EasyOut! Benefits/Features of Outside/Kennel Version
Allows release of pets or other animals from outside containment while remaining inside the home.
Advantageous not only for dogs in kennels, but may be adapted to chickens or other livestock.
Useful not only for private pet owners, but also multi-kennel applications such as SPCA, etc.
Latches may still be operated manually at any time. EasyOut! is only active when button pressed.
Works through walls, floors, obstacles, etc., with the simple push of a single remote control button.
EasyOut! Assembly/Installation Instructions
Cut barrel bolt to appropriate length to support your kennel’s installation (read below, then determine).
Assemble main unit per assembly diagram slide 3, with barrel bolt extending from hole in enclosure.
Mount main unit to main unit mounting plate with mounting hardware.
Pass hose clamp through slot in main unit mounting plate into open air space between plate and unit bottom, back through another mtg. plate slot, around door post, and into its worm screw locking hole.
Tighten hose clamp to secure main unit to door.
Mount barrel bolt retainer to retainer mounting plate with mounting hardware.
Pass hose clamp through slot in retainer mounting plate, back through another retainer mounting plate slot, around fixed kennel frame post, and into its worm screw locking hole.
Tighten hose clamp to secure barrel bolt retainer to kennel frame post.
Adjust locations of main unit and retainer such that barrel bolt slides freely into and out of retainer, engages retainer sufficiently to keep door shut when extended, and clears retainer when retracted.
Secure prior locking latch in an open/up position with wire or whatever other means convenient.
EasyOut! Operation Instructions
After installation is complete per above, close door and engage barrel bolt latch into its retainer manually. Extend antenna on remote and push its button momentarily, just like a garage door opener. EasyOut! should pull back barrel bolt latch, thereby unlocking door. Do this first from nearby the kennel.
Re-engage bolt into retainer manually and open with remote from increasingly further locations.
Remote should work from at least 100 feet away and usually further, but different configurations and/or construction of the ground/walls nearby will affect distance. Icy conditions also degrade performance.
Latch can be opened and closed manually at any time. EasyOut! is only energized momentarily while the remote control button is being pressed; at all other times it is passive and has no effect on operation.
Once latch is opened by EasyOut! your pet or livestock will nudge open the door and come out. For dogs, call him/her to come to you from nearby the first couple of times you unlatch the door so he/she will associate the clicking sound made by EasyOut! with the opening of the door. Repeat by calling him/her when you are further away and out of sight, and he/she will soon come to you upon every opening.
Trouble-shooting Tips
If EasyOut! ever fails to open latch when activated, it is likely due to one of the following 3 things, either:
The latch rod is being inhibited from free motion because it is rubbing somewhere, preventing the EasyOut! from being able to pull it out of retainer. Adjust whatever is necessary to eliminate rubbing so it travels freely again. For outdoor applications, ice will degrade operation (thaw).
Remote is being used from too far away. Move closer to EasyOut! to resolve problem.
Batteries are dead. Replace 4 AA batteries via access door on bottom of main unit.
Seems pretty hard to believe something like this isn't already available. The video demonstration would have been more effective if done at a distance showing the ability to go through walls and other obstacles.
Again, we have a gadget that goes through walls. And again, it makes me wonder why our common remotes are so weak. If our gadget freaks can make remotes that go through walls, why isn't that feature more common with consumer electronics?
Bandwidth and cost. There are a limited number of frequencies made available for wireless remotes and a much larger number of remote controller consumer devices. It's a lot easier to share frequencies if the range is limited. If my remote's power (and thus range) is so limited that I can't possibly change channels on my neighbor's identical set, our remotes can be interchangeable and extremely cheap. If they had longer range, they'd need a bluetooth-like pairing scheme and spread-spectrum channel allocation, making them more costly and less "user friendly." The cheap, range limited remotes just work.
I can't believe nobody yet has mentioned that the VAST majority (>95%??) of common remote controls don't use RF at all! They're infrared, people! THAT's what prevents them from going through walls!
I know lots of people in the semi-rural area where I live who'd love a device like this for their chicken coops and horse pens, especially in the winter. I have to agree with Doug, though, it seems a bit hard to believe something doesn't exist out there to do this. The other option for the pooches is the good old electric fence and doggie door. That's our set up and my dogs go in and out at their leisure.
Actually I had the same problem with the privacy fence gate at the side of my house. After seeing what some companies offered and charged, I about passed out. The solution was simple and required no batteries! I took a few i/4' Dia eye bolts and a long length of 1/8 Dia polyester cord. One of the eye bols I used for the locking bolt and the others were used as stand-offs/guides for the cord. I dressed the end of the cord off with a 1 1/2' Dia wooden ball with a 3/16 Dia. hole drilled through it and tied a stopper knot at the end. Pulling the ball pulls the eye bolt out of the gate padlocking plates. The great thing about this design is, all components were made right here in the USA.
If I had to go through a wall I would of inserted a tube through a wall opening, flanged and caulked both ends, and used a fancy wine bottle cork that fitted the inside opening and fitted this to end the cord!
Now I could add one of those flashing red lights they sell for bicycles if some of you electro guys need to have something that glows to look at!
I built something with a similar function, but set to a timer to let our dog out at a specific time. I created a vessel using PVC pipe and end caps, plus a tire valve. I charged it with compressed air as my energy source. I wired a sprinkler solenoid to release the air, which acted on an air cylinder that was the deadbolt for the kennel. A bungee cord swung the door open so he could get out.
It wasn't about being lazy as someone else mentioned. We kept the dog in a kennel in the garage after we left for work, so he wouldn't disturb the neighbors at an early hour. After getting out of the kennel, he had access to the yard.
The main reason I am not inpressed is the over use of China products. I would like to see a better use of American made products. We as a country need to support our American manufacturers and workers.
Also, the gadget is a little too simple with no real consumer value. I still have to get up and go outside to put the animal back in the cage. People are becoming too lazy and over dependant on technology.
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