Incubator Fan Question...

I'm working on my DIY incubator that should hold 5-6 egg tubs (which is more than I need but at least it'll last a few years). My vessel is this: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-Xt...ooler/14574678 and I'm basing it roughly off this model: http://www.reptileradio.net/reptiler...or-in-pictures

I was talking to the guy at radio shack and the only fans he had in stock were these: http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2102823 He said that I would need two fans for the size of my incubator. But the fans look pretty big. I was going to put each about 1/4 way from the edge of the vessel and embed it in the egg crate (like in the model).

My question is is this: Is two fans enough? Or is it overkill? I just want to make sure my temps are fairly stable and it won't dry out my eggs (I don't think this is a problem because I'll be using shoebox tubs with press-n-seal with no vent holes - I'll just open the tubs one a week for fresh air).

This is my first incubator build for my first clutch...so I want to make sure I do my eggs justice. So please, any constructive criticism is welcome all other snide remarks are not.

You do not need two fan, one is more than enough in such a small space, I had a similar incubator and only had one fan, now I have a fridge incubator (holding 30 egg tubs) and I also only have one fan.

one fan is enough, just make sure it's a dc motor and not an ac motor. the ac one generates a lot of heat. something you don't want in a small incubator.

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Originally Posted by don15681

one fan is enough, just make sure it's a dc motor and not an ac motor. the ac one generates a lot of heat. something you don't want in a small incubator.

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The box says this fan is a Brushless 4" 12VDC Cooling Fan and some other stuff from the box:

• Ideal for computers, power supplies, and communication equipment
• 3000 RPM
• 85 CFM Airflow

The actual fan says it's a 0.32A 3.84W...not sure if that's important.

Also...I've never installed one of these, but the salesman at radio shack said I could just hijack my wiring on my heat tape to get it to run. I figured that wouldn't be a problem since I'll be using a Herpstat 2 on it. I was going to plan on sodering it to the wiring coming off my heat tape. Is that alright to do?

if you have a fridge size incubator do you even need a fan? as long as u open up your tubs every couple of days shouldn't that be enough?

It's actually a plastic cooler and places that I have read is that it's a good thing to have a fan to distribute the heat evenly throughout the vessel. And yes, I plan to open tubs to offer some air flow since I'm using non-locking lids with press-n-seal.

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Originally Posted by BHReptiles

The box says this fan is a Brushless 4" 12VDC Cooling Fan and some other stuff from the box:

• Ideal for computers, power supplies, and communication equipment
• 3000 RPM
• 85 CFM Airflow

The actual fan says it's a 0.32A 3.84W...not sure if that's important.

Also...I've never installed one of these, but the salesman at radio shack said I could just hijack my wiring on my heat tape to get it to run. I figured that wouldn't be a problem since I'll be using a Herpstat 2 on it. I was going to plan on sodering it to the wiring coming off my heat tape. Is that alright to do?

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I would advise against it, have each wired individually. Buy a D/C adaptor or use and old phone charger and wire it to your fan like this http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...305#post729305

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Originally Posted by sasT

if you have a fridge size incubator do you even need a fan? as long as u open up your tubs every couple of days shouldn't that be enough?

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Having a fan in your incubator has nothing to do with airing out your eggs, it has to do with circulating the air to prevent having a hot spot in your incubator by distributing the heat evenly.

I would get the 150qt igloo cooler for an extra $30. I built one out of this and it holds 12 6qt tubs with no problem. I have used the incubator with and without a fan and it works well either way.

I used this fan from Radio Shack. It is more than you need.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2211703

I used a simple AC/DC charger for charging nimh batteries like this one- available at most any hobby store..... An old phone charger would work, but most are not 12v and your fan would run 1/2 speed at most.

http://hangar-9.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=HAN103

I wired the (+) output from AC/DC out to a rheostat. I got the rheostat at Radio Shack....

http://www.radioshack.com/search/ind...=rheostat&sr=1

I only run the fan at about 1/2 speed on the rheostat and it is more than enough airflow.

Power strip where the compressor was. Plugged into it is the stock 120v light that was inside, my Herpstat 1 and the AC/DC converter. That powerstrip is plugged into a nice surge protector. Rheostat is on the bottom left. It fit right where the stock temp controller was for the wine cooler.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...-26-18_436.jpg

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...-24-51_251.jpg

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Originally Posted by joebad976

I would get the 150qt igloo cooler for an extra $30. I built one out of this and it holds 12 6qt tubs with no problem. I have used the incubator with and without a fan and it works well either way.

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Initially, that's what I wanted. But, I got the biggest size Walmart had. I even tried other places in the area (not just walmart) and this was the biggest I could find that was in stock. This cooler will fit my needs for now. I'll only hopefully have one clutch this season. My other girls are not big enough. It also gives me time to save money to get me a hot box incubator when I get more girls.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

I would advise against it, have each wired individually. Buy a D/C adaptor or use and old phone charger and wire it to your fan like this http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?61908-HOW-TO-Cheap-Incubator-Fan!&p=729305#post729305

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That's a cool idea. I'll see if we have any laying around the house (I know I have some in a box somewhere) or I'll buy an adaptor like mentioned above.

As for the fan, that was the only fan the radio shack near me had in stock. I take that back, there were three but they were all similar.

I wouldnt consider paying that much for a radio shack fan. Check out tigerdirect.com or newegg.com they will have a much better selection for sizes at much better prices. You should also be able to find a 12v dc transformer at those places also. or you I have heard of people using an old cell phone charger which is lower voltage which will work the fan will just spin a lil slower.

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Originally Posted by BHReptiles

The box says this fan is a Brushless 4" 12VDC Cooling Fan and some other stuff from the box:

• Ideal for computers, power supplies, and communication equipment
• 3000 RPM
• 85 CFM Airflow

The actual fan says it's a 0.32A 3.84W...not sure if that's important.

Also...I've never installed one of these, but the salesman at radio shack said I could just hijack my wiring on my heat tape to get it to run. I figured that wouldn't be a problem since I'll be using a Herpstat 2 on it. I was going to plan on sodering it to the wiring coming off my heat tape. Is that alright to do?

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it's a 12 volt dc motor. so if you take the 12 volts and times it with the 0.32 amps = 3.84 watts. volts x amps = watts. ohms law. did it come with a power supply.
I wouldn't run it off of the heat tape. mine is ran thru a light dimmer, so I can control the speed of the fan if needed. did it come with a power supply that will change the 120 v ac into 12 v dc?

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Originally Posted by don15681

it's a 12 volt dc motor. so if you take the 12 volts and times it with the 0.32 amps = 3.84 watts. volts x amps = watts. ohms law. did it come with a power supply.
I wouldn't run it off of the heat tape. mine is ran thru a light dimmer, so I can control the speed of the fan if needed. did it come with a power supply that will change the 120 v ac into 12 v dc?

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It didn't come with a power supply, just wiring. I purchased this today to run it off of: http://www.gandermountain.com/modper...arger&i=414669

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Originally Posted by BHReptiles

It didn't come with a power supply, just wiring. I purchased this today to run it off of: http://www.gandermountain.com/modper...arger&i=414669

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I like it!!

You can skip the rheostat with that thing. Just click in the voltage to change the fan speed.

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Originally Posted by coreydelong

I like it!!

You can skip the rheostat with that thing. Just click in the voltage to change the fan speed.

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Yep! That's why I liked it! If the fan is too much, I can half the speed pretty easily. If that's still too much, I have lamp dimmers around the house that I can hook up to it. I'll be finishing up the incubator tonight so I can test it until I get eggs.