Need help building a incubator! PICS!!

[fLako0aGuiiLaR]

Hey guys,

hey im gonna star building a incubator with a old wine cooler that i got from someone thta wasnt using it anymore im gonna be using flex watt ap
but i still have some questions about it
I hope you can help me

Here we Go!--
Do i need Computer Fans to circulate the air?
if yes Do i need one in the bottom and one in the top of the incubator?
which type of fans are better for my incubator?
Where can i get em?
Do i wire the fans directly to the flexwatt?

Here is the cooler i got if it help!
its dimensions are 22"x24"x40"

[rlditmars]

Yes, you need a fan to circulate the air so you have consistent temps throughout the incubator. You may only have one clutch the first time but you may have more later. You probably will only need one fan as long as the volume of air it moves is sufficient. I didn't use a computer fan but instead used a fan that was designed for use in bigger cabinets, such as large speaker boxes or larger cooling units. You can find them on Amazon and you can get them with a rheostat on the cord so you can control the speed of the fan and move as much or as little air is needed to stabilize the entire incubator.

I have the heat tape on a separate plug, plugged into the thermostat. The fan is just plugged into a power strip as I want it to remain on all the time and I do not want it to fluctuate.

I hope that helps and best of luck to you.

[rlditmars]

Here is a pic of the one I built. You can see the fan mounted in the top.


[IMG][/IMG]

[fLako0aGuiiLaR]

Yes, you need a fan to circulate the air so you have consistent temps throughout the incubator. You may only have one clutch the first time but you may have more later. You probably will only need one fan as long as the volume of air it moves is sufficient. I didn't use a computer fan but instead used a fan that was designed for use in bigger cabinets, such as large speaker boxes or larger cooling units. You can find them on Amazon and you can get them with a rheostat on the cord so you can control the speed of the fan and move as much or as little air is needed to stabilize the entire incubator.

I have the heat tape on a separate plug, plugged into the thermostat. The fan is just plugged into a power strip as I want it to remain on all the time and I do not want it to fluctuate.

I hope that helps and best of luck to you.

Can you get me the link for the page where i can buy the same fan from amazon?
where did you get the rheostat from?
Is it easy to wire it?

Sorry this is my first incubator project and i dont know nothing about electronics but im really excited to do it myself

[rlditmars]

Here's a link. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009OWVUJ0?psc=1

If you scroll down you can see where they have a speed control cord. Hope that helps.

[TheSnakeEye]

[B]Do i need Computer Fans to circulate the air?
if yes Do i need one in the bottom and one in the top of the incubator?
which type of fans are better for my incubator?
Where can i get em?
Do i wire the fans directly to the flexwatt?

Yes you need a fan just because you have multiple levels. I would use a computer fan or something equivalent to it. Nothing too strong because it can dry out the tubs (I've had that issue). I would use one fan, set at the top preferably to one side not dead center to circulate the air downwards, don't forget hot air rises so it'll cycle nicely. I believe that hot HotBox does it. I would not wire the fan to the heat tape because when the thermostat turns the heat tape off it will also turn off the fan, potentially creating hotspots.

[fLako0aGuiiLaR]

Yes you need a fan just because you have multiple levels. I would use a computer fan or something equivalent to it. Nothing too strong because it can dry out the tubs (I've had that issue). I would use one fan, set at the top preferably to one side not dead center to circulate the air downwards, don't forget hot air rises so it'll cycle nicely. I believe that hot HotBox does it. I would not wire the fan to the heat tape because when the thermostat turns the heat tape off it will also turn off the fan, potentially creating hotspots.

Do you use a rheostat for your fan?

[fLako0aGuiiLaR]

Here's a link. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009OWVUJ0?psc=1

If you scroll down you can see where they have a speed control cord. Hope that helps.

Is 120V better than 12V or it doesnt matter the voltage?

Thanks for the link

[CD CONSTRICTORS]

Is 120V better than 12V or it doesnt matter the voltage?

Thanks for the link

I would stay away from 120v AC fans. Inherently AC fans create heat. There are people that heat very small incubators JUST with an AC fan, but it is tricky. With a DC fan you just need a 12V power supply. I currently use a $65 120v AC to 12v DC power supply that handles 13 amps. A cell phone charger with 6v will run your fan at half speed of 12v ratings.

A simple 12v DC fan is sufficient. I use these 120mm fans.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835553012

At the bottom of this web page link on my website is a small wine chiller build.
http://cdconstrictors.com/?page_id=116

Latest custom incubator build.
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...rogress-thread

[TheSnakeEye]

Do you use a rheostat for your fan?

Nope. I don't feel there is a need to have the fan turn on and off or slow down and speed up if you have the right fan from the start. My first year only consisted of three clutches and my incubator was a cooler. It was very simple: heat tape on the bottom, water bottles laid across the tape, egg tubs sitting on the water bottles, computer fan on the top circulating air. Fan ran nonstop for 60 days and never had any issues. considering your incubator is bigger, Im sure with a fan of that size or slightly larger you'll be fine.

Remember the fan has one simple purpose. It's to circulate air to avoid hotspots. It's not being used to cool anything just to move air.