building a incubator from a wine cooler

[wynn4578]

A simple solution would be to install something like TeamViewer. This wouldn't make it accessible from anywhere but an advantage would be you could control it on your phone without having to create an app. The downside is everything you wanted to acess it on would have to have TeamViewer installed. Another solution might be a browser based application but the security issues that would arise with such an application makes it much less appealing.

 

[gpop1]

interesting ideas it would be fun to play with the hardware....maybe on the next one..lol


well yellowherb finally tested the interface and found a few major problems that needed to be corrected mainly with the turner code (fixed now). She also found a few niggles that I should address like adjusting the sensors on the panel so they are not so sensitive. after a few minutes she seemed happy with them the way there were so I might make the changes (this will happen with a arduino especially if all the testing was done via the computer usb power supply as that's about 4.6-4.8v where the external power is a true 5v)

im going to hide a few screens that are used to calibrate the turner, sensors and set the time as well. She also complained that the set date is in English format not American so .............im not going to fix that im going to change the month number to a word (e.g may) instead so both of us are happy and understand it.
(set date is the day the eggs were put in the incubator as we both forget when that happened especially as she will be using different shelf's for different eggs, its also used in the code to count down to lockdown so the alarm tells you when to move the eggs to the hatcher).

still looking good for finishing this weekend.......well maybe.

 

[wynn4578]

Can't wait to see this thing running. I may have said it before but I'm hoping you give us some kind of video of this thing in action once it's done.

 

[gpop1]

just a small update.

spent some time finishing the code and troubleshooting mistakes,

hatcher has been added which was a small item but lots of code as it running of the same display and controls. Ive ordered a new peltier as I may have damaged this one during construction or testing as it struggling to keep up. Its also not pulling the correct amount of amps. USA seller has them at $5 delivered so it shouldn't take long to get here. I made a code mistake on the hatcher and left unchecked it had made 140 degrees in 30 minutes and was still climbing so I have faith in the peltier being able to heat the area.

humidity chamber is sealed and foamed. Its made a big difference on the return temp so that's a plus.

Total cost of the hatcher parts came to $4 so under $20 including the cooler was a bargain. If I was to start again I would just build one control panel in something like a old vcr case then just run leads with plugs to the units. i would also include at least one display screen for each unit so the info is easy to read, another change would be to use mosfets instead of relays as they seem to be better for this type of build.

I still have to build a audible alarm and add a little code so it doesn't make a noise at night unless it something important like high temp. Things like low humidity can wait till 7am. the alarm still shows on the screen and tells you whats wrong but it will just do it quietly. As yellowherb is a fiddler the alarm has 7 settings so she doesn't get annoyed while opening the door to check/play with the eggs.

Got some other side work to catch up on then I hope to get more pictures and a wiring diagram sorted.

 

[yellowherb]

I believe Gpop1 has had this running all night. He's still asleep, but I turned on the lights and checked temperature. Seems good to me. So tempting to add my eggs already. Even the egg roasting 140 degree side is a nice stable 99.

While I really love this incubator and hatcher, for the normal people like myself, I would never even attempt it but gpop1 is superman in disguise..shhhhh! don't let the rest of the world know.

 

[yellowherb]

The youtube video of the super machine

 

[gpop1]

I believe Gpop1 has had this running all night. He's still asleep, but I turned on the lights and checked temperature. Seems good to me. So tempting to add my eggs already. Even the egg roasting 140 degree side is a nice stable 99.

While I really love this incubator and hatcher, for the normal people like myself, I would never even attempt it but gpop1 is superman in disguise..shhhhh! don't let the rest of the world know.

superman.......lmao

im more like barnacle boy of sponge bob

made the alarm but after a lot of though im not installing it. I have parrots so anything that bleeps can be a problem as they like to repeat it.

So I made the lights turn on when the unit is in alarm. Made a bad video then handed yellow the keys and said good luck.

im sure I will have to improve some parts like the peltier but it will work for now. Really impressed with humidity control it can keep it with in 0.1% (reprogrammed now to keep it with in 1% as the relay clicking was driving me nuts, change the relay to a mosfet and change the speed of the fan and I think its a prize winner)

added another fan in the back corner pointing across the eggs (its a 24v running at 12v) the slower speed seems to be perfect for sorting out the cold spots.

 

[yellowherb]

My many eggs say thank you very much

 

[gpop1]

shopping list if I was to do it again

name / cost / quantity for that price
required
mosfet 30n06l $5 x10 3 used like a relay but able to do high speed for peltier
mosfet heat sinks $6 x10 3 used to keep the mosfet cool
arduino mega & cable $14 x1 1 main board that does the work
200ohm resistors $1 x50 4 used on the touch switchs
10k resistors $1 x50 5 used in lots of places to pull-up or down voltage
100k resistors $1 x50 1 used as a pull down
dth 22 $6 x2 1 temp/humidity sensor in plastic case
40mm fans 12v $2 x2 2 used for auto humidity and just in case you have a cold spot
diodes $1 x50 2 used to protect arduino from feed back
ic2 interface lcd $1 x1 1 used to make lcd 2 wire comunication
lcd 20 by 4 $8 x1 1 lcd
tcrt photoswitch $2 x10 4 used for buttons
opticouple end stop $5 x3 3 used to sense forward/center/backwards on turner
5v dual relay $5 x1 1 used for the turner motor
0.6rpm motor $14 x1 1 turner motor
micro switchs $5 x2 2 turner motor over run safety switchs
real time clock $2 x1 1 used to tell the time/date/month
computer power supply $? x1 1 any old power supply will do
prototype solder board $2 x10 3 used to make boards
capacitor 50-uF $1x5 1 used to keep dht22 stable


wow $82 delivered i didnt think it was that much but i ended up
with a lot of spare parts (resistors i ordered 50 types for $3
which was a better idea) and i used the spares to make the hatcher so
i guess thats not to bad plus I still have more spares

Im sure if i shopped around i could get it to under $60. Turner seems to have cost
the major amount in parts but it looks good. Also I bet I spent $20 on tiny-tiny screws
and other odds and ends.

i have changed a few things on the list like adding opticouple
end stops to replace the pot sensor im using to determin where
the turner is. I have also replaced a dual relay with a mosfet
as that is a better option

turner trays which are plastic and interchangeable for different eggs were about $3 each

wine cooler mk2 was $25 used
wine cooler hatcher was $15 used

things you would need if this was your first project
bread board plus wires $7
soldering iron low watts
good quality solder
de-soldering tool
good wire strippers
helping hand magnifing glass
reading glasses if over 40 years old

 

[wynn4578]

Absolutely amazing build. This is hands down the best home built incubator I've seen and I've seen many lately. If it performs as well as I'm sure it will. This could possibly even out do pro built incubators.Great Job!