DIY: Coca Cola Incubator

We have been looking for a fridge with a glass door to make an incubator from for ever. And on christmas eve we were out walking with our dog and found a frigde outside of a café. The compressor was broken so we could have it for free. The next morning I went over there and carried it home. It was a really long walk to go and it took almost three hours. But now we don't have to buy one!

First of all we striped it down and removed all the parts that we didn't need. So forst of all we got rid of the freon system becuse all you need is basiclly just an empy box. VVenting freon into the atmosphere is illegal today so you might consider having the freon removed by a certified professional. This frigde was drained prior to the cuting of the line.

http://www.214reptiles.com/images/st...0401%20208.jpg
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Once everything was out we cleaned the frigde with sope and left it outside with the door open over night to get rid of the smell. This was an old used frigde so you can only imagine how it smelled the first time we opened the door.
All we had to do then was to install the heatstrip, some shelves, a thermostat and add some paint to it.

We drilled a hole on the back where the wires from the heatstrip could go though and then just duct taped two heatstrips on the sides. We will only house 2 clutches of eggs in this incubator this year so we put the heatstrips in the middle where the shelf were to be.

http://www.214reptiles.com/images/st...0401%20258.jpg
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Then we bought one 8 liter box from Hammarplast and mixed the vermiculite and placed it on the shelf. We didn't really know where to put the thermostat probe so we just left it there in the middle of the shelf and left it like that over night to se what temperatures we had. It turned out to be perfect. 32 celcius (89,6 Fahrenhait) both inside and outside the eggbox.
Now we just have to paint it one more time and wait for the eggs!

http://www.214reptiles.com/images/st...kare%20002.jpg
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So now it's almost done. One or two more layer of paint and a small fan inside to circulate the hot air better.
To be continued...

That's pretty cool. Let me know how it turns out with the fan and such.

-Matt

Here's a pic of mine..Same idea as the coke ..But was for frozen fish food instead of cokes...This is my second year using it and I love it. It will hold 36 shoe boxes
Kevin Stoltz
www.KMSReptiles
http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/e...z/DSC_0008.jpg

Here is my coke fridge. I just have one heat strip along the back with a computer fan over it. Works perfect. It has hatched many clutches.

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w...eIncubator.jpg

wow!! congrats! i want 1! hehehe:D:D

that is the coolest thing ever you should show coca cola that and be like you should start making these for people

More ozon in the air :P

Nice incubator, you use any fans to have an airflow inside?

Thanks :)
I dont have a fan yet. I was thinking of buying two computer fans this weekend and try.
But It's still 89,6 degrees in there so It seems to work great!

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Originally Posted by Mikkla

Thanks :)
I dont have a fan yet. I was thinking of buying two computer fans this weekend and try.
But It's still 89,6 degrees in there so It seems to work great!

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You want to get a fan to circulate air or you can get hot and cool spots. I leave my fan running 24/7

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Originally Posted by West Coast Jungle

You want to get a fan to circulate air or you can get hot and cool spots. I leave my fan running 24/7

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Well I will only have 2 clutches this year so it dosen't really matter if the bottom of the incubator is a little bit colder that where the eggs are at. But I will still get the fans this weekend.

What type of fans do you use? Is the small computer fans to small?

I have a regular computer fan, I didn't know they come in different sizes:confused:

i would say go wit ha 110mm computer fan or a 125mm fan

Wow Mikkla~ that's brilliant!! I need to keep a watch for things like that since I'm hoping to have three clutches next season! Thanks and let us know how your clutches hatch out!!

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Originally Posted by starmom

Wow Mikkla~ that's brilliant!! I need to keep a watch for things like that since I'm hoping to have three clutches next season! Thanks and let us know how your clutches hatch out!!

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Thanks :)
I'm so excited about my first breeding so you bet I will keep you updated :D

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Originally Posted by West Coast Jungle

I have a regular computer fan, I didn't know they come in different sizes:confused:

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Yes many sizes...From 25mm up to 220mm

go to your local pet store and get one from ESU (its uses is for saltwater aqu) but it comes already with the cord attached,No wiring.
Kevin Stoltz
www.kmsreptiles.com

Okey, so now it's done. I made a few changes. I changed to backheat instead of on the sides and I first tought that It would be enough with one fan, but I had to get two in the end :D

http://www.214reptiles.com/images/st...llen%20018.jpg
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These are very cool!

I must make one!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mikkla

Okey, so now it's done. I made a few changes. I changed to backheat instead of on the sides and I first tought that It would be enough with one fan, but I had to get two in the end :D

http://www.214reptiles.com/images/st...llen%20018.jpg
http://www.214reptiles.com/images/stories/214%20001.jpg
http://www.214reptiles.com/images/stories/214%20006.jpg
http://www.214reptiles.com/images/stories/214%20008.jpg

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How did you put the fans together so you can plug them in the wall? I see the AC adapter, but do they sell something just for the fans?
I had an old computer and I took the fans out from it to use when I get a Coca cola frig.

But these all look so good and better then dropping mad cash for a pro lab incubator.

Thanks for the help!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dragondavy

How did you put the fans together so you can plug them in the wall? I see the AC adapter, but do they sell something just for the fans?
I had an old computer and I took the fans out from it to use when I get a Coca cola frig.

But these all look so good and better then dropping mad cash for a pro lab incubator.

Thanks for the help!!

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I got both the fans and the AC adapter in the same store. I just told the clerk what I was doing and that I needed to a fan to plug in to the wall. They weren't made for each other so I cut of the yellow wire and striped the other two and connected them to the adapter with soldering and I used shrink tubes instead of electric tejp

http://www.214reptiles.com/images/st...llen%20021.jpg
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http://www.214reptiles.com/images/stories/214%20007.jpg

I also drilled holes in the bottom of the incubator for all the wires, so the adapter is on the back...

Glad you liked it :)

Very cool, So you did use an AC adapter to plug in to the wall!

Thanks for the help, yours came out great!

Now for me to find one of these CC frigs!:D
My little incubator only holds 9 clutches so I need something bigger.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dragondavy

Very cool, So you did use an AC adapter to plug in to the wall!

Thanks for the help, yours came out great!

Now for me to find one of these CC frigs!:D
My little incubator only holds 9 clutches so I need something bigger.

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Well, I dont know what you call it in english. But it's some kind of adapter and I could tell yuo what it's called here in Sweden but I dont think that would help you :rolleyes:

I checked what it says on the adapter...

"AC-DC Adapter
Input 230V-50Hz
Output 12V - 1500 mA"

hope this helps...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mikkla

I checked what it says on the adapter...

"AC-DC Adapter
Input 230V-50Hz
Output 12V - 1500 mA"

hope this helps...

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Very cool, thanks for looking out with the help!

Now where to start looking for one of these frigs!!

Here is my soon to be incubator!

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/5238/img6744ah9.jpg

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/9550/img6741nz2.jpg

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/5057/img6745zq4.jpg

I found this coke frig today and all I need now is the supplies to put everything together and a few little touches.

Good thing my females are taking long to drop eggs, I have 3 clutches now and if all is good 13 more to go.:weirdface

Thanks everyone for posting pic's, they really got me open to looking for a frig and making one of my own.:gj:

Great place!!

Hey, I know this thread is 10 years old but I about to make one myself if anyone could post some pics

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Originally Posted by MushroomMang

Hey, I know this thread is 10 years old but I about to make one myself if anyone could post some pics

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Same principal https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...oler+incubator

The search function is your friend. :gj: