO relays and 2 timers give me a shout. Ideally I would have used DPST NO relays but couldn't find them readily. My circuit also has an interlock relay that protects the circuit in the event of both timers coming on at the same time.
I really need your help with something .
I have a similar project in school and i have some problems .
Really appreciate if you could me with.
Great job by the way
Did you ever get help?
Does anyone have a wiring diagram please...
blog.netscraps.com/diy/heavy-duty-solar-powered-automatic-chicken-coop-door.html
TJ K thanks for posting a link with more info. I love this system. It works every day. I had some problems with my actuator when the temps were -30 and -40 but a heat lamp pointed directly at it solved my problem.
Brad Rustan no prob. about to get mine assembled once all the parts arrive. it's nice to see some alternative door configurations as far as the actuator is concerned.
TJ K I spent many hours trying to figure it all out. I don't make a lot of videos but I couldn't Gide exactly what I was looking for so decided to make one. I'm still surprised there are over 3000 views already. Glad I can help someone anyway. I've learned more from TH-cam than I ever did in school.
This one may be easier to follow. Let me know?
drive.google.com/file/d/1X2Y4qtc2KCzWAvLrNb_Y1F91oqegGEH3/view?usp=sharing
I'm not sure how to post it
Do you have email I can send it to?
Are your timers still working? My cn101a timers just stop being reliable after a few months. Have you had any problems with these timers?
There is a link on this video that I used to wire mine. Hope it helps. It's an awesome system. th-cam.com/video/vkvT1hhekY0/w-d-xo.html
They just all go in right before dark. There wasn’t any training involved
You could have just used 1 timer ( CN101 model B ) and 2 relay to switch polarity. Google actuator relay diagram to learn how to switch polarity with 2 relay .
But as long as it works....
Thank you for sharing.
Why would you need 2 relays if you already have the CN101B. That makes no sense. You need to actually find a link and post it. Googling "actuator relay diagram" just brings up a million diagrams and most of them have nothing to do with this. Not to mention we have no idea of the one you are referring to. Can you be more specific?
nice
This video would have been a LOT better if you kicked the chickens outside
www.ebay.com/itm/261647340418
www.ebay.com/itm/121957116753
www.ebay.com/itm/262543671242