Arduino Chicken Coop

Hi Dave I really like what you’ve done with your automatic chicken coop door (so much so that I’m trying to copy it). Ive tried to duplicate it with the code from the instructables web page but am unable to make the door open. I am new to programing so i really am just shooting in the dark.

What I have is a pro trinket 5v https://learn.adafruit.com/introducing-pro-trinket/overview

reed switches from amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PZMG980/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

photocell https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AFSAOLM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

motor controller https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E58EA90/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Ive had to change the code for little things like my photocell is backwards from yours for some reason, and of corse i had to change some pins. would you mind looking at the code to see if you can spot why it will not open the door. your code is mostly untouched but im stumped.. thanks

// start code

#include

#include

// libraries
//// libraries
////#include // load the SimpleTimer library to make timers, instead of delays & too many millis statements #include
// load the onewire library/*(before running the sketch, remove spaces before and after the above “>” “<" characters – the instructables editor wouldn't publish the includes unless i added those spaces)
//*/

/*
/* Copyright 2013, David Naves (http://daveworks.net, http://davenaves.com)

*
* This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
* modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
* as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 3
* of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
*
* This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
* but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
* MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
* GNU General Public License for more details.
* *
* You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
* along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
* Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA
* 02110-1301, USA.

*/

/*
* I’m hoping that if you use/modify this code, you will share your
* coop project with me and the world (pictures, whatever)
* I’m big on sharing.
* Cheers,
* //D
*/

//pins
const int photocellPin = A0; // photocell connected to analog 0
const int enableCoopDoorMotorB = 4; // enable motor b – pin 3
const int directionCloseCoopDoorMotorB = 8; // direction close motor b – pin 8
const int directionOpenCoopDoorMotorB = 3; // direction open motor b – pin 11
const int bottomSwitchPin = 0; // rx coop … closed bottom switch is connected to pin rx or 0
const int topSwitchPin = 1; // tx coop …open top switch is connected to pin tx or 1

// vars

// photocell
int photocellReading; // analog reading of the photocel
int photocellReadingLevel; // photocel reading levels (dark, twilight, light)

// reed switches top and bottom of coop door

// top switch

int topSwitchPinVal; // top switch var for reading the pin status
int topSwitchPinVal2; // top switch var for reading the pin delay/debounce status
int topSwitchState; // top switch var for to hold the switch state

// bottom switch

int bottomSwitchPinVal; // bottom switch var for reading the pin status
int bottomSwitchPinVal2; // bottom switch var for reading the pin delay/debounce status
int bottomSwitchState; // bottom switch var for to hold the switch state

// just need 1 SimpleTimer object
SimpleTimer coopTimer;
// ************************************** the setup **************************************

void setup(void) {
Serial.begin(9600);

// welcome message
Serial.println(” Checking doCoopDoor: every 10 minutes for light levels to open or close door”);
Serial.println();

// coop door

// coop door motor
pinMode (enableCoopDoorMotorB, OUTPUT); // enable motor pin = output
pinMode (directionCloseCoopDoorMotorB, OUTPUT); // motor close direction pin = output
pinMode (directionOpenCoopDoorMotorB, OUTPUT); // motor open direction pin = output

// coop door switches
// bottom switch
pinMode(bottomSwitchPin, INPUT); // set bottom switch pin as input
digitalWrite(bottomSwitchPin, HIGH); // activate bottom switch resistor

// top switch
pinMode(topSwitchPin, INPUT); // set top switch pin as input
digitalWrite(topSwitchPin, HIGH); // activate top switch resistor

// timed actions setup
coopTimer.setInterval(1500, readPhotoCell); // read the photocell every second and a half minutes
// coopTimer.setInterval(600000, readPhotoCell); // read the photocell every 10 minutes
}

// functions

// operate the coop door

// photocel to read levels of exterior light

void readPhotoCell() { // function to be called repeatedly – per cooptimer set in setup

photocellReading = analogRead(photocellPin);
Serial.print(” Photocel Analog Reading = “);

Serial.println(photocellReading);

/* original photo cell reading
*
// set photocel threshholds
if (photocellReading >= 0 && photocellReading = 4 && photocellReading = 125 ) {
photocellReadingLevel = ‘3’;
Serial.print(” Photocel Reading Level:”);
Serial.println(” – Light”);
}
*/

// set photocel threshholds im still working to get this working just right but its close
if (photocellReading >= 0 && photocellReading = 350 && photocellReading = 675 ) {
photocellReadingLevel = ‘1’;
Serial.print(” Photocel Reading Level:”);
Serial.println(” – Dark”);
}
}

//debounce bottom reed switch

void debounceBottomReedSwitch() {

//debounce bottom reed switch
bottomSwitchPinVal = digitalRead(bottomSwitchPin); // read input value and store it in val
delay(10);
bottomSwitchPinVal2 = digitalRead(bottomSwitchPin); // read input value again to check or bounce

if (bottomSwitchPinVal == bottomSwitchPinVal2) { // make sure we got 2 consistant readings!
if (bottomSwitchPinVal != bottomSwitchState) { // the switch state has changed!
bottomSwitchState = bottomSwitchPinVal;
}
Serial.print (” Bottom Switch Value: “); // display “Bottom Switch Value:”
Serial.println(digitalRead(bottomSwitchPin)); // display current value of bottom switch;
}
}

// debounce top reed switch
void debounceTopReedSwitch() {

topSwitchPinVal = digitalRead(topSwitchPin); // read input value and store it in val
delay(10);
topSwitchPinVal2 = digitalRead(topSwitchPin); // read input value again to check or bounce

if (topSwitchPinVal == topSwitchPinVal2) { // make sure we got 2 consistant readings!
if (topSwitchPinVal != topSwitchState) { // the button state has changed!
topSwitchState = topSwitchPinVal;
}
Serial.print (” Top Switch Value: “); // display “Bottom Switch Value:”
Serial.println(digitalRead(topSwitchPin)); // display current value of bottom switch;
}
}

// stop the coop door motor
void stopCoopDoorMotorB(){
digitalWrite (directionCloseCoopDoorMotorB, LOW); // turn off motor close direction
digitalWrite (directionOpenCoopDoorMotorB, LOW); // turn on motor open direction
analogWrite (enableCoopDoorMotorB, 0); // enable motor, 0 speed
}

// close the coop door motor (motor dir close = clockwise)
void closeCoopDoorMotorB() {
digitalWrite (directionCloseCoopDoorMotorB, HIGH); // turn on motor close direction
digitalWrite (directionOpenCoopDoorMotorB, LOW); // turn off motor open direction
analogWrite (enableCoopDoorMotorB, 255); // enable motor, full speed
if (bottomSwitchPinVal == 0) { // if bottom reed switch circuit is closed
stopCoopDoorMotorB();
Serial.print(” Coop Door Closed – no danger”);
}
}

// open the coop door (motor dir open = counter-clockwise)
void openCoopDoorMotorB() {
digitalWrite(directionCloseCoopDoorMotorB, LOW); // turn off motor close direction
digitalWrite(directionOpenCoopDoorMotorB, HIGH); // turn on motor open direction
analogWrite(enableCoopDoorMotorB, 255); // enable motor, full speed
if (topSwitchPinVal == 0) { // if top reed switch circuit is closed
stopCoopDoorMotorB();
Serial.print(” Coop Door open – danger! “);
}
}

void doCoopDoor(){

if (photocellReadingLevel == ‘3’) { // if it’s light
if (photocellReadingLevel != ‘2’) { // if it’s not twilight
if (photocellReadingLevel != ‘1’) { // if it’s not dark
debounceTopReedSwitch(); // read and debounce the switches
debounceBottomReedSwitch();
openCoopDoorMotorB(); // Open the door

}
}
}
if (photocellReadingLevel == ‘1’) { // if it’s dark
if (photocellReadingLevel != ‘2’) { // if it’s not twilight
if (photocellReadingLevel != ‘3’) { // if it’s not light
debounceTopReedSwitch(); // read and debounce the switches
debounceBottomReedSwitch();
closeCoopDoorMotorB(); // close the door
}
}
}
}

// ************************************** the loop **************************************
void loop() {
// polling occurs
coopTimer.run();
doCoopDoor();

}

//thanks again for your help

Hi Dave Naves! I’m building (just started) the automatic coop door and I ordered the motor controller l298n. Quick question, in the below photo would you remove the jumper between the 5v and enb then connect the (enab from your fritz) to enb and then (int1 to inc) and (int2 to ind)? And what the heck is this white connector, should I ignore?

Thanks and I’m a big fan of your work!

John

Controller Photo:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153424379316060&set=pcb.10153424381806060&type=1&theater

I love your chicken coop controller. It has inspired me in making a coop and controller for my Son and Daughter in law.

I have a few videos of the coop, controller, and development system. I am not done with the run code yet. Please view if you have time.

I am new to making videos,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VadxzVbJdhw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89n0P67-vK8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-wSwi32VxI

I am mounting the controller panel in Bud box in the rear