Re: Doggie doors

[Frank Olson <Use_the_email_links@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Robert L Bass wrote:

> This can be a relatively easy DIY project, Marc.

Yeah...  sure...


> You need a proximity reader that's good for at least half the width of the pet
> door, a prox keyfob or card (cut off all but the essential part) which you can affix to Fido or Mitsy's collar, a power supply and a
> solenoid to release the door.  For a more robust door, you can use an electric door strike of the same variety used to regulate
> entry to apartment building lobbies.

The latter will be an expensive solution because the door has to swing
both ways.  Stick with Marc's suggested solutions.  You'll actually wind
up spending less money.


>
> Since all of these are existing technology items, your only challenges will be in building a door that swings in and out but can be
> controlled by the strike.  The simplest solution is two doors -- one for ingress and one for egress -- side by side.

What an idiotic suggestion.  Instead of one big hole in the door you
wind up with two??


>
> Another possible lock/release mechanism is a solenoid cabinet lock.  These draw a short bolt, usually about 1/2" throw, out of a
> fixed strike plate inside the cabinet when 12VDC is applied.  When power is lost a spring drives the bolt back into the plate.  To
> make this work you'll need to integrate a magnetic sensor to keep power flowing until the door realigns after the pet passes
> through.  That way the bolt won't throw with the door open which would otherwise keep it ajar for every pet in the neighborhood.

That won't work.  The pet door will "swing" back and forth after the
critter passes through.  The Solenoid could engage every time it does
and if you're not careful adjusting the gap you could wind up with the
latch engaged in exactly the way you don't want it to (allowing another
critter entry or a critter that shouldn't be "outside" a way out).

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