Design Goals: Broody-Bator -- First Homemade Incubator

[shaggy]

So, I borrowed a friends incubator which she hasn't used in 5 years or more. The temperature control is off, not working, or non-existent. I went to buy a hot water heater thermostat yesterday and after wiring it up to see how it works i got the "i need to make my own bator" fever. So I will use this post to document the project.



Design Goals: Broody-Bator

1. Maintain a steady temperature
2. Maintain reasonable humidity
3. Be able to service as a broody pen for 4-6 weeks after hatching
4. Be able to look in on the progress without opening the incubator
5. Relatively easy to clean
6. Durable for easy storage





Materials:

1. Hot Water Thermostat
2. Light Socket
3. Light Bulb
4. 110v Power Cable to plug in to the wall
5. Standard thermometer that shows humidity
6. Cheap - well insulated container
7. something to use as a false bottom
8. something to use as a water reservoir
9. Glass square from picture frame
10. Computer Fan
11. 12v AC/DC adapter to power the computer fan






Step 1: Wire Thermostat and light socket together to test operation.

1. Cut end off of 110v power cable (NOT THE END WITH THE PRONGS)
2. Strip the white and black ends (green is ground)
3. Twist black wire from power cable with black wire from light socket together
4. Fasten white wire from 110v powercable to pole 1 on the thermostat
5. Fast white wire from light socket to pole 2 on the thermostat
6. Check operations
a. does it power on while temp is set really high?
b. does it power on while temp is set really low? (only works when room temperature is 90+)
c. if room temperature is below 90 degree's you will have to put this in a small ice check to see if it eventually turns itself off - do not
leave this unattended - this is a fire hazard.
7. disassemble until time for installation

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Sounds like everything.

 

[Sootsie]

http://urbanext.illinois.edu/eggs/res20-incubator.html

found this looking for how to build incubator may give you some ideas i havent tried it yet

 

[jenlynn4]

sounds like you got a good list going there

 

[shaggy]

i am still trying to find something to use for a container

... i have an ice chest ... but i am not sure i want to mangle it

 

[shaggy]

I am using an 18 gallon tupperware container that looks like this

i will drill a hole for the light socket to be mounted inside ... 6 inches from the top and mount the thermostat next to it


I will also cut a hole in the lid to mount a square piece of glass from a picture frame ... on the inside i will mount a thermometer/hygrometer so it is visible through the glass

 

[shaggy]

step 2: prepare container

1. cut hole and mount light set
2. cut hole for wires to go in to container
3. mount thermostat inside container
4. wire thermostat and light bulb as in step 1
5. cut a hole in the lid
6. glue/cualk glass from picture frame over the hole



step 3: observe operations

1. power up incubator
2. place thermometer and hygrometer inside
3. watch a movie
4. ask questions

 

[shaggy]

i added a 2nd 60 watt light bulb

temp peaked after 45 minutes at 87 degree's ... i need insulation in a bad way



solution:

get some carboard boxes and make a shell/mold around the outside of the incubator

fill it in with the expanding insulating foam.

 

[shaggy]

lol --- just had to insulate the bottom --- cold floor = cold incubator


just broke 95 degree's --- 10 degree's hotter than last time
woot