Water_BeamBreak_System - BrendonWatsonLab/Digital-Homecage GitHub Wiki

Components

Arduino Mega 2560

Female/Male Connector Cable

IR Beam Break

Motor shield

Photoresistor Board

Red Solderable Breadboard

Solenoid

Assembly

When the mice are placed into the cage, and they poke their nose into the IR Beam Break, the IR light that is sent through the device is temporarily interrupted or broken. This causes a signal to be transmitted from the female/male connector to the Motor Shield/Arduino. This signal is then relayed from the 3/6 pin on the Motor Shield to the 8/11 pin on the same Motor Shield. This connection is then relayed to the Solderable Breadboard up to the solenoids. This triggers an electric pulse that causes the solenoid to open for about a second. This causes a pressure drop that allows water to be dispensed to the mice. The Arduino records this signal and sends it to the LabJack, which then records the beam-break signal for the entire duration of the breaking of the IR light. While beam breaks are recorded as being constant during the interval where the mouse is poking, dispenses have a three-second delay between each event.