Have you ever used a lab incubator?

[Danegerous]

I have an opportunity to get a $6000 university lab incubator with thermostat, exhaust fans, and everything. It's about the size of a fridge and heats up to 350 degrees in 28 minutes. I can independently set the on/off/fan, with three separate settings.

It's the size of a fridge, so it has tons of room, its 100% stainless steel inside and looks totally awesome. I'm just a little concerned with it's ability to do the trick. I guess it would have no problem, really at all...

The deal is, I have to drive 3.5 hours to pick it up...but, it's free...it works perfectly, too. Here are some pics. Just let me know if you've used one, or anything. Also, do you think I'd have any trouble cutting a window in the front? I was thinking about using 3/8" acrylic on both sides with silicone to seal it...

It's a Lunaire Series 900.

Thanks!

[jdmls88]

wow id be worried about it malfunctioning and cooking your eggs

[rbchesapeakeball]

Thats actually a baking unit, I would go get it if it's free, even if you can't get the temps low enough for incubating you can retro-fit it with flex watt and a thermo. I'll post pics of how I did mine, you can PM me, if you'd like.

Rich

[Danegerous]

Well, the thing is, it's so precisely regulated that the thermostat would shut off. It has the same built in regulators and saftey shutoffs, it's like a super-Helix on there...Because the universities use these things for all sorts of cultures, like viruses and bacteria and stuff. So, I'm not worried about it frying the eggs anymore than the hovanator would or any other one...I will, however, probably run it for a solid month straight occupied with only a thermometer/hydrometer...just to be sure.

[SatanicIntention]

GETIT! Can't go wrong with a laboratory grade incubator.

Ya lucky little turdlet..

[Gloryhound]

Worse case you add a Ranco in set at an emergency shut off temp as a back up. I would get it in a heart beat even though I do not have room for it. My little incubator was around $600.00 and then I have to swap out the control systems on it since it used wafer primary and back up T-stats. I am putting 3 rancos in mine with the primary control set at 89 degrees the low back up set at 88 degrees and the over temp complete shut down of unit at 91 degrees. The incubator I am using is the same as Ballroom Pythons South uses except he uses the two wafer elements with a ranco as a back up where I am swapping to all rancos as I have no faith in wafer elements.

[Blue Apple Herps]

I have often wondered about using lab incubators, too. We have several at the university where I work that aren't being used. However, all the ones that we do use here keep the environment inside the incubator VERY VERY dry. My only concern would be drying out of the eggs. But you could put a tub of water in the bottom or something to keep humidity up. I say go for it! Especially if it's free.

As others have said, you could always just put some flexwatt on a t-stat in there.

[janeothejungle]

.Because the universities use these things for all sorts of cultures, like viruses and bacteria and stuff.

This would be my main concern. Depending on how old it is, and if a university is letting it go, it's OLD, I would be going to town on the cleaning once you get it. I'd also agree that a ranco or backup is appropriate, because you can't really trust an outdated system. Our incubators at my school are only about 5-6 years old and run into problems at times (such as running program 3, a 200 degree high, instead of program 2, a 90 degree high). We've cooked many a project without intending to.

That said, it's free and definitely useful. Just be careful.

Cheers,
Kat

[West Coast Jungle]

I would get it and put in flexx watt and my own t-stat. It's free, just customize it. The thing is do you have the space for that bad boy.

[Rapture]

I'd get it, test it, and put a back up thermostat on it. As far as humidity goes, the eggs will be fine as long as they are in a sealed container with appropriate incubation media.