I am making an automatic chicken coop because a fox in our area is eating all the chicks. It's just a simple LDR to measure when it's dark with a potentiometer to adjust the brightness setting. Then driving Al little servo motor to open/close the door.
Everything seems to work, but for now I just prototyped with an Arduino Uno and a power supply using mains.
But now I want to install it, but it needs to be battery powered. I am guessing a uno is not the best choice for this ? But what would I best use ? And would a AA battery-pack suffice ? I would like it to last ideally for a couple of months. And also I would like to make a low battery indicator, but don't really now the best way to do this ?
"But now I want to install it, but it needs to be battery powered. I am guessing a uno is not the best choice for this ? But what would I best use ? And would a AA battery-pack suffice ? I would like it to last ideally for a couple of months."
If you are powering a servo, you will need to do a lot better on the batteries. Why go so small when typical multi chicken coops are fairly large. Do you visit the coop/pen on a routine basis? You might consider modifying a solar security light setup to power your project.
Just a note on the LDR.
There have been many posts that they don't last any longer than weeks/months outside.
A tiny solar panel from a garden light will last longer.
It generates enough voltage for an analogue pin.
Do use a 10k resistor between solar+ and analogue pin, for extra protection of the pin.
Leo..