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Incubator by Ax
Yay, I built a reptile egg incubator! And here’s how I did it.
First, thanks to all the nice and cool peeps for their help along the way and for your feedback.
Secondly, this is how I am writing out my thread. This first post in my DIY incubator thread will outline the materials and tools I used. The next few posts will go over my build process in 4 steps:
1. The Prep
2. The Assembly
3. The Accessories
4. The Test and Debrief
That said, these were my goals for my build:
1. Make it work
2. Learn and have fun
3. Make it pretty!
*******
Ok, the first thing is your mise en place. Get all your supplies, materials and tools in place and organized and ready to build! Here’s the list of stuff I used and needed. I hotlinked some of the specific supplies I used, so if u hover over/click it, it will take u to the store or website I got the item from.
Supplies and Materials
Wine Cooler
Heat Tape
Extension Cord
Heat Tape Connector and Insulator
Foil Tape
Electrical Tape
Silicon Caulking
Cooling Fan
Thermostat
Twist Ties or Zip Ties
Closet Wire Shelf
Power Strip
Bottled Water
Optional Accesories
RGB LED Strip
RGB wire extension
Rhinestones
Hot Glue
Tools
Cleaning Wipes
Safety Glasses
Work Gloves
Rotary Tool
Power Drill and Drill Bit
Socket Wrench/Wrench
Screwdriver
Measuring Tape/Ruler
Scissors
Wire Cutter/Stripper
Blue Painter’s Tape
Hacksaw
RIP Mamba
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Wicked ones now on IG & FB!6292
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The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Ax01 For This Useful Post:
Aedryan Methyus (01-27-2018),Godzilla78 (02-11-2018),nightwolfsnow (01-26-2018)
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The Following User Says Thank You to Ax01 For This Useful Post:
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The Assembly
With the wine cooler gutted, let’s get on with the build and wiped it down again w/bleach cleaning wipes.
If u haven’t done so already, measure how much heat tape u need. (I actually bought 10 feet of 12” THG heat tape b/c I wanted to save some for a future any build but RBI still sent me just over 12feet!)
I used a measuring tape and some blue painter’s tape to measure from where I wanted the heat tape to start and end. I needed only 3.5feet or 42inches of heat tape to cover the bottom and back wall of the wine cooler.
Next I moved onto wiring. I have a few wires I would be snaking in through the bottom hole in the wine cooler I designated for wiring. Those wires include:
1. Heat tape wire
2. Cooling fan wire
3. Thermostat probe wire
4. Optional RGB LED strip
I cut off the outlet portion of an available extension cord I had on hand. My cooling fan wire has an L-shaped adaptor plug, so I taped it to the stronger heat tape/extension cord wire to help shimmy it though the small hole.
Here’s all 4 wires/cords:
Here’s what it looked like on the other side!
Next I measured, wired and tested my heat tape.
I also took a moment to seal some interior holes inside the wine cooler. They were mainly hoels fro the screws that held the cooling panel.
I also sealed off the top of the wine cooler where the lighting and thermostat unit hung. I pushed the wire through it’s whole and used foil tape.
Next I want to install/position my cooling fan. I’m using a DC blower type fan where the air is drawn in through the center, the back is solid and the fan can be mounted flat. So I used a very strong Velcro stickie to mount the fan (instead of the screws). Also I decided to have my fan blowing towards the door but I can reposition it later if needed b/c it’s mounted using Velcro.
Alright now it’s time to tape down the heat tape and wires
I measured and cut strips of foil tape for taping down the heat tape.
I taped starting at the bottom, moving up.
When it was time to tape down the heat tape wire, I flipped my wine cooler to make it easier for taping.
I actually taped my heat tape wire and cooling fan wires together across the top and down the side.
Put on your safety glasses and work gloves.
Almost there! Originally I had wanted to flip the wired shelving racks so that it lays flat put it seemed flimsy. So I decided to buy and cut more sturdy closet organizers to use with the incubator.
I measured and initially used a Dremel. But there’s a vinyl coating on the closet organizer that created a little smoke. So ended up making the rest of the cuts using a hacksaw. Less cool, less flying sparks but also smokeless.
With the selves in place, I also positioned the thermostat probe. I pulled extra thermostat probe wire inside the wine cooler and wrapped it around the middle shelf twice. I will be sealing the wire entrance and wanted extra wire just in case I wanted to reposition the thermostat probe late on somewhere else.
Now let’s seal any leftover openings. In my case, I had to seal the wire opening. Make sure u pull all the wires taught and tape them down.
From the inside:
From the outside:
Almost done! The final step in my incubator build is to plug everything in. I got a heavy duty metal , power strip and used the silicon caulking to mount it to the top, back of the wine cooler. I positioned it here b/c the wire cords for my heat tape and cooling fan were short.
And that’s it! YAY! I’m basically done. The wine cooler is now a reptile egg incubator! Yas!
RIP Mamba
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Wicked ones now on IG & FB!6292
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The Following User Says Thank You to Ax01 For This Useful Post:
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The Test
Ok, now that the build is done and looks pretty, let’s make sure it’s functional incubator-wise.
I’m using a Herpstat 4 I had lying around to regulate temps. )I’ll probably swap it out for one of my Herpstat 2’s I have on my enclosures later.) I have the thermostat probe twist-tied to my center shelf.
I’m also using a few simple ZooMed thermometer w/ probe to test temps at the bottom shelf and top shelf.
I’m also using a Begrit thermometer to test ambient temps from the center shelf. (This thermometer also measures humidity, but that’s not important.)
I lined the bottom with some high quality water and set the Herpstat to 87degrees.
After like 30minutes, I came back and checked the temps. I don’t’ remember and can’t tell from the pix what % power the Herpstat was on maintaining 87degrees but the ZooMed thermometers seems almost on point!
Let’s check the Begrit from the temps from the center shelf. 86.9degree! Happy Baby Face! Yay!
I turned on my cooling fan to it’s lowest setting and after a minute or so, temps begin to cool
https://i.imgur.com/Bu9sIiB.jpg
The next morning, I checked the temps again. And everything seems to be on point!
And the humidity is too low for the Begrit baby Lol. Temp is 87degrees tho and there’s condensation forming in my Fihi water bottles.
I will continue testing and playing around my incubator. Next I will buy and build some egg boxes and see if any adjustments are needed w/ them inside the incubator.
Ok, let’s revisit my goals:
1. Make it work - CHECK!
2. Learn and have fun - CHECK!
3. Make it pretty! - CHECK!
Thanks for reading!
RIP Mamba
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Wicked ones now on IG & FB!6292
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Re: Incubator by Ax
Originally Posted by Ax01
The Test
Ok, now that the build is done and looks pretty, let’s make sure it’s functional incubator-wise.
I’m using a Herpstat 4 I had lying around to regulate temps. )I’ll probably swap it out for one of my Herpstat 2’s I have on my enclosures later.) I have the thermostat probe twist-tied to my center shelf.
I’m also using a few simple ZooMed thermometer w/ probe to test temps at the bottom shelf and top shelf.
I’m also using a Begrit thermometer to test ambient temps from the center shelf. (This thermometer also measures humidity, but that’s not important.)
I lined the bottom with some high quality water and set the Herpstat to 87degrees.
After like 30minutes, I came back and checked the temps. I don’t’ remember and can’t tell from the pix what % power the Herpstat was on maintaining 87degrees but the ZooMed thermometers seems almost on point!
Let’s check the Begrit from the temps from the center shelf. 86.9degree! Happy Baby Face! Yay!
I turned on my cooling fan to it’s lowest setting and after a minute or so, temps begin to cool
https://i.imgur.com/Bu9sIiB.jpg
The next morning, I checked the temps again. And everything seems to be on point!
And the humidity is too low for the Begrit baby Lol. Temp is 87degrees tho and there’s condensation forming in my Fihi water bottles.
I will continue testing and playing around my incubator. Next I will buy and build some egg boxes and see if any adjustments are needed w/ them inside the incubator.
Ok, let’s revisit my goals:
1. Make it work - CHECK!
2. Learn and have fun - CHECK!
3. Make it pretty! - CHECK!
Thanks for reading!
Nice work!
Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
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The Following User Says Thank You to enginee837 For This Useful Post:
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Re: Incubator by Ax
Wow! This is super thorough! What a great tutorial! And looks fabulous!
Sent from my SM-G892U using Tapatalk
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The Following User Says Thank You to nightwolfsnow For This Useful Post:
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Great work on this! The wine cooler you used is almost identical to mine, I wish mine looked this awesome, though! lol You're babies are going to be twerking as soon as they come out of the eggs!
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The Following User Says Thank You to Aedryan Methyus For This Useful Post:
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Re: Incubator by Ax
Nice job Ax. Looking forward to the pipping worms.
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The Following User Says Thank You to rlditmars For This Useful Post:
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Very nice, thanks for the pictures and write up.
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The Following User Says Thank You to Tigerhawk For This Useful Post:
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