Electronic circuits & projects forum - Need help with electronic circuits & projects?

[lukmannet]

Hi you,
Well, to begin the discussion, let me introduce to you my simple design for your fish tank at your home. But in advance, I do apologize if I've not translated in English yet. But I think it easy to understand.
Please visit: http://360.yahoo.com/lukmannet

Regards,

Luky

[lukmannet]

This easy as well as cheap but effective device is mainly intended for your ease to leave your fish autofed. You need no longer worry your fish would starve as this autofeeder would replace your job. This autofeeder device will expell pellets by quantity as well as time intervals as you like. Besides, making this circuit seems to be a bit entertaining as you are insisted to make it yourself and so it would develop your creativity. Don’t worry, it works!

This device comprises of 2 sections, electronics and mechanics:
1) Electronics Section:
The main role of this section functions as a timer (few hour intervals) with progress indicator and the mutual action of the relay and capasitor functioning as expelled quantity of pellets.

Working System:
The circuit is using regular timer (IC 555) sending pulse to 2 cascaded counters of CMOS 4017. The output pin from the last counter is then fed to the capasitor-relay in series. (Remember: a relay owns its own resistance) which consequently trigger the relay for some time to turn on mechanics section. After the capacitor is about to be fully loaded, the relay shuts off. From here we could figure out that the bigger the capacity, the longer the relay connects, which then causes the motor to work expelling pellets centrifugally. A shun resistor functions to unload the capacitor slightly so that the capacitor is then ready to be loaded for the next cycle.
Time interval of the IC 555 keeps following the formula:

T(555) = 1,1 x R x C

For short, if we set the timer T = 3 minutes, the both counters will multiply the time to be 10 x 10 = 100 times. So the total time intervals would be T = 3 minutes x 10 x 10 = 300 minutes = 5 hours. To change the time intervals simply is by changes/turning R-Var and for the pellet quantity is by changing C-Var size.

2) Mechanics section
All you need for this section are tape motor 12 V + the ring (plastic or brass), transmission cable, a plastic bottle (as shown on the pic), some glue to stick the motor, a coin (about to reach the bottle neck diameter), cutter, match, and solder. For short, try to develope yourself about my brief idea):

Picture 4: Placement of Coin (plate), ring, and motor stuck together
Picture 6: The Mechanics

Picture 5: Combination of the both bottleneck and the combined motor

Well, that’s all. Thank you for your kindly attention, I hope you get profit on it. Goog luck.

How come I could not upload more than 3 pics? I've tried a couple of times. But I have selected the best 3.
Ok, I think it is time I was going. See you later and lets forget our quarrell... . Thanks.


Regards,

Luky