neocoretechs / gpioactuator Goto Github PK

In that vein the optimum chicken feeder is one that dumps the feed into the dirt on a timed basis; hence the genesis of this project. This code activated a series of solenoids (or any gpio device), once a day over 6 days to open a latch that causes a door on a series of compartments of an upside down box filled with feed to swing down, thus dumping the chickenfeed.

Of course, any timed GPIO operation can also be performed via Java using an SBC. The code here also has the advantage of recording the last solenoid activated such that if a failure occurs and a restart is performed, the next latch in the sequence is properly activated. The code does not depend on an RTC of the correct time, merely sleeps the necessary interval between operations. The process should be started 24 hrs before the time the first feeding is to occur. If a power fail occurs, the bird will have to wait the interval the power returns plus 24 hours, so hopefully the hungry, angry hen(s) only wait a maximum of 2 days for their feed in that case.