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Electrical question for diy incubator

Discussion in 'Incubating & Hatching Eggs' started by wynn4578, May 29, 2017.

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  1. May 29, 2017 #1
    wynn4578

    wynn4578 Chillin' With My Peeps

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    I've built several cabinet style incubators now and they work great so I never change the design much from 1 build to the next. What I've always wanted to do however was build one that can run on a battery backup. The problem is, right now I use 250 watt heater coils that operate on 120vac. I can find 300watt heater coils that run on 12vdc but 250 watts at 120 is roughly 2 amps. You've probably already done the math but 300 watts at 12 is 25 AMPS! What am I missing.I know this has been done before so i have to be overlooking how it's done. My incubators are always duel sided (one side for incubator one side for hatcher) so that's 50 amps just for heat. Since your going through a 12v power source and running 120vac most of the time am I still just pulling 2.5amps (roughly) to the power source then 25 amps from the source to the heater coil?
     
  3. May 29, 2017 #2
    PD-Riverman

    PD-Riverman Overrun With Chickens

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    Jan 14, 2012
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    I have not done my homework on a built in DC back-up even though I am real familiar with dc voltage. My Cabinets are KINDA dc back up and I have had to use it one time. I have 2 electric golf-carts and have them set-up to plug in a inverter---so if the power goes off(I am usually home most of the time) I drive the golfcart to the incubator room---the inverter is there---I plug it up to the batteries and plug the incubator in and I can plug the hatcher in if needed. Having a "DIRECT" Line inside the Electric Company, I make that call first if the power goes out to get a general Idea about the problem so I will know if I need to switch over or not.
    Now if I am running several incubators and I have 10 or 15 brooders running---I have my Generator on stand by and I keep cranking it.

    If you have a battery back up---it takes a good size battery bank to run heaters for a few hours or a day---plus you have to keep them batteries in check/charged. It would be cheaper/easier to have a small generator on stand by unless you are wanting to set-up a electric switch over should the power go out while you are gone for a day or so----that might cost a FEW dollars..
     
    wynn4578 likes this.
  5. May 29, 2017 #3
    wynn4578

    wynn4578 Chillin' With My Peeps

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    @PD-Riverman Sometimes the simple solutions seem to evade me. Lol
     
  7. May 29, 2017 #4
    PD-Riverman

    PD-Riverman Overrun With Chickens

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    LOL---You know what the KISS method is don't you----Keep-It-Simple-Stupid, LOL. I have to keep reminding myself of that!!
     

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