Cooler incubator!

[Timbeas8907]

I just placed my order for the 150qt cooler to build an incubator. Now I have to figure out how I want to build it. I was thinking a pid temp controller hooked to a ssr and 2 100 watt ceramic cone heaters with a wafer thermostat for an emergencies shut off. For humidity I have a little terrarium humidifier I want to hook to a controller of some kind. I was thinking of getting most of the stuff from here www.auberins.com. Does anyone have experience with their products?

 

[eatwhatyougrow]

Wow fancy....my first one was a medical cooler I found a old computer fan a 100watt light bulb and a water heater thermostat....hatched hundreds of chicks with that thing....

 

[Timbeas8907]

I like going overboard lol

 

[eatwhatyougrow]

Funny thing was my hatch rates were better with that thing than the little giant.....grrr in fact I went back to using it until I built my cabinet incubator....post pictures when you get it done!

 

[Kruchti]

Out of curiosity how much do you save when you make your own?

 

[Timbeas8907]

I've never built one this will be my first but it'll all depend on how how much you decide to spend on it really. I've got 67 in the cooler I could go the cheap route keep it under 150 easy. But that's not fun lol

 

[BantyChooks]

Out of curiosity how much do you save when you make your own?

I spent $45 on mine & it can outpace any Brinsea in performance.

OP: no, I don't have experience with their products, but good luck.

 

[eatwhatyougrow]

The first one I built cost me like under 20$. I think the most I had into it was the thermostat...like 9$

 

[BantyChooks]

The first one I built cost me like under 20$. I think the most I had into it was the thermostat...like 9$

I blew I think $20 or 25 on the thermostat. Pretty expensive, but I wanted a good one.

 

[BobDBirdDog]

I just placed my order for the 150qt cooler to build an incubator. Now I have to figure out how I want to build it. I was thinking a pid temp controller hooked to a ssr and 2 100 watt ceramic cone heaters with a wafer thermostat for an emergencies shut off. For humidity I have a little terrarium humidifier I want to hook to a controller of some kind. I was thinking of getting most of the stuff from here www.auberins.com. Does anyone have experience with their products?

You might want to check out the controlers on Amazon, STL-1000 and the XM-18 but if you go with the XM-18 you will probably have to wait on a long shipping term and should be aware it uses china's 50hz electricity, US uses 60hz. It should work as it just means the electrictiy flickers/pulses 10 more times per second.
In comparison, your choice does seem to have tighter specs and if your "Tim Allen/home inprovement" style and budget requrires that, more power to you and the incubator. LOL

As for my Cooler Bater history.....
I cant remember the total cost but I think my original cooler-bator was around $50 after I bought the racks, wafer thermostat, plexi-glass and trays. I had a PC fan laying around and other materials to work with so all cost were not all included.
Still, the cooler-bator let me set and hatch over 250 qual eggs, or 150 phesants (at at time), and I loved that little bator and still have it for small jobs! It has it's faults such as cleaning and sterializing is a b***uger and is very airy/drafty due to all its past use! Besides that its plastic.

But my current Big-Boy upgrade hatchs over 1750 quail (all manual egg turning) which causes me to have nightmares about eggs after about a week of turning....lol! I have used it for a few years with good results and hatch rates. But I had to throw that one together as I had several large orders for chicks and juvies for a few seasons.

Thus such is prompting my new build.....a clone of the 1500/15002 but better, like you more bells and whistles and everything automatic. I'll will have nearly $250 in this one (I hope) when done. I am giving the XM a shot but have back up plans (STL) just in case.

I bought extra materials as well (not included in the above cost) and will be rebuilding the "Big Boy 1750" after I get the 1500 up and running.