Sick and tired of rebuilding feeders every year, who makes the best timer?

[txfireguy2003]

Ever considered free choice feeding

Any good welding shop should be able to build you a close to bulletproof box out of 1/4" plate steel with a recessed lock box to keep all but the most determined vandals out...

Yeah, we feed protein free choice except during the deer season. I also put out a lot of hand corn. The reason I don't feed corn that way, is because they eat it too fast. I can put out 1000 lbs of protein and come back a week later and it's gone. Cameras don't show coons or pigs eating protein much, but lots of deer do. I'm not sure how they eat so much of it and aren't monsters, but they do. I'll let them eat the protein as much as they want, especially since all the lease members split the cost on that, but the corn in my feeder comes out of my wallet, and those deer would eat me out of house and home. I wish I could figure out a way to make a trough style feeder, but only give them access to it during daylight hours. Maybe something with a hinged lid......

[sports]

I have had great luck with The Timer

[AgHntr10]

Hcr

[TX_Kevin]

I am running two of the 12 volt Foreverlast feeder boxes and controllers. I am very pleased with them, and they are a site sponsor. You can get them at Academy. Mine have lasted quite well so far, and I am pleased with them. The boxes are galvanized instead of painted, so they ought to last. The timer is well built, solid, and easy to use. http://www.foreverlastonline.com/Con...-Kit_p_14.html

[systemnt]

Just had to replace 2 more of "the timer" Junk.

My all seasons timers are still going well.

All seasons use the timer.

[Blast-n-cast]

All seasons use the timer.

Exactly what I was thinking. I had (2) All Seasons going for several years with out a problem and they had "the timer" in them.

I bought a couple of feeders from Krivoman and put "the Timer" in some custom made boxes and they have been going strong without a hitch for the last (2) seasons. I spent about $400 for (2) "the timer" ,custom made boxes, and the 12v batteries, but I know when I go sit in my stand the feeder will go off. Its worth it to me

[Black Ice]

.

[Huntindad]

Yeah, we feed protein free choice except during the deer season. I also put out a lot of hand corn. The reason I don't feed corn that way, is because they eat it too fast. I can put out 1000 lbs of protein and come back a week later and it's gone. Cameras don't show coons or pigs eating protein much, but lots of deer do. I'm not sure how they eat so much of it and aren't monsters, but they do. I'll let them eat the protein as much as they want, especially since all the lease members split the cost on that, but the corn in my feeder comes out of my wallet, and those deer would eat me out of house and home. I wish I could figure out a way to make a trough style feeder, but only give them access to it during daylight hours. Maybe something with a hinged lid......

There was a thread a while back using protein. The guy attached a 5 gallon bucket to the bottom of his feeder and a downspout to a tray from that. The feeder went off inside the bucket and the protein filled up the tube. Could be used for corn as well.

[txfireguy2003]

So....The Timer looks good, as well as HCR, OnTime, Triple C and Foreverlast. Can't find pricing on Triple C products. I'm going to try Foreverlast this year, but won't need a timer for the tailgate feeder. I'm not sure I like the design on the OnTime units, plus, this setup is currently 12V and looks like all of the OnTime units are self contained 6V....all I need is a timer. That brings me down to HCR, or TheTimer. I'm sure they'll all be better than the Remington ones I've been using from Academy, which look the same as numerous other brands, just with a different sticker on them. The last timer I bought was a "Texas Hunter Products" that I picked up at the hardware store near the lease. It looked tough and seemed like it should work well, even had wires available to hook up the solar panel and automotive style snap lock connectors for everything. Didn't hold up.

Let's hear some votes, HCR or TheTimer?

[Mertzon Man]

Hcr timers work great for me!

[axisguy]

I have been using several of The Timers for 5 seasons now without any issues.

[txfireguy2003]

There was a thread a while back using protein. The guy attached a 5 gallon bucket to the bottom of his feeder and a downspout to a tray from that. The feeder went off inside the bucket and the protein filled up the tube. Could be used for corn as well.

Yeah, I saw that too, but it won't really do what I want. See, even with the spin style feeders, the deer will just let the corn sit there until dark, then come in and eat it. Apparently, the birds don't steal enough during the day, and the hogs don't seem to come in during the day either. With the bucket/tray setup, they'd just let it sit in the tray until dark. What I want is a trough, with a lid, that opens during the day, and is closed at night. That way, they either come in and eat during the day, or they don't eat from that feeder. Might take a while to get them trained to it, but I think it would work, if only I could get the mechanics/electronics worked out.

[shiner78]

Hcr all way. Ive been run 3 timers for 5 years now with no problems.

[Mike Javi Cooper]

Yeah, I saw that too, but it won't really do what I want. See, even with the spin style feeders, the deer will just let the corn sit there until dark, then come in and eat it. Apparently, the birds don't steal enough during the day, and the hogs don't seem to come in during the day either. With the bucket/tray setup, they'd just let it sit in the tray until dark. What I want is a trough, with a lid, that opens during the day, and is closed at night. That way, they either come in and eat during the day, or they don't eat from that feeder. Might take a while to get them trained to it, but I think it would work, if only I could get the mechanics/electronics worked out.

Really wouldn't be that difficult to design a working model of that concept. The issue is cost, not workability.

[txfireguy2003]

Really wouldn't be that difficult to design a working model of that concept. The issue is cost, not workability.

I was thinking something along the lines of a miniature garage door opener, chain drive, dual direction motor etc. Where i get lost is how to control that motor, I'm not real savvy with electronics.