Incubator Advice!

[Kourtneyhk]

Hi Everyone,

I picked up a nice Natures Spirit incubator this winter and it worked GREAT when I got it, not a single issue. However, now that I plug it in to get it all set up for my first clutch (due in 14-21 days!) I'm having a circulation fan issues.

The heat works great, no problem there, but the circulation fan is hit and miss. After a little dinking around, it appears that where the cord connects into the fan is having some issues, so I'll have to tape it up or do something to fix it.

However, my understanding is that the circulation fan is to keep the heat even on all racks for all eggs. If something were to "go wrong" again with the fan in the middle of incubation, what are the dangers here other than certain racks being hotter or cooler? If I have to remove the fan mid-incubation, I'd be worried about a temperature drop, but I'd really love to have all racks/temps equal as I have another batch due to be laid about midway through my first clutches incubation.

Any advice or insight on the circulation issue? I'm going to try removing it in the next couple days and getting it fixed up, but I'm not extremely electrical inclined

Thanks!

[kylearmbar]

What's the temperature difference between the top and bottom? If it's only a 2 degrees or so I wouldn't worry about it much wince its only a couple day difference in hatch times, otherwise if it's the lilttle longer wait you don't want to deal with, you could switch your second clutch to your warmest shelf ( that's not above 92) once the first ones hatch, goodluck!

[CD CONSTRICTORS]

Is the fan AC or DC?

120mm DC fans are probably most common for use in incubators. They move plenty of air and will run 24/7/365 for years straight.

I have four 120mm Scythe liquid ball bearing fans that have been running for over 7 years straight on a liquid cooled computer with no issues. Sleeved bearing fans are OK, single bearing fans are better, double bearing fans are a bit better yet, and liquid bearing fans are the best by far.

I have two incubators with single bearing fans running no problem.... one for over a year now, and the other just fired up with two 120mm fans. Wire them to a 12v AC/DC converter with a rheostat to control them to the desired speed, or just use an old 6v cell phone charger to run them half speed. I have two 120mm fans running off a 6v cell phone charger and another using a $15 AC/DC converter (which I will probably purchase another).

Here is the converter I used..... it is a charger for batteries and can be found at many hobby stores.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXL353&P=SM

Some really good fans for fairly cheap..... 72cfm is plenty at full speed. I would run them at 1/2 speed on a 6v cell phone charger, or use a rheostat.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835119045

Both the fans in my newest incubator are these same EverCool fans in an aluminum housing.

[Kourtneyhk]

I have no idea what kind of fan it is, it just looks like a little black computer fan haha. I'm running some temperature tests now to see what the temp is around the incubator with the fan on and off so I have a decent idea in case something does happen to it.