Wine Cooler Incubator - Flexwatt Placement

[JohnNJ]

I posted this question in the DIY section, with photos, under "DIY Incubator using Wine Cooler - Flexwatt Placement?"

The bottom of the wine cooler I'm using is not flat. It steps up about half way in.

Would it be better to run the flexwatt starting at the bottom and up the step to the back or just on the back alone? The photos show a metal plate in the back for cooling that will be removed. I'm thinking of using 11 inch flexwatt but I could also 2 strips of 3 or 4 inch if that gives better results.

I need help from people with experience. Thanks.

[Rylmad]

I set mine up with 11" and it sounds very similar with a step up. I ran the heat tape across the bottom and up the step in the back. If you are planning on using water bottles to hold a steady temp then you need some of the tape on the bottom as well.

Here is a picture and for some reason it looks like there are bulges in the heat tape but there are not. It sits flat and the incubator reaches temperature in 30-40 minutes and holds steady.

[earthdragons737]

you could probly get away with running it from the top to the top of the step. My incubator is a mini frig and i use 35 watts to runn it and it works so thats less than 2 feet of flex watt. (11in) but this might not distripute the heat evenly if you dont have fans

[JohnNJ]

you could probly get away with running it from the top to the top of the step. My incubator is a mini frig and i use 35 watts to runn it and it works so thats less than 2 feet of flex watt. (11in) but this might not distripute the heat evenly if you dont have fans

There is a built in fan that works. I have not taken anything apart so I'm not sure how it's connected to the cooling parts but I would like to keep it as part of the incubator. I will add a computer fan, if needed.

Obviously it would be easier to just put the flexwatt on the back. Would it provide enough heat to raise the temp to 88-90?

Is it bad for the eggs if the heat tape is all at one end of the tub rather than heating from the bottom? Hope about running the tape up the sides?

Thanks.