Smart Knowledgebase

Why do my batteries only last a week?

There are a couple of reasons why you may be experiencing poor battery life. If you’re running your control panel without connecting it to Wifi, then you may be running an older version of the firmware which has some known issues with poor battery life. To check your firmware version, scroll through the menu to Factory Reset, and the current version will be displayed underneath. If your version is older than 1.0.15, then you will experience these issues (likely you’re running 1.0.8 in this case). If you’re running an old version, follow this guide to update to the latest and resolve the problem.

If you have your Smart Autodoor connected to wifi, the update will have been applied automatically. If you are experiencing poor battery life in this situation, please ensure that your power settings are set to “Power Saving”, and Deep Sleep is enabled. For more detailed advice, please read our guide on optimising battery life for your Smart Autodoor

If you have followed the guides above, and are still experiencing issues with battery life, please contact us, and we would be happy to provide further assistance

How does the light mode work?

The light sensor will react to whichever level you have set it to. It will recognize the amount of light you have set, then there is a 15 minute delay built in (to ensure it isn’t just a temporary shadow like a cloud), and then the door will open or close.

You can change the level to the setting you prefer, just always ensure that the level for closing is lower than the level for opening.

Please note that the location of your coop can also influence the light sensor. If there are trees around, or anything else that may create a darker atmosphere, it can take the door longer to open in the mornings.

The sensor works best under sunny conditions, so during darker months it can be useful to change the setting to the timer.

Tell me more about the coop light!

There are two main reasons to add a coop light. Firstly, having a light in the coop will encourage the chickens to return to roost when it gets dark. This is especially good if you have one or two hens that tend to stay out longer than the rest.

Secondly, it’s useful to have a light in the coop if you want to check on your hens when it’s dark, maybe as you come home from work or just before you go to bed. The hens won’t be bothered by you turning on the light for a minute and peeking into the coop.

The coop light uses a LED light at 1.5 watt. That is the equivalent of a 15 watt light bulb.

Do I need to set my timezone?

The timezone for each device is set when you provision the device. The timezone is set to the same timezone as the phone which provisioned the device. You can adjust the timezone by tapping the settings icon on the device card, then tap Localisation. You can then select the timezone from the dropdown box.

Can I fit my Omlet Autodoor vertically?

No, the motor in the door is designed to open the door horizontally. It is also important to note that the crush detector won’t work properly when mounted vertically as chickens could sit on it and thereby activate it the whole time which would prevent the door from attempting to close.

Can I connect a solar panel or other power supply?

No, we do not recommend using a solar panel with your Omlet automatic door opener.

You must use the Autodoor as specified in the instruction manual by using either the supplied power adapter or AA batteries. A set of AA batteries will last for 2+ months. We cannot offer any warranty (expressed or implied), support or advice if you connect any other forms of power supply to your AutoDoor. There is a high risk that you may damage your Autodoor, and the product may not work as intended.

Why is the coop light flickering?

If your coop light is flickering whilst turned on, this could indicate that your batteries are beginning to get low. Try replacing your batteries with a new set of good quality AA batteries

What happens if the door loses connection to the Wi-Fi?

Your Door settings are saved locally to the control panel. So even if your network drops out the Door will continue to use these settings to open and close. You just won’t be able to control the device via the app whilst the Wi-Fi is down.

What settings can I have on my automatic door?

You can choose between the light setting, i.e. choosing at which level of daylight the coop should open and close, time setting, i.e. setting specific times when you know your flock has returned to the coop or are ready to go out for the day. There is also a manual mode where the door opens and closes only when you press the button.

For safety and peace of mind, there is also a built-in failsafe system for opening the door completely by hand. You can find out how to do this by checking the instruction manual.

You can change which setting you’re using whenever you want, but it’s not possible to use to different settings at the same time.

Why should I add a Omlet Coop Light?

There are two main reasons that your chickens and you will love a Coop Light.

Firstly, having a light in the coop will encourage the chickens to return to their house when it gets dark. This is especially good if you have one or two hens that tend to stay out longer than the rest.

Why is my device showing offline?

This means your control panel is no longer connected to your network. This could be for a couple of reasons.

First check the power to the control panel is ok. If using batteries install fresh ones.

Then check if you are experiencing Wi-Fi problems on another device. It may be that your door is too far away from your network hub and struggling to connect so try moving it closer if possible.

Can I use it with chicks?

The Autodoor is designed to be used by adult chickens, and it’s wise to only use manual mode if you have chicks in the flock.