building my own incubator! PIC heavy! ** Update More Pics ***

[midget_farms]

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These were posted on page 2 of this post.

 

[midget_farms]

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Glad to hear that! - I didn't think it was unsafe at all - but you never know in today's world - I don't want someone to burn down their house & blame me!

 

[knjinnm]

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Cowboy,
Are you using a relay because you are using a house thermostat and a 12V fan? I thought you liked to use a hot water heater thermostat?

Joe

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

I like what ever parts I have around. I also like to try everything so I know the ups an downs of all of them. If you find a incubator design online odds are I built one similar. I have even tried to hand build a few thermostats too. Those didn't work out so well.

Hot water thermostat is cheep an easy to wire an works.
House thermostat setup costs more if you buy everything an is harder to wire so it makes it above the scope of most people.
Wafer thermostats are great but you cant get them or parts locally.

My fish tank incubator has a water heater thermostat in it. Or should I say had. I pulled it apart for parts for my next project.
My fridge incubator has a house thermostat running a relay an hair drier.
My sportsman clone was not built by me an has a wafer. It actually has the highest temp variation of any incubator I have ever had but it works best for my web camera setup.

 

[knjinnm]

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Hi Cowboy,
I understand the desire to use parts on hand to make do. Coming from a telecommunications background we always tried to eliminate as many connections/splices as possible.
I haven't built an incubator so my observation is to use 120 volt parts, no 12V. Considering the cost of purchasing a dozen quality eggs a few extra bucks is worth the cost to ensure the maximum number of eggs hatch.

I like your web cam setup, is there a web page detailing how you designed it and sources for cameras?

Good conversation,
Joe

Simple egg turner

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=20062

Wafer thermostats

http://www.cutlersupply.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=307

120 volt fans

http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10001_10001_213867_-1

http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10001_10001_1585371_-1

http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10001_10001_1918770_-1

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

I have home electrical an an automotive background so I mix an match.
I dont have a page on how I do my video but its not hard. I use IP cameras that use a frame separate from there controls on there built in web page. I just made a Iframe in my page pointing to that same video frame on the camera. Makes it look like a custom build. Here is the cameras I use. http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.15974

Here's sorta what the page looks like if I embedded it all. I used to but people kept flipping my video so I dropped the buttons an I think it came out looking better.

If ya want more details send me a PM, an I will break down all my code. Don't want to hijack this thread.

 

[knjinnm]

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So, Have you made any updates to share with us?
Joe

 

[Michigan Transplant]

I need some help and advice from the experts so thought I would ask you all what you would suggest. I want to make my own first time incubator and have decided to use either a Styrofoam ice chest or something like that. I have my list of everything I need and THINK I know how to do it. The one thing I am not sure of is there was a mention of a fan and most have used one out of an old computer. I don't have an old computer to get the fan out of so what else would you suggest I use in place of that. I am going to try and hatch some RIR eggs as soon as I get all the things I need.
Here is my list:

ice chest
#8125 water heater thermostat
Make a lamp kit
thermometer
wire
aluminum foil
light bulb
PCV pipe for water addage
EGGS

Anything else or recommendations from you all as to anything else I might need and not have thought of?

Thanks for any and all advice.

Deb

 

[knjinnm]

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For a fan see post #35. You can buy DC or AC fans.

I read on another thread that holes should be drilled in the water heater thermostat, I presume to allow more air to circulate around the unit.

Maybe Cowboy can comment on that.
Joe

 

[knjinnm]

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Sooo ... did he come through?