My DIY Incubator/wine chiller :)
I've finally finished my Incubator made from a thermo-electrically cooled wine chiller; thought I'd share it with you all!
*If I'm missing anything, or have messed up in any way, please feel free to tell me! :) thanks!*
I picked up this wine chiller off of Craigslist for $30... the guy was getting rid of it because it ran but didn't chill anymore - perfect! Anyway, if you guys can find one of these models that chill thermo-electrically, you don't have to worry about any compressor, Freon lines, etc. I thought it was really pretty easy to convert into an incubator!
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/...psb83fa8ac.jpg
Here is the inside, before I messed with any of it. :)
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/...psd1329179.jpg
Took the back cover off....
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/...psfd43b621.jpg
Was a little daunting at first....
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/...ps42079181.jpg
...but the thermo-electric unit pulled right out. Clipped the wires.
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1e871d10.jpg
This is the fan that blew the cool air off of the TE unit and forced it into the chiller. I ended up turning this fan around so it blew into the incubator.
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/...psb18aa494.jpg
Measured the space to cover with a square of styrofoam.
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/...psb4e4b51e.jpg
These were attached below the thermo-electric unit to keep it from overheating.... (please disregard my cheap box wine ;))
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5ad816fa.jpg
I unscrewed one of them from the frame, and then clipped the wiring to the other, since I wouldn't need it, preserving the wiring to the single fan to move inside my incubator.
This grate and fan inside unscrew from the interior easily...
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/...ps60dac28d.jpg
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/...psd7ec3208.jpg
Put the additional fan through the hole....
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/...psf7541fd3.jpg
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/...ps92cc28bb.jpg
...screwed it into place, and covered the wiring with electrical tape.
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/...ps952d607b.jpg
Oh man, that fan looks way dustier than it does in person....... :O
aaaaand heat tape! :) Then screw the back fan back into place and replace the grate over top.
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/...ps44f1e818.jpg
Back to the back... need to cover that hole.... I used styofoam and hot glue to stick it in place....
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/...ps404f34f1.jpg
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/...ps34229185.jpg
And then replaced the back cover! Done! (Well, it does still need a couple internal thermometers and hydrometer :))
Here it is in place in my rack/python center.....
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/...pse42fb8d4.jpg
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/...psa569e605.jpg
These tubs (I think?) are a little bit big, as they are nearly 8 qt tubs... I'd read you can use 6 qt reasonably...? Anyway, if you can, I think I could fit a total of 6-8 tubs in here....
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/...psfc1175b0.jpg
I'm really happy with how it turned out! Now just waiting on my thermostat for it! I did run it all for just about a half hour just to make sure it all worked, and it got up to 94* pointing my temp gun at a non-heat tape surface. :) Thanks for reading :)
Re: My DIY Incubator/wine chiller :)
My DIY Incubator/wine chiller :)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
sugar shane
very nice...........Jim
Thank you, Jim :)
My DIY Incubator/wine chiller :)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
MisterKyte
Once again, this whole set up just looks so frickin' fantastic.
I've actually been looking for a box like this but I have yet to see a decently priced one that isn't the size of a lunchbox on my CL. :/
Thank you! Try putting 'wine chiller' in the CL search, and check CL's in your surrounding areas (as long as you don't mind the trip!) I drove two hours to get this one :)
