Feeder timer questions.

[Rubicon]

Hello,

Someone I know is trying to build a temporary remote timed grain
feeder using a 12V deep cycle battery and the motor from an old 12V
cordless drill connected to an auger. I haven't seen it but he has
that section up and working but what he needs is a timer circuit or
means to automatically run the drill/auger for somewhere between 1-3
minutes once a day, every day for about two weeks.

I can build a 555 timer for the 1-3 minutes with a 12V automotive
relay to switch the drill but the 24hour part is posing problems. I've
taken a look at various circuits, posts and kitsets but to no avail.
Looking to follow the KISS principle here.

I had thought of perhaps trying an old digital watch with the alarm
function set to the desired time and the contacts for the piezo disk
connected somehow to trigger the 555. Perhaps a LDR light activated
circuit to trigger the 1-3 min timer but then it'll just reactivate
once the time period has elapsed.

Any suggestions welcome.

Andrew.
Remove the ZZ from E-Mail address to contact me.

 

[Terry Pinnell]

zzrubicon@netaccess.co.nz (Rubicon) wrote:

Hello,

Someone I know is trying to build a temporary remote timed grain
feeder using a 12V deep cycle battery and the motor from an old 12V
cordless drill connected to an auger. I haven't seen it but he has
that section up and working but what he needs is a timer circuit or
means to automatically run the drill/auger for somewhere between 1-3
minutes once a day, every day for about two weeks.

I can build a 555 timer for the 1-3 minutes with a 12V automotive
relay to switch the drill but the 24hour part is posing problems. I've
taken a look at various circuits, posts and kitsets but to no avail.
Looking to follow the KISS principle here.

I had thought of perhaps trying an old digital watch with the alarm
function set to the desired time and the contacts for the piezo disk
connected somehow to trigger the 555. Perhaps a LDR light activated
circuit to trigger the 1-3 min timer but then it'll just reactivate
once the time period has elapsed.

Any suggestions welcome.

You should be able to easily adapt the circuit I designed for a rather
similar requirement a couple of years ago, shown here:
http://www.terrypin.dial.pipex.com/Images/555LongTimer.gif

--
Terry Pinnell
Hobbyist, West Sussex, UK

 

[Joe]

"Rubicon" <zzrubicon@netaccess.co.nz> wrote in message
news:405926e6.10407704@news.netaccess.co.nz...

Hello,

Someone I know is trying to build a temporary remote timed grain
feeder using a 12V deep cycle battery and the motor from an old 12V
cordless drill connected to an auger. I haven't seen it but he has
that section up and working but what he needs is a timer circuit or
means to automatically run the drill/auger for somewhere between 1-3
minutes once a day, every day for about two weeks.

I can build a 555 timer for the 1-3 minutes with a 12V automotive
relay to switch the drill but the 24hour part is posing problems. I've
taken a look at various circuits, posts and kitsets but to no avail.
Looking to follow the KISS principle here.

I had thought of perhaps trying an old digital watch with the alarm
function set to the desired time and the contacts for the piezo disk
connected somehow to trigger the 555. Perhaps a LDR light activated
circuit to trigger the 1-3 min timer but then it'll just reactivate
once the time period has elapsed.

Any suggestions welcome.

Andrew.
Remove the ZZ from E-Mail address to contact me.

Hello Andrew,

I just did a similar project for a friend of mine. He needed a timer to turn
on a tape player a few times a day. After he and I did much research, we
settled on a feeder timer which is available through cabelas
(www.cabelas.com). It is the moultrie prohunter feeder kit catalog number
cd-22-4811 and comes with the digital programmable timer, motor and a mount
so you can mount it on a 55 gallon drum or whatever you are going to use for
the feed storage. It uses 6 volts, and will turn on up to 4 times a day. The
24 hr clock is programmable, and also the on time can be set for 1 to 20
seconds each time it turns on. We only needed the timer and an interface to
his appliance so it worked for us. May be worthwhile checking into it. Cost
is around US $75 plus shipping. You may be able to use this timer to drive a
relay to switch the 12Volts to the drill motor at the times of day of your
choosing. IMO, just the timer itself was worth the cost .

hth,
Joe