Chic Chick 'Bator *UPDATED*

[chickenfanatic]

wow good advice oldtimegator ventilation is important thats for sure

 

[soimcrazy]

well, my wife tried this on her own and almost burned the house down.

I did it for her but was confused a bit by seeing 4 wires on the pictures, which was actually 1 wire coming in the bottom of the lamp kit and that same wire exiting through the side of the lamp kit....that was the non-ribbed wire that went to thermostat screw #1.

The lamp kit wiring directions were good but there was too much jibber-jabber in between steps. I had to read it several times. Once I understood it was:

1. Cut off about a 4" piece of wire ( just 1 wire... not the whole double cord). This will be your JUMPER WIRE.

2.The main RIBBED wire to the silver LAMP screw. (This wire is fed through the bottom of the kit straight up to the silver screw).

3. The main NON-RIBBED wire to Thermostat screw #1. (Feed the wire throught the bottom and then out of the black plastic hole and to the thermostat.

4. The JUMPER WIRE from the GOLD lamp screw to the #2 Thermostat screw. (Feed wire from gold lamp screw through the black plastic hole to the thermostat screw #2).

5. Pay close attention to how you are mounting the lamp kit to the cooler. You have to fasten it to the cooler and you get it wrong you have to unwire it and get it right.


---------don't mean to hijack this thread but some people probably read your directions and got it right the first time.
I just wanted to explain it from a dummies point of view...my point of view.

THANKS !!

 

[soimcrazy]

and what about the fan, it appears to be flush against the inside of the cooler. How will that push any air? Shouldnt there be a gap behind the fan?

 

[donnap1967]

I used long screws to attach the fan to the wall in mine. This allowed more air to get behind the fan so it could circulate better. I was able to screw into the wall but not so far that the fan went against the wall.

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

Most people use long machine screws and put a spacer of some kind to hold the fan about an inch away from the bator wall. Just a plastic straw cut in 1 inch pieces is fine.

It's VERY important to also use spacer when you install the thermostat. The sensing portion of the thermostat is on the back and it needs to have air circulating well around it to be accurate.

 

[shadowchicken]

whoa, ahh, awsome !!!!

 

[Shared Acres]

Very cool!

 

[shelleyb1969]

I went to my local Home Depot today in search of a hot water heater thermostat. The only one they had was NOT like the one MissPrissy used:
1 hot water heater thermostat ($8, temp ranges from 90 - 150 F). It did not register below 130 F, plus it cost $13.99!

Can someone please tell me if there's another type of thermostat that I can use that may be easier for me to find? Is there any cheap ones online that I can order?

 

[CHICKEN little 1]

I love your way of thinking! You must be from the old school of Farm Girl-can do.

Excellent!

As am I from that school.

 

[MissPrissy]

Yes, I am. LOL

I like building and making things from little bits of nothing.