This video contains instruction on how to set up your automated chicken coop. A general description is given of all the parts needed to set your chicken coop up to be solar powered. The solar power provides light, and automation to the coop door.

Update: We are at two seasons with this set up now. In the winter with shorter days and higher battery demand the 5w panel can’t keep up. I ran it down as long as possible and on Nov 29th I noticed the door would no longer operate with the lights on, not enough amps. I plugged it into 120v and charged the battery back up, but I am also going to swap the 5w panel for a 30w so I can capitalize on the little sunlight we have. Overall however, throughout the summer it does fine with the 5w panel.

Parts List

Door motor:

Timers:

Light bulbs:

Solar panel:

(Get a charge controller, I can’t link this as I had one from a previous solar panel setup)

Battery:


, https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RBLaU1Ey1Gw/hqdefault.jpg

source

37 Comments

  3. I built a way better easier and cheaper system using light sensor, DPDT relay , linear actuator.

  4. thank you for the video, this is very useful for what I am trying to do

  7. Great idea , video and explanation… I use a windshield wiper motor, two 12 volt din rail timers, 2 din rail DPDT 12 volt relays, two limit switches and one 12 volt car battery which gives me power enough to open and close for at least a week, after which I take the battery home to charge or exchange for another. A solar panel and a controller would make this easier,,, next step. The system can open or close in 30 seconds, and the power which is used is then only for say 60 seconds a day and to keep the timers alive which is only milli Amps. The windshield wiper motor is overkill,,, and a small dc motor from Ebay would do the job. I use 2 bearings and a 10 mm shaft as winch for a cable. More than one way to skin a cat!!

  8. This video showed nothing on "HOW TO MAKE the best darn automated chicken coop ( Electrical Setup)" It just showed PARTS of the system and a bunch of nonsense about lights and heaters. Oh and it's not even close to being the best. JS

  11. erm….. why don't you just place your water supply in the coop to avoid freezing? or insulate it or something…. having a water heater for chickens to be able to drink is pretty redundant.

  12. but how do you reverse polarity so the door shuts? my timer works good…but I cant figure out how to reverse polarity.

  15. Nice Setup! I purchased everything I need to install my own chicken coop door but I'm using a linear actuator. I was wondering how you open and close the door using just one timer? I have to reverse polarity to use the actuator so plan on using both timers just for that but is there a way around that?

  17. It wasn't your battery it was that tiny solar panel that wasn't charging the battery efficiently.

    The rest is a bit much without any return. All you needed was a 8 pin relay and 1 timer, that's right, 1 timer.

  18. Hi +Shawn, i am confused 🙂 how do you run that motor on a 12v system? and does the door has any switches? thanks, R

  20. I don't know why you keep calling battery charger a "stator". A stator is a part in the electrical motor.

  22. What size solar panel is sufficient to run lights, heat/fan, and water heater? Also, what size battery would I need for the appropriate solar panel? My coop is 3'x6'x5'. Is there less fire hazard with solar?

  23. How does your door know to switch direction? Does it have that built into the motor?

  24. There are 12v water heaters fyi and many more 12v stuff just have to order it and look for it hah, ive been setting up alot off my 45w panel.
    Have a 55AH battery tho.Using a yellow top deep cell.
    Water pump, timer, irrigation, lighting for my green house. Still need to build a door, just built a coop.

    With a simple 100w heater i calculated i can run with the heater on all the time for 6 hours with my 55Ah, "8.3amps" Not calculating the panels charging the battery, May install a 100w panel soon.
    Im currently using harbor freight 15w panels total of 45w.

  26. Love your use of rubbermaid containers. MUCH cheaper then PVC boxes from your local HDLOWE. Good Idea.

  28. I like your setup. Did you build the coop yourself? What are the dimensions?

  29. I like this set up. What's the chicken door motor you use? Have you made a video for the door. Thanks.

  30. Nice project!
    Have you ever thought about using a daylight sensor to control the door open/closing? that way it would open the door at dawn and close at dusk…

  34. How do you reverse the direction of the motor to go up and down? How is the polarity switched?

  35. Did the larger battery do the trick?  I had doubts that it would. The 18 amp battery would not help if the charger would not keep the 5 amp battery charged.

  36. Isn't it best to give them more light in the morning vs evening? They say that helps them lay earlier in the day.

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