Greenhouse doors

[jasyk34]

Was wondering if anyone has an automatic door opening system for their greenhouse. Done a search on the forums here and on the internet and couldn't come up with anything.

Anyone have any ideas ???

[SarzWix]

Gosh, I've never heard of an automatic door-opener... Trouble is, most greenhouse doors slide, rather than swinging open, so I think that would make it complicated. If it IS a swing door, then you could probably adapt a window-opener?

[rana]

Good question. I have researched and considered this for some time and have yet to come up with an answer. Apart from installing a complex set of sensors, solenoids, switches and motors I can't see how it can be done.
It would be so useful for the door to open and close automatically when you are away for a number of days. I hope someone can point us towards a practical solution.

[SarzWix]

I solve the problem at this time of year by just permanently leaving the door open. It's not likely to drop below 5c overnight until September-ish up here, so the door stays open.

[Bigmallly]

Same here, from April onwards the louvre windows are open then once the vent starts to open for long periods, the door stays open.

[rustylady]

If it's just for ventilation, then you can get automatic vent openers to fit in the roof.

[jasyk34]

Good question. I have researched and considered this for some time and have yet to come up with an answer. Apart from installing a complex set of sensors, solenoids, switches and motors I can't see how it can be done.
It would be so useful for the door to open and close automatically when you are away for a number of days. I hope someone can point us towards a practical solution.

Rana, I too have been researching for a while and like you haven't found an easy answer. The options I have so far are to use:

- a 12v battery to power a windscreen wiper motor to open a close the door using a temperature monitor. The animated picture here gives an idea of the operation of the wiper motor HowStuffWorks "How Windshield Wipers Work". You would then need 2 switches at either side of the door to stop the motor whenever the door is either fully closed or fully open

- Linear actuator powered from 12v battery to open and close the door.

Both options seem a bit too complicated and expensive as they need solar panels to charge the battery, sensors, switches, motor/actuator and some method of fixing the device to the greenhouse door. Was just hoping that someone might have had a solution already in operation.

[mrscorpio]

I have a semi automatic door opener

I think to myself --- its hot.
Ring the wife and tell her to open the door.
It never fails

[Bigmallly]

Very good........

[SarzWix]

But, but, but...? Why are you shutting the door for it to need opening? This is what I can't get my head round

[jasyk34]

But, but, but...? Why are you shutting the door for it to need opening? This is what I can't get my head round

If its windy or lashing down. You know it is the summer after all

[JThompson]

Greenhouse Doors

Im a keen gardener and an electronic and automation engineer.
Yep i could make something, i have designing brainstorms most days, driving my partner Debbie mad.
Ok you need to consider what type of door you would want to control sliding or swinging, bearing in mind that most sliding doors have a bad habit of sticking.
It would probably cost in the region of £100. I have thought about how to do it but i feel that it would be cheaper in the long run to buy an automatic window from your greenhouse manufacturer and get a local odd job man to install it.

If you are interested our garden (and Debbie) are in the August edition of Cumbria Life magazine, the front cover no less.. she will do anything to be a celebrity. In all honesty its recognition of all HER hard work in the garden.

Jason.
thompson.engineering@tiscali.co.uk

[jasyk34]

Im a keen gardener and an electronic and automation engineer.
Yep i could make something, i have designing brainstorms most days, driving my partner Debbie mad.
Ok you need to consider what type of door you would want to control sliding or swinging, bearing in mind that most sliding doors have a bad habit of sticking.
It would probably cost in the region of £100. I have thought about how to do it but i feel that it would be cheaper in the long run to buy an automatic window from your greenhouse manufacturer and get a local odd job man to install it.

If you are interested our garden (and Debbie) are in the August edition of Cumbria Life magazine, the front cover no less.. she will do anything to be a celebrity. In all honesty its recognition of all HER hard work in the garden.

Jason.
thompson.engineering@tiscali.co.uk

I already have an auto window opener for my greenhouse but still need the door open as well. Sometimes I forget to open the door before I go to work and then come home to baked plants !!! I dont like leaving it open when I am away as the weather during the past few weeks has been very windy during the night and I have come home to panes of greenhouse lying over the garden (polycarbonate). Still considering attempting to put something together when I get a bit of time.

[Davyburns]

What about an Auto Vent opener attached to the top of the door, with a clip so you can hook it on or unhook it as needed

[eatveg]

automatic greenhouse door opener is ease to fix, all you need is an auto vent opener it do,s the same job fix it in the centre of the door and make shaw the door is free running fix to aluminium or wood its that easy