Brooder thermostat

[aceoftrumps]

I have my brooder set up with a 250 watt heat lamp. Does good on cold nights but too warm for them during the day. So I initially added a dimmer switch to it but this also required adjusting manually and not forgetting to change it. I had an old electric heater that the heating element shorted out on....so, took it apart and salvaged the thermostat out of it. Bought a plastic outlet box and cover that is used for cable...reamed the hole a little to fit the thermostat shaft through so the knob is on the cover....drilled four holes on each side of the box so it can sense temperatures. Then wired it in series with the dimmer switch. Still want to be able to use the dimmer switch if I want to. So far, it looks like it's working. Will know better in a few days since I plan on making adjustments to it to see how it performs.

By the way, this brooder is outside and it works great otherwise.

Kurt

 

[MikeyLikesIt]

This sounds like a good idea, Kurt. I am wanting to do something like this because of our warm days and cool nights here in N Texas.
Got any pics of your setup?

Mikey

 

[aceoftrumps]

I'll try to take some tomorrow, weather permitting, and post them.

Kurt

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

I did something similar using a hot water thermostat, Christmas lights an a piece of pipe.
http://cmfarm.us/pvc-heater.html

 

[aceoftrumps]

As promised, here are pics...first, the dimmer switch mounted on the outside wall since it's just a control and doesn't sense temps.

And here is a pic of of the thermostat and the light, mounted to a side wall inside the brooder.

A pic of the thermostat mounted on the back wall....away from the light....doesn't reflect the temp directly under the light but useful to guage the temp of the coop and assure they have cool places to go to.

Kurt

 

[aceoftrumps]

Oops...thermometer mounted on the back wall....my bad.

Kurt

 

[MikeyLikesIt]

I've thrown away several of those little ceramic heaters over the years...I won't do it again until I salvage some parts. I have thought about using a household type thermostat and relay but your way may be simpler. Rebelcowboys heater looks good as well for small batches.
I've only raised four batches of chicks but I'm setting myself up to hatch and raise several batches a year. A thermostat controled brooder is on my 'to do list' but I'm still deciding how I want to do it...I guess it depends on what I can scavenge. Thanks for posting yours.

Mikey

 

[D Mcpeak]

I have an old brooder a guy gave me and the mice have destroyed the heating element. The one I took out is 271/2 inches wide. The only replacements I can find is the Brower heating element that has a thermostat and is 34 inches wide and GQF that I believe is 12 inches wide. The one off of my brooder uses a wafer. I could probably make the GQF work but hate to order it sight unseen. Just wondering if anyone has ideas Thanks alot Dave