I have a need and an idea for a powered sliding farm gate - I just don't have the knowledge to pull it off (be gentle, I'm a software engineer with minimal electrical knowledge)
Here's the situation. Besides my day job, I also raise longhorns. A particularly belligerent bull decided that an extra ration of feed was his due and, despite my protests and a really stout gate, he got it. What I got was a mangled knee and up to 16 weeks on my derriere.
To make the recovery time easier (by limiting the number of times I have to manually open/close the gate), I need to power a sliding gate at the entrance to my farm. There is no AC power, so battery/solar is a must. What I envisage is a standard bar gate with a self contained drive mechanism that will open and close the gate via a remote.
Imagine a 12vDC reversible motor with a motorcycle-category battery and a solar panel. The motor will drive two pneumatic tires via a chain drive. This much I can put together. What I can't put together is the circuitry to:
1. power on the motor
2. regulate the distance the motor will drive the gate each direction
3. provide a fail-safe so the motor stops on demand
3. power off the motor when the max distance has been reached
4. repeat the process in the opposite direction
I'm sure this is simple stuff for you smart guys, but I'm at a loss. Can someone put together a parts list and a simple diagram I could follow?
I'll be happy to provide a bit of remuneration for the best effort (maybe even some fresh steak from a certain longhorn
). Takers?
BTW - the gate must travel 13 feet on level concrete and it weighs about 110 lbs sans drive mechanism.
Here's the situation. Besides my day job, I also raise longhorns. A particularly belligerent bull decided that an extra ration of feed was his due and, despite my protests and a really stout gate, he got it. What I got was a mangled knee and up to 16 weeks on my derriere.
To make the recovery time easier (by limiting the number of times I have to manually open/close the gate), I need to power a sliding gate at the entrance to my farm. There is no AC power, so battery/solar is a must. What I envisage is a standard bar gate with a self contained drive mechanism that will open and close the gate via a remote.
Imagine a 12vDC reversible motor with a motorcycle-category battery and a solar panel. The motor will drive two pneumatic tires via a chain drive. This much I can put together. What I can't put together is the circuitry to:
1. power on the motor
2. regulate the distance the motor will drive the gate each direction
3. provide a fail-safe so the motor stops on demand
3. power off the motor when the max distance has been reached
4. repeat the process in the opposite direction
I'm sure this is simple stuff for you smart guys, but I'm at a loss. Can someone put together a parts list and a simple diagram I could follow?
I'll be happy to provide a bit of remuneration for the best effort (maybe even some fresh steak from a certain longhorn
BTW - the gate must travel 13 feet on level concrete and it weighs about 110 lbs sans drive mechanism.