incubator???

what would be the best actually dishing out the cash for one or just making one? and if making would be best how would i go about doing so? i figured a rubbermaid type box with top and some vermiculite and a good thermostat and some flex watt tape but what would be a good size?

I searched Craigslist for months and then 15 minutes after a guy posted up his wine cooler, i told him i was on my way. Wine coolers work great, refrigerators, etc if you want to make you own.

Here's mine...basically just an old soda fridge with some flexwatt, a computer fan, and most importantly, a Helix thermostat ;)
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y19.../Incubator.jpg

Been holding a constant 88 ... I plan on using sealed egg boxes with appropriately mixed vermiculite.

Brad, what did you use as a power source for the fan? When does it come on?

*cough vaughn built it cough*

It looks like theres some kind of transformer on the fan and it plugs right into the wall, so its on all the time. It moves just enough air for that space to keep heat from pooling at the top of the incubator.

I'm sure Vaughn will chime in if he's sees this.

fan runs constant, 12 volt fan. transformer converts 120 volt to 12 volt for the fan. very little power/noise. keeps temps/humidity stable.



vaughn

can you tell me about this transformer plz? where can it be purchased? is only one fan necessary? since there is a fan, is it necessary to keep the tub that the eggs are in covered up?

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Originally Posted by nathanledet

can you tell me about this transformer plz? where can it be purchased? is only one fan necessary? since there is a fan, is it necessary to keep the tub that the eggs are in covered up?

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you can get them at radio shack, just tell the guy you want a 120 to 12v converter. But, make sure the fan you are using is 12v and not 120v.. I have 2 fans in mine one at the top and one at the bottom to keep the air going in a circle.

hope this helps

radio shack, the fan is a small 33 cfm 12 volt model. that is a small bator so not much air movement is needed.

transformer basically converts 120 volt from your wall outlet to 12 volts for the fan to run. for a bigger bator, they have bigger fans in 12 volts and 120 volts. the 120 volts fans don't need transformers, just splice a lamp cord into them and plug in.


vaughn

The 120 volt fans work great. I have two in my bator. The downfall, they are a bit more pricey. I think I paid $40 each for my fans.

here is the best place to bu fans

this is the cheapes if you can wait. They are 12v 2.99

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...6374&CatId=801

or if you want a 4 pack here ya goe 12.99

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...6370&CatId=801

radio shack is a little spendy for fans.. or the best is if you have old computer laying around you can take out the fan on the power box..

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Originally Posted by sg1trogdor

what would be the best actually dishing out the cash for one or just making one? and if making would be best how would i go about doing so? i figured a rubbermaid type box with top and some vermiculite and a good thermostat and some flex watt tape but what would be a good size?

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Lol I seen no one answered your question so Im gonna take a shott a it.
As far as what size rubbermaid tub, I would use a 13 gallon trash can and use 8-10 gallons of vermiculite. Then get a pane of glass to cover the trash can. Tracy barker and david use this technique and looks like this has been proven to be a cheapy way of incubating eggs. Oyeah Im still working and researching on how I can use flexwatt when using this type of incubation. Tracy barker and david use a heated room. So yeah im still working on what size flexwatt to use in a non heated room.