Connected feeder with push notifications.

[Reivax]

Hello, it's been a while since I posted here

I've been working on a new tank related project: an automatic feeder that can be monitored and remotely controlled over the internet.

I've built 7 of them, for my tank and friend's, and one friend built one himself, they have been working great for more than a year.

The cost was about $25 each (because I bought some components in small bulk)

Since I'm an opensource fan, I've released it here:

GitHub - reivaxy/iotFeeder: Fish feeder using ESP8266 and a stepper motor.

Fish feeder using ESP8266 and a stepper motor. Contribute to reivaxy/iotFeeder development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

It sends push notifications to your mobile when no food is detected at the outlet, which can mean the food tank is empty, or some food is stuck.
It has a web interface to program how much and when food should be dispensed (up to 6 times a day), as well as trigger manual dispensing.
It sends data to a google cloud database for monitoring, and google functions are used to send push notifications if it stops sending data, which means it is no longer connected (which may not be a problem since it will keep working), or has lost power (which is a problem obviously).
Since it's not password protected, it can only be reached from my local network, to which I can securely connect through VPN when I'm not home.

If you are interested in building one, check the project wiki https://github.com/reivaxy/iotFeeder/wiki and let me know, I'm willing to help!

 

[randomfishdude]

How do you power it?

I'm working on a frozen auto feeder. And wondering how you powered it? Without making it so bulky.

 

[Reivax]

Ah! right, I didn't mention the kind of food! Haha, that's just the most important parameter right?
It can't handle frozen food

I have mostly Hikary pellets of various sizes.
My friend uses two of these on soft water tanks, with flakes that he crunches.

I power it with a small 9v adapter:

 

[randomfishdude]

Ah! right, I didn't mention the kind of food! Haha, that's just the most important parameter right?
It can't handle frozen food

I have mostly Hikary pellets of various sizes.
My friend uses two of these on soft water tanks, with flakes that he crunches.

I power it with a small 9v adapter:

Dangit. Sadly that won't work for me. I need 12v that just goes to 2 wires.
I do like your desighn though.
Kinda simalar to what I was planning on.

Does it look super big and bulky over the tank?

 

[Reivax]

This kind of adapter is available with 12V as well. You'll need to pick the right current capabilities, too.

As for looking bulky I would say it depends on the tank
Mine is very small (80L) so it does look a bit bulky.

But on a bigger tank, not so much:

 

[randomfishdude]

This kind of adapter is available with 12V as well. You'll need to pick the right current capabilities, too.

As for looking bulky I would say it depends on the tank
Mine is very small (80L) so it does look a bit bulky.

But on a bigger tank, not so much:

Ok nice.
I might just end up doing something like whith computers or most lights. Where you can't remove the power cord and there's a box where the ac/dc transfer happens.

 

[El Toro]

Ah! right, I didn't mention the kind of food! Haha, that's just the most important parameter right?
It can't handle frozen food

I have mostly Hikary pellets of various sizes.
My friend uses two of these on soft water tanks, with flakes that he crunches.

I power it with a small 9v adapter:

Will the motor run off 5v USB? I use 2 power bricks for backup on airstone pumps in case of power outages.

I dont think it's bulky for vacation feeding.

 

[Reivax]

Hello!

I'm very sorry I made a typo, I power it from a 6V power unit (the info is correct on https://github.com/reivaxy/iotFeeder) I have several similar units with different output voltage so I had to make 3D printed labels to not mix them up haha.

The electronics will work with 5V and I think the stepper motor will work too, BUT with a little less torque, which might be an issue depending on the kind of food you use.
Unfortunately the ebay link I provided on the github page no longer links to the same motor but I think it was given for 4,5V to 6V. I'll try to find the same model to confirm.