DIY Incubator

Just finished building an incubator... It's pretty descent and will show pics (Kinda like a tutorial for those who want to build on in the future).

Basically it is built out of a fridge which has a separate section on top for the freezing part. It measures probably around 6ft tall X 3ft wide X 3ft deep. I bought all my products from RBI, not saying they're the only supplier. Everything cost me about $500.00. Below is a list of things you need:

Tools:

1. Scissors
2. A pair of Hands

Materials: (Most of the electronics are pre-wired for convenience)

1. Fridge
2. (1) Pre-wired Ranco Thermostat
3. (1) Helix
4. (2-3) Computer Fans with Adapters
5. Foil Tape
6. Heat Tape- (1) 3ft & (2) 2ft pieces wired parallel
7. (1) Extension Cord
8. A few garbage bag twister


The top section will use the 1 piece of 3ft heat tape.

The bottom section will use the 2 peices of 2ft heat tape.

You can use one fan in each section, but I think two fans on the botom section and 1 fan on the top will work better. (Remember, this application is for a fridge that has two seaprate compartments, one on the top and one on the bottom).

In my application, the heat tape that was connected in parallel, was desinged to have a "Slight" ovelap because of limited space.

... Directions with pics will follow next,
KMR.

Here are most of the products you will need:

http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/PC210020.jpg

Here is the fridge I used. It was all white and I had a ALOT of black spray paint soooooooo:

http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/PC210015.jpg

Directions:

1. First step is hooking up the computer fans.It comes with everything and is extremely simple to wire it up. There are two connections to be made on each fan:

http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/PC210023.jpg

http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/PC210024.jpg

http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/PC210025.jpg

Here's the second connection to for the fan:

http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/PC210025.jpg

All done:

http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/PC210027.jpg

2. Second step is to tape the (2) 2ft heat tape together. Remeber, you need a slight overlap... Not only for limited space, but you need it to properly attach the two pieces to each other. Also, these pieces were pre-wired:

http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/PC210029.jpg

http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/PC210033.jpg

http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/PC210035.jpg

In the pic below, it shows how I tied the wire together witha twister inorder to keep the wires in place and not hanging all over. Also, you can see the plastic connector after you make the overlap. Don't worry, it does not affect anything:

http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/PC210038.jpg

3. Third step is making holes in the fridge inorder to pass the wires through. Mines had holes already in place from the vent system... Only problem was I had to make the outer hole a slight bigger... no probs.

Here's the wire being passed through the outer hole to the top section:

http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/PC210040.jpg

The wired is being passed through to the bottom section since I was hooking up the bottom section first:

http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/PC210041.jpg

http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/PC210042.jpg

4. Next step is to tape the heat tape onto the walls of the fridge. Here's me checking to see if the heat tape fits and it did:

http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/q...PC210043-1.jpg

The taping begins. I would suggest that you use small pieces because if you use big pieces, it would be difficult to remove the tape if needed to:

http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/PC210044.jpg

http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/PC210046.jpg

5. Next step is getting the fans in. Thus, you have to pass the wire through the holes:

http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/PC210049.jpg


Here's the finished product of the bottom section:

http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/PC210051.jpg

6. Next step is hooking up the top section. I put the 3ft piece of tape in first and then put the wire through the hole. I attached the tape on the roof of the top section.

http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/PC210050.jpg

http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/PC210052.jpg

Finished product of the top section:

http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/PC220061.jpg

7. Time to hook-up the heat tape to the thermostats and attach the fans to the extension cord. The heat tape will be attached to the Helix first and then the Helix will be attached to the Ranco, which will act as a back-up in the event the Helix goes bad. Many people say one thermostat is good but I STRONGLY disagree because I refuse to use the bare minimum on my animals! The wiring process is straight forward, by just pluging in the heat tapes into the Helix's Plug. Then you plug the Helix's Power Wire into the Ranco. Then you plug the fans into an extension cords.

In the end you will have two power cords, one for the fans and one for the heat tapes. Here are some of the wires which I placed in the back because it looked too messy :angel:

http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/PC220063.jpg

I placed the Raco on the side of the incubator and placed the Helix in-front:

http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/PC220064.jpg

Any questions about my procedure on bulding an incubator, feel free to contact me

The final product:

http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/PC220059.jpg

http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/PC220060.jpg

I borrowed a new camera from my cousin, so I will try to get better shots for you all. I will also do a YouTube video as soon as I get time...

Thanks,
KMR

That's really cool. I heard someone mention on a post, and have been wondering how that would work. Thank's a lot. :D

How would what work? Kinda confused by your post, lol...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by KMR

How would what work? Kinda confused by your post, lol...

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:rofl: lol. A forum post. :rofl: Sorry, I wasn't very clear on that one :oops:

Hey this is one hell of a DIY right up congrats and thanks for the details