Hey everyone!
I found a home built cabinet incubator and bought it yesterday. The guy built it out of an old non working wine cooler. I'd been looking for one to build one out of, and voila, here's a guy who's already done most of the hard work!
He used the heating element and squirrel cage type fan out of a space heater. He removed all the refrigeration parts, he cut the hole in the bottom at the back and mounted it there, blowing heated fresh air in.
For controls, he bought and installed an Inkbird Tech ITC-1000 controller. It's set for 100*, with a 1* variance. For humidity, he had a reptile tank misting thing (didn't come with it, which is ok with me, get to that later) there are a few holes along the top of the left side all the way through for ventilation, the hole he had his water tube through is another half inch hole, and the wire for the controller comes through the other side.
He had 1/4" hard ware cloth on the two shelves, which I have taken off to use to build trays with, I have one done, divided so I can keep eggs separate by breed or if I'm hatching for someone else.
we cleaned it up good, I built one of my trays and got it up and running
so here's what I have so far, and a few questions for some of you familiar with this type. I ran it over night. Temp climbed up to 100 pretty quickly. the 1* variance means it goes to 101, cools off back to 99, then climbs back, etc etc.
I've put thermometers top, bottom and middle. The wife for the controller, in the above pic was tied off to that top shelf, but I've untied it and letting it hang to that first hatching tray. It's shows a pretty consistant 99-101 as dsecribed above. Top shelf thermometer stayed 100 all night, the one in the bottom never got higher than 92*, the lower shelf never higher than 95*. I'm wondering if the one fan is enough, or if I should mount another fan (probably a large computer case fan) on the top to help move the air around inside a little better.
also, for humidity.....the turner I have fits perfectly on that top shelf, which was my intended place for it. I had a small bowl of water sitting on the shelf right about the heater/fan, but this morning, humidity was 21%. I've since put a larger pan, with a sponge in it as well. Should I put the water on the top shelf, or in the bottom? or does it matter as long as I can get the humidity to the levels I need? I was intending on putting it in the bottom, so I could run a tube through the existing hole and down to the tray so I can add water without opening!
I have 19 eggs in lockdown in a styrofoam bator right now due to hatch tomorrow, I'd love to get them into this one if possible today!
any suggestions, advice and or ideas are welcome! thanks!
I found a home built cabinet incubator and bought it yesterday. The guy built it out of an old non working wine cooler. I'd been looking for one to build one out of, and voila, here's a guy who's already done most of the hard work!
He used the heating element and squirrel cage type fan out of a space heater. He removed all the refrigeration parts, he cut the hole in the bottom at the back and mounted it there, blowing heated fresh air in.
For controls, he bought and installed an Inkbird Tech ITC-1000 controller. It's set for 100*, with a 1* variance. For humidity, he had a reptile tank misting thing (didn't come with it, which is ok with me, get to that later) there are a few holes along the top of the left side all the way through for ventilation, the hole he had his water tube through is another half inch hole, and the wire for the controller comes through the other side.
He had 1/4" hard ware cloth on the two shelves, which I have taken off to use to build trays with, I have one done, divided so I can keep eggs separate by breed or if I'm hatching for someone else.
we cleaned it up good, I built one of my trays and got it up and running
so here's what I have so far, and a few questions for some of you familiar with this type. I ran it over night. Temp climbed up to 100 pretty quickly. the 1* variance means it goes to 101, cools off back to 99, then climbs back, etc etc.
I've put thermometers top, bottom and middle. The wife for the controller, in the above pic was tied off to that top shelf, but I've untied it and letting it hang to that first hatching tray. It's shows a pretty consistant 99-101 as dsecribed above. Top shelf thermometer stayed 100 all night, the one in the bottom never got higher than 92*, the lower shelf never higher than 95*. I'm wondering if the one fan is enough, or if I should mount another fan (probably a large computer case fan) on the top to help move the air around inside a little better.
also, for humidity.....the turner I have fits perfectly on that top shelf, which was my intended place for it. I had a small bowl of water sitting on the shelf right about the heater/fan, but this morning, humidity was 21%. I've since put a larger pan, with a sponge in it as well. Should I put the water on the top shelf, or in the bottom? or does it matter as long as I can get the humidity to the levels I need? I was intending on putting it in the bottom, so I could run a tube through the existing hole and down to the tray so I can add water without opening!
I have 19 eggs in lockdown in a styrofoam bator right now due to hatch tomorrow, I'd love to get them into this one if possible today!
any suggestions, advice and or ideas are welcome! thanks!
