DIY CABINET COOLER INCUBATOR How we did it and TEST RUN Ready Set GO!

[dheltzel]

My bf wants to know if it is ok to use the energy saving bulbs, the ones that are all spirally??

As a heat source, the actual wattage of a bulb is what determines how much heat is produced. So a 13 watt CFL (Compact Florescent Lamp - the "spirally" ones) produced only 1/3 a much heat as a 40 watt incandescent bulb. It may say it's equivalent to a 60 watt, but that is light output, not heat. For an incubator, the "waste heat" that the CFL don't produce is what make the eggs warm.

If you use a CFL, it is likely you will need several of them to get the heat right and that really defeats the purpose of them.

 

[sonderah]

As a heat source, the actual wattage of a bulb is what determines how much heat is produced. So a 13 watt CFL (Compact Florescent Lamp - the "spirally" ones) produced only 1/3 a much heat as a 40 watt incandescent bulb. It may say it's equivalent to a 60 watt, but that is light output, not heat. For an incubator, the "waste heat" that the CFL don't produce is what make the eggs warm.

If you use a CFL, it is likely you will need several of them to get the heat right and that really defeats the purpose of them.

Makes perfect sense!! Thanks!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

I have windows!!!!!!

And all the electronics are on wired all nice and OCD neat!!

And all working!!! It does have both light sockets, just had 60 watt bulbs at home, so put the 1 in each side to make sure all was working!!

Just need to do the back and the semi auto tuner!! Yay!!!!
My bf wants to know if it is ok to use the energy saving bulbs, the ones that are all spirally??

hey that looks familiar! Awesome build! and OCD perfection!! I actually had a small argument with hubs about our wiring, I wanted to put a little black plastic box over them on top, he was like ARE YOU OCD or what? so I went off... but as you can see he won, because he made enough sense stating I am short and will never see the top of the bator on the table anyways.... and he was right! MUWAHAHHHAHHAHAA I said he was right!! thats a first or second time ever!! ha ha ha


WELL DONE!!!! Carry on my friend!!

 

[sonderah]

hey that looks familiar!   Awesome build!  and OCD perfection!!  I actually had a small argument with hubs about our wiring, I wanted to put a little black plastic box over them on top, he was like ARE YOU OCD or what?  so I went off...  but as you can see he won, because he made enough sense stating I am short and will never see the top of the bator on the table anyways....  and he was right! MUWAHAHHHAHHAHAA  I said he was right!!  thats a first or second time ever!! ha ha ha


WELL DONE!!!!  Carry on my friend!! 

By the time we got to the wiring everytime he'd "ask my opinion" on anything, I'd just say, " I don't care", cause it wasn't really going to matter anyway. LOL And, his way works just fine too.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

I have two coolers still in the shipping boxes from walmart! I havent had the need for another Cabinet at this point, since my stupid flock is on strike! I got four eggs yesterday! thats two less than the day before! Feathers everywhere, I think I must have forced molted them somehow! We took the 14 hours daylight off a month and half ago so I dont see how that could have done it as we have plenty of daylight now, and kiddos serama are so broody its driving me insane!

Went from three doz a day to this! seriously!!! The wfbs I understand because the dogs ate half of them! I dont know if I have an egg eater in the brahma coop or not! I keep saying I will move the baby cam to the coop so I can watch them, but never do it! I am happy for a long waiting list for chicks and eggs, but soon they will go elsewhere if they hadnt already! frustrating! I swear I cant win!

 

[DiamondDust]

I got my hands on a "wine refrigerator" today! $25 off Craigslist. It's pretty big (18"x21"x41" high) and I'll be able to incubate lots of eggs in it! I know this thread is about turning coolers into incubators but this is actually where I got my inspiration to do this so I just had to tell you all. I'm just in love with the idea of having something better than the LG styro-bator I'm using now.

Thanks for my inspiration!

DD

 

[sonderah]

I have two coolers still in the shipping boxes from walmart! I havent had the need for another Cabinet at this point, since my stupid flock is on strike!  I got four eggs yesterday! thats two less than the day before!  Feathers everywhere, I think I must have forced molted them somehow!  We took the 14 hours daylight off a month and half ago so I dont see how that could have done it as we have plenty of daylight now, and kiddos serama are so broody its driving me insane!

Went from three doz a day to this! seriously!!!  The wfbs I understand because the dogs ate half of them! I dont know if I have an egg eater in the brahma coop or not! I keep saying I will move the baby cam to the coop so I can watch them, but never do it!  I am happy for a long waiting list for chicks and eggs, but soon they will go elsewhere if they hadnt already! frustrating! I swear I cant win! 

Oh wow! That's awful! Good luck! Hopefully they start laying again soon. I would be pretty frustrated too!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

I got my hands on a "wine refrigerator" today! $25 off Craigslist. It's pretty big (18"x21"x41" high) and I'll be able to incubate lots of eggs in it! I know this thread is about turning coolers into incubators but this is actually where I got my inspiration to do this so I just had to tell you all. I'm just in love with the idea of having something better than the LG styro-bator I'm using now.

Thanks for my inspiration!

DD

STEAL!!! awesome!!!

Let us see it as you build it!! we are all up for learning or we wouldnt be here! share share share!

 

[sonderah]

Getting REALLY excited!! I made my air duct today!!!! Now all that's left is the turner and of course getting it dialed in!!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Getting REALLY excited!! I made my air duct today!!!! Now all that's left is the turner and of course getting it dialed in!!