Airflow direction in DIY cabinet incubator

[KrisYale]

I am building a cabinet incubator with a false back for ducting airflow. Are the top mounted fans setup to pull air from the bottom of the incubator to be heated, or force heated air down the duct to discharge at the bottom of the incubator? I have seen designs both ways, but was wondering if it is a preference or is there a clear advantage to one direction or the other?

 

[cavemanrich]

I would prefer the air being blown down. Natural convection would bring the warm air up again. I think this would be better in mixing the air to have a more even temp throughout.

WISHING YOU BEST................................and

 

[Debbie292d]

Hiya, and welcome to BYC!! Good luck hatching in your new hatcher!

 

[KrisYale]

Thank you

 

[JT Poultry]

I am building a cabinet incubator with a false back for ducting airflow. Are the top mounted fans setup to pull air from the bottom of the incubator to be heated, or force heated air down the duct to discharge at the bottom of the incubator? I have seen designs both ways, but was wondering if it is a preference or is there a clear advantage to one direction or the other?

Hi, so which way did you run the fan? I'm building one like that and I'm just going to try itboth ways for the best hatch

 

[HatchCraft]

Hi, so which way did you run the fan? I'm building one like that and I'm just going to try itboth ways for the best hatch

I've built a hundred and in my experience building it like a sportsmans cabinet where the air flows forward and down, then up the back seems to be the best. Water pan in front of the fan. No false back should be necessary if the fan is sized correctly for the cabinet. There should be no convection or stratifing of the air. If you decide to reverse the air flow like the old redwood incubators, that will work too. In the sealed cabinet the air column is simultaneously being pushed or pullled depending on your perspective.