Mini Fridge Incubator

[CINCYBall]

I was asking some question regarding breeding in the breeding forum, and I was advised to never use the zoo med, zilla, etc incubators. I was told to make one on my own. Well I do infact have a mini fridge just sitting in storage, and though I will not be breeding till next season, I would like to know everything I need to get or do so I can be prepared for when the time comes.

I understand I have to take all tubing and cooling elements out from the mini fridge. I know I need flex watt, thermostat (Helix, Herpstat), seal all holes on the fridge, thermometer and hydrometer, computer fan to circulate the temp throughout the fridge. Also bottles of water to retain the correct temperature (88-90 degrees) when opening the fridge to check on the clutch.

I suppose things I need to know is, what type of heat tape do I need, and how much of it?

Also, I realize I need a thermostat. But is this just as easy as plugging in the flex watt into the thermostat and setting the temp?

Please help, thank you.

[llovelace]

you will need about 18-24" of flexwatt, and yes it just plugs right into the thermostat.

[CINCYBall]

By pluggin in the flex watt, how does the thermostat know the temp of the flex watt/incubator when it is just plugged in? And don't you set the temp on the thermostat?

Also if you just plug it in, then what is the difference between a Dimmer switch at Lowes/Home Depot and a Thermostat?

Sorry for my stupidity. I just thought there would be more going into it than that. Never owned a herpstat/helix before.

[llovelace]

The thermostat has a probe that will need to be taped onto the flexwatt, do NOT use a dimmer for your incubator, they can't maintain constant temp, save yourself some heartache and invest in a helix / herpsat / johnson or even a hydrofarm thermostat

[snakesRkewl]

Hydrofarms and Johnsons controls a419 are both on/off thermostats and shouldn't be used for incubators IMO and from my experience

My 4 cubic foot mini fridge took 2 feet of flexwatt running along the back and heated it perfectly.
While I got a mini-fridge with the coolant removed already it's probably easier to leave the guts intact and just drill holes where you want the wires to run into the inc. that way you're not releasing it into the air.
I found that a fan is only needed if your using more than one shelf.
The thermostat probe can either hang in the middle of the inc or taped against the flexwatt, I had mine tucked in behind the flexwatt and taped so it couldn't move. That way the ambient air rushing in couldn't sway the t-stat very much.
The only readings your really concerned with is the temperature inside of the tub which you read with your probed thermometer.

[CINCYBall]

No I was not planning on using a dimmer switch regardless. As I had asked the question about what diferences were, i took a look around the internet and noticed there was a probe on the thermostats, which make much more sense now. Ty for all your help though. I have anymore questions, which I'm sure I will, I will post them in this thread. Ty much.

[CINCYBall]

Hydrofarms and Johnsons controls a419 are both on/off thermostats and shouldn't be used for incubators IMO and from my experience

My 4 cubic foot mini fridge took 2 feet of flexwatt running along the back and heated it perfectly.
While I got a mini-fridge with the coolant removed already it's probably easier to leave the guts intact and just drill holes where you want the wires to run into the inc. that way you're not releasing it into the air.
I found that a fan is only needed if your using more than one shelf.
The thermostat probe can either hang in the middle of the inc or taped against the flexwatt, I had mine tucked in behind the flexwatt and taped so it couldn't move. That way the ambient air rushing in couldn't sway the t-stat very much.
The only readings your really concerned with is the temperature inside of the tub which you read with your probed thermometer.

Are you refering to the tub in which has the clutch inside? Wouldn't I just go and get a thermometer and hydrometer with probes and stick those and the tub that the eggs are in?

The only reason I say this, is becsause I have never really seen a lot of video or pictures with probes inside the clutch box.

[saber2th]

Are you refering to the tub in which has the clutch inside? Wouldn't I just go and get a thermometer and hydrometer with probes and stick those and the tub that the eggs are in?

The only reason I say this, is becsause I have never really seen a lot of video or pictures with probes inside the clutch box.

I believe he is referring to a probe from a thermometer, not the thermostat probe. The thermostat probe you can let hang in the middle of the incubator, or you can tape it to the Flexwatt. Then you can put a thermometer probe in the egg box. Some people do not put one in the egg box as it should be the same as the temp. inside the incubator provided you are using a good thermostat that maintains good temps. I prefer a thermometer probe in the egg box

[kitedemon]

I am just going to toss out a second option.

http://www.poultrysupply.com/reptile...Incubators.php

The juragon is quite nice add water set the temps and that is it. Yes it is 365$ but the herpstat is 110, and at least in my area a fridge coolant needs to be removed for disposal so that is another 100$ Then if you need to order flexwatt, connectors and wire it up yourself another 25$ so 235 out of 365 is your time and effort worth saving 130$ Just a thought, I am planning on breeding next year but will be buying a incubator it is simply easier and for me and the available time I have to spend on such a project not worth building something. Not everyone is in my shoes however that is something only you can answer.

http://www.poultrysupply.com/reptile...Incubators.php