Design of a novel control panel for 24-Volt automatic fish feeders

This paper describes a novel control panel for programmable feeders in a production fish hatchery. This system used digital interval timers in electrical box to control three parallel rails of power outlets. Transformers were used to step down the voltage from 120 to 24-V for use by 24-V feeders. A photo-eye was incorporated into the system so that the feeder would only dispense during the daylight hours. The system functioned as designed, powering the feeders at programmed intervals during daylight hours and deactivating during the night. This panel was relatively simple to fabricate and very inexpensive, costing less the $500 USD to construct.