Setting the timer for use with an AXT VSBb / VSBbi automatic chicken door opener

Posted on February 1, 2013 by admin

The timer can be used with the VSB type door openers in 2 different ways.

The most common method is to set an actual opening time and use the light sensor to close the door.  If you set the opening time to after people are active there is a much lesser chance of a predator attacking your chickens early in the morning.  Without the timer the door will open when the sun rises which could be 4 o’clock in the middle of summer.  This isn’t a problem if they are in a fox proof chicken coop but if they free range we strongly advise using the timer.  As the chickens will naturally go to bed at the same light level everyday using the light sensor to close the door is very reliable and doesn’t need changing according to the seasons.

The alternative way is to open and shut according to the timer.  This method is used if you have very long or short days which is common on the North coast of Scotland and above, or sometimes you might find that the coop is situated in a particularly shady area that doesn’t get enough light to work reliably.

Setting the timer to work with the VSB door opener

The first thing to set is the time

Press this key to enter the programme mode

Press the diamond shape key to enter the programming mode.  This sometimes responds better to a light touch rather than a heavy thumb!  A ‘P’ will show on the display.

This key adjusts the minutes in the time

This is the minute adjustment key.  Press it to advance the minutes.  The minutes are normally correct when set at the factory so only needs adjusting when replacing the batteries.

This button adjusts the hours

This button adjusts the hours, press to advance.

 

Now to set the opening / closing times on your VSB timer

If you remember that the dark segments relate to night time when you want the door shut setting the timer is easier

This key moves and selects the segments.

This key selects the segments to be altered.  You can either move around 1 segment at a time by giving it a single press at a time or if you press and hold it will select several segments.  When you first receive your timer you’ll normally only want to change the opening time.  Press and hold this button until all the segments are flashing up to 1 or 2 segments before the ones you want to change and then use single press to move 1 segment at a time.

This key changes the state of the selected segment

To change the state of a segment from dark to clear or vice versa press this button.  If you select multiple segments that are both dark and clear it will swap them all to the alternative state.  It’s best not to select segments of different states.

If you want to use the timer to close the door you can now set a closing time.  If you plan on using the light sensor to close the door you don’t need to make any more adjustment so leave the closing time as set at 10 o’clock as this will be after the door has automatically shut according to the timer.

Press and hold the segment key to advance segments until just before the closing time, then progress one segment at a time and change each one individually.

The timer is now set.  Press the diamond key to leave the program mode.

If at any time you want to clear the segments the “C” key will clear all the screen.

C button clears all opening/closing settings

 

 

 

 

 

Summary
Article Name
How to set the timer for use with VSBb door opener
Author
Description
Step by step guide to setting the AXT timer

About admin

Once upon a time, not so very long ago Auntie Bev arrived at Louise's 16th birthday clutching a rather tatty box, full of holes and tied up with orange baler twine. Louise opened the box and out sprang two chickens. (And also the birth of Wells Poultry but we didn't realise until later) Louise thought this was great although Lesley (Louise's mum) was not impressed to say the least. Now, a cardboard box isn't the best home for a pair of chickens so next morning I was off to that well know DIY shop in search of timber with a vague idea of what a chicken house looked like. And so our first chicken house was created. Sadly these first two chickens were swiped by a fox within a few weeks so we bought a trio of birds from a local breeder. I'm sure that is a familiar story to a lot of people - 2 chickens become 3 and then 3 become 6 and then you need more housing..... Suffice to say, six months later I was building chicken houses full time in the back garden of a terrace house in Reading. Another year on and we moved to Wales for more space and the business continued to grow. We're now preparing to open our new workshop which will double our current space and allow us to take on more staff.... We attribute much of our success to the fact that we are very similar to many of our customers, we're content to keep a few chickens in the back garden as much for amusement as the eggs they produce. We don't have acres of land so know the limitations a back garden flock. And we firmly believe that the only time you'll need to buy another chicken house is when you need a bigger one not because it's fallen apart.
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2 Responses to Setting the timer for use with an AXT VSBb / VSBbi automatic chicken door opener

  1. Dunstan says:
    February 24, 2013 at 1:09 pm

    Hi there – I’m not sure if this is the right forum to ask my question, but I came across it on the internet so I’ll give it a go.

    I bought a VSB opener and timer from you some years ago, and it’s wonderful. Myself and my wife work long hours so we’re not always around at dusk in winter. The VSB set-up makes it possible to keep chickens safely and easily. I’m a real fan and I’ll recommend it to anyone.

    But, a few months ago the timer started running slow. It loses 4-5 hours a week, which doesn’t sound much, but unless I adjust it each day it means that if it’s right on Sunday, the hens don’t get out until mid-day by the next Saturday.

    I’ve done the obvious thing of changing the battery a few times with no success. It is one of the old model timers, where you push in the tabs on the dial that goes round.

    Have you ever seen this before, and do you know if there’s a fix for it?

    Many thanks

    Dunstan

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