Comments on: Automatic Chicken Coop Heater

By: David Naves

David Naves — Fri, 04 Jan 2019 06:34:07 +0000

In reply to Marty.

Hi Marty,

Yeah, I just haven’t had time to document all elements with a wiring diagram (only the door) BUT, if you look closely at the code you can follow the pin numbers of just the heater element and paste that into a new sketch. It’s actually the simplest part of the coop project. It’s just a pin triggering a high voltage relay that turns a lightbulb on and off. (truly)

As time permits, I’ll try to document everything.

Sorry, Bro… doing the best I can.

Cheers!

By: Marty

Marty — Tue, 18 Dec 2018 03:52:41 +0000

I guess this is what my Alzheimers will feel like. I really wanted to understand this and perhaps use it or a variation thereof for my greenhouse but I just didn’t understand it. I haven’t programmed in 35 years and even though I worked with electronics for 20 years, it seems without a wiring diagram I am pretty much lost anymore and I don’t understand what Arduino is. I get the idea that it’s for teaching or learning electronics, but I am just not sure what it actually is, books? parts? programming? Sorry, I honestly had hoped, but I really feel old right now. I am glad you enjoyed building your project, it does look interesting.

By: David Naves

David Naves — Tue, 23 Jan 2018 18:50:56 +0000

In reply to terri.

Great question…

I placed a tile on top of the block and with the outside cold (I have mine triggered to switch over at 40 degrees F) it never gets hot enough to hurt them. Also, I placed it under their watering system (to help protect from freezing) so they can’t even really stand on it comfortably)

Cheers!

By: David Naves

David Naves — Tue, 23 Jan 2018 18:46:25 +0000

In reply to Suneva. Sweet! But where's the fun in that? =)

By: David Naves

David Naves — Tue, 23 Jan 2018 18:45:54 +0000

In reply to Dan. Great idea! Love it. Thanks for the share

By: Dan

Dan — Fri, 08 Dec 2017 22:15:40 +0000

Instead of using a halogen light bulb that uses 50 watts it might mess with the chicken sleep by the light in the coop. I use a reptile heat lamp. it is a black heat source that only emits heat, not light. It only requires 25 watts instead of 50 watts. A nice energy savings!

By: Suneva

Suneva — Tue, 24 Oct 2017 23:39:45 +0000

Hello, my DIY heater is a light hook to an old thermostat which then plug in the outlet with an extension cord. Easy an cheap…

By: terri

terri — Sat, 21 Oct 2017 18:06:17 +0000

my husband has chickens and i wonder how hot the brick would get if one of them got on it. would it get hot enough to burn their feet. right now he uses a infrared heater

By: David Naves

David Naves — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 20:01:09 +0000

In reply to casssie.

Howdy,

Yeah, there are plenty of pre-built devices out there. This project is for us DIY’er Chicken Nerds. =)

Cheers!

By: David Naves

David Naves — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 19:59:52 +0000

In reply to Susan Buhlig.

Hi Susan,
In Northern CA, we do get some freezing weather (probably down to 25 degrees F) and these bulbs, located directly above the insulated pipes/nipples, kick off just enough heat to keep them from bursting. It doesn’t take much heat to prevent a complete freeze.

Cheers!