Fridge-like Incubators

Hey guys,

I am a looong way away from doing this, but I want to know if I need to keep an eye out for different options.

When we are able to start breeding bp's, I plan on making our own incubator out of a wine chiller, (mini) fridge, etc. I currently have a mini fridge, only a year or so old. Will the fact that we may end up wanting to use it as a fridge again sometime mean we should not use it for an incubator? As far as I know, you dont need to tear the thing apart to use it as an incubator, just taking advantage of the already in-place insulation. With that said, would there be any effects of using the fridge as an incubator that would ruin the fridge for human food/drinks etc?

Also, would you recommend sticking to something small, like a mini fridge (the tiny cube kind), or perhaps go with something a little bigger, such as a small fridge ( not the tiny cube kinds, usually about 3 feet high or so) or a wine chiller to be ready to expand after a few years?

Thanks

I myself am on the lookout for wine cooler or dorm fridge aprox 3ft tall I think that would hold probably hold 6-9 clutches I think, which is plenty big enough

I have a 1.7 cubic foot mini already on hand, which are the box type. The compact fridges are ~3 ft tall and 3.3 cubic feet. I am betting the little fridge is going to hold a maximum of like 4 clutches...probably only three unless I destroy the little freezer compartment.

With that said, I would assume it would be better to spring for the bigger fridge, wine cooler, etc, if I happen to come across one?

You could always build one. :D

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...s/IMG_1058.jpg

Actually I was wondering how one would remove the motor safely from one. Is there a way or do most people just leave the motor on and not bother with that?

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Originally Posted by Oxylepy

Actually I was wondering how one would remove the motor safely from one. Is there a way or do most people just leave the motor on and not bother with that?

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Unless weight is a problem just leave it all in there...there in no risk of leaving the motor and compressor in the unit.

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Originally Posted by lord jackel

You could always build one. :D

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...s/IMG_1058.jpg

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That does not look very well insulated....correct me if I am wrong.

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Originally Posted by ThyTempest

That does not look very well insulated....correct me if I am wrong.

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It is 3/4 Melamine it hold heat to a tenth of a degree. 2 seasons in use and spot on. I have a small fan that moves the air around and can fit about 18 clutches in it (pray someday I actually get that many)

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Originally Posted by lord jackel

You could always build one. :D

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...s/IMG_1058.jpg

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Nice Job. I like it. Where did you buy the stuff for the shelving?

It is very illegal to remove a compressor without recovering the refrigerant. Yes my husband is certified in refrigeration by the epa. He takes that very seriously. So the best bet is to just leave the compressor alone. Besides the fact that most refrigerants are oxygen depleting meaning no oxygen for you to breathe. So please if even not for the enviroment please don't for your own safety.

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Originally Posted by shadi11

It is very illegal to remove a compressor without recovering the refrigerant. Yes my husband is certified in refrigeration by the epa. He takes that very seriously. So the best bet is to just leave the compressor alone. Besides the fact that most refrigerants are oxygen depleting meaning no oxygen for you to breathe. So please if even not for the enviroment please don't for your own safety.

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Which is why I asked how to remove it safely :P

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Originally Posted by lord jackel

You could always build one. :D

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...s/IMG_1058.jpg

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I love that. You need to post instructions on supplies and what you did and have it made into a sticky, cause that is friggen awesome!!!!

When I got my glass front cooler, the motor didn't work. The company I bought it from, who sells and leases coolers and drink machines, had already removed the freon and cut the lines so it couldn't be used again.

All I did was remove everything, fan, motor and all(inside and outside the unit), which left me with a 2' wide x 2' deep x 5' tall open space inside the cooler. I just cleaned it with bleach and chlorhexidine, let it air, then wired flexwatt, a thermostat and a fan into it, and then put the shelves into it. Works perfectly. I will be putting another fan in it this year on the bottom so it circulates better.

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Originally Posted by JAMills

Nice Job. I like it. Where did you buy the stuff for the shelving?

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Originally Posted by Ladydragon

I love that. You need to post instructions on supplies and what you did and have it made into a sticky, cause that is friggen awesome!!!!

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Thanks so much. :)

The shelving is from Home Depot (or lowes) in the closet department...it is that wire closet management stuff that I cut to size.

As for a write up I keep meaning to as several people have asked me about it. I will try to get it done this week. It is actually VERY easy to build.

Since you are thinking about it so far in advance, I would recommend you keep a watch now on your local craigslist or other classifieds. We watched for a while and managed to get two identical wine coolers for CHEAP. They were a little dirty, but all we had to do was thoroughly clean them and install the Flexwatt. I would also recommend foregoing the small cube type fridges in favor of something more the size of small wine coolers. If you are going to put the work into it, why not make something large enough to do you for several years. Here are ours, they just need to be fired up and possibly have a fan installed. We are even using the shelving that came with the coolers:
http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/g...Incubator4.jpg

Yeah after I saw your wine coolers, I been stalking craigs list lol can't find any near that price or size, you really lucked out :). I even put an add out on freecycle lookin.

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Originally Posted by Oxylepy

Actually I was wondering how one would remove the motor safely from one. Is there a way or do most people just leave the motor on and not bother with that?

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I took the motor off. Be careful when you snip the piping, because it may contain freon. I actually removed all of the extra stuff that I was not going to need. They just make the unit heavier. Check out this DIY on building one: http://www.arbreptiles.com/cages/incubator.shtml

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Originally Posted by shadi11

It is very illegal to remove a compressor without recovering the refrigerant.

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Woops :confused:

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Originally Posted by Wh00h0069

Woops :confused:

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Stuff happens sometimes when you dont know.. Which is why I shared the info.

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Originally Posted by Oxylepy

Which is why I asked how to remove it safely :P

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The only way to have it removed safely is to have a refigeration guy remove it for you. You need special tools, and equipment to remove it safely.