First Incubator build. WINE COOLER

[Tabooza]

Hey Everyone I"m so excited lol so I plan on building my first incubator using a wine cooler I picked up for $40 yesterday.


I see a lot of potential. So of course as soon as I got it, I gutted the wine cooler and gave it a good cleaning.

I have an idea of what I want to do but I,m confused I think I am just over analyzing everything.
Whats confusing me is I have seen and believe I have read on here. That, direct light or air from
the fans shouldn't be hitting the eggs. I have seen on some diy incubator that people put a piece
of plywood in between the fans and lights to accomplish this task. Is is necessary to do that.
Also do you guys think it would be better if the lights and fans were on the bottom as heat rises.
To all diy incubator veterans, if you can share your knowledge and ideas would be much appreciated.
How would you guys rig this bad boy up.

I already have light sockets & bulbs and that's about it hehehehe

So far I have purchased this temperature controller:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Universal-S...ler-Thermostat-w-Sensor-AC-110V-/111809176074

This hygro meter:http://www.ebay.com/itm/IncuTherm-P...590583?hash=item3f08ae74f7:g:2cMAAOSwo0JWMSsi

I purchased 3 of these little fans, not sure if they will work so if any one has any input feel free to help me out:
http://www.frys.com/product/8464228...aFzPDwznQ__.node1?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

One of these auto egg turners:http://incubatorwarehouse.com/little-giant-egg-turner-6300.html

This humidity controller:http://www.ebay.com/itm/110V-Electr...408699?hash=item567264fdfb:g:j4QAAMXQuCdTiULS


I have a question about humidity or to keep my humidity up. Do you guys think this will work.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Vicks-Warm-Steam-Vaporizer-V150SG2UPC/15423529
or should I purchase something else. I haven't bought the Vick's Vaporizer.

Thank you all, in advance.

 

[mirandaleecon]

That looks like it will work great for an incubator! I've actually been keeping an eye out for one myself!

I made one out of a minifridge which works, but it's not a perfect square inside so it makes adding shelves and whatnot a little tricky. The wine cooler should be much easier, and it already has tracks on it, which is awesome...

I have my fans and lights directly facing some of the eggs. I'm not sure if it's a big issue or not though, I've only done two hatches in there so far. The first 'test' hatch had 100% hatch rate, with just 12 eggs. The second hatch was a total flop, 15 hatched out of about 60. Two dozen of those were shipped though, so they aren't really good to judge by. I also changed a few things from the first hatch to the second.

As far as where to place them, I have one light at the top, one at the bottom, and the two fans at the bottom, facing different directions. I think next time though, I am going to put both lights at the bottom. I would say, whatever you do, do it in a way that makes it easy to change. Once you do a couple hatches, you will notice where there are hot spots and cold spots and want to make adjustments....

Good luck and let us know how it turns out!

 

[lugnut151]

I recommend the fan facing the wall but spaced off a little bit. I would put two heat sources, one at top and bottom, and your thermostat on the other side so that it doesn't get false readings by direct heat from a bulb.

 

[Tabooza]

Mirandaleecon: I liked the wine cooler, reason being it already had a glass door so less work hehehehe

. Over here in SoCal people are selling these like crazy and even giving them away, i pick another one up for free

its bigger then the one I'm turning into a incubator. Lucky, I can't wait for my first incubation hatch. Sorry to hear about your second attempt. I seen your incubation I like how your fans are setup. What do you use for humidity MirandalL

Lugnut 151: So your saying four fans total, right lughtnut, 2 for each heat source.

Thank you both for the replies. I will keep this thread updated on my advancements.

 

[gpop1]

Theres a lot to take into account when building a incubator. The reason you try to shield the light is that some bulbs emit light on a UV level. Its hard to explain but UV light will heat a egg hotter than the air temp around the egg. Next point is fans. If a fan is running at full speed its great at moving heat but its lousy at mixing the heat into the air. The reason people suggest never pointing the fan at the eggs is the heat will be concentrated before its had chance to mix. Slowing the fans down or like lugnut151 said bouncing the airflow of a surface will allow the air to be mixed producing a more stable temperature.

With 3 fan I would suggest running one at full speed to cool the heater then using the other 2 at a lower voltage to mix and move the air gently around the incubator. Most designs try to cycle the air around the incubator, past the heater then back round the incubator. I believe the best way to start is to hook up the bulbs direct to a extension cable then using masking tape, cardboard etc play with the fans. Try to add things that would normally be in the incubator (turner etc) or add cardboard about the same size to force the air to go around. 30 minutes of playing and measuring temperatures should show you what works and what doesn't. (first 10 minutes doesn't count as the temperature has to stabilize first). mounting the lights in the bottom shouldn't cause any problems as long as the fans are set up correctly to cycle the air.

 

[mirandaleecon]

Mirandaleecon: I liked the wine cooler, reason being it already had a glass door so less work hehehehe . Over here in SoCal people are selling these like crazy and even giving them away, i pick another one up for free  its bigger then the one I'm turning into a incubator. Lucky, I can't wait for my first incubation hatch. Sorry to hear about your second attempt. I seen your incubation I like how your fans are setup. What do you use for humidity MirandalL

Lugnut 151: So your saying four fans total, right lughtnut, 2 for each heat source. 

Thank you both for the replies. I will keep this thread updated on my advancements.

Oh yea, the window would cut out a big chunk of the work! It was a total pain to cut through the mini fridge door. So much foam!
To add humidity? I actually don't add any water throughout and have to open the door a couple times a day to let some escape. After lockdown, I just use a straw and syringe and squirt some in through the vent holes. It runs down the side and collects on the fan tray. Only takes a little and evaporates before the end of the hatch...

 

[lugnut151]

I wouldn't put 4 fans. If that was my cooler, I'd put 1 on the back wall, between the two shelves. If there were still hot spots, I'd add one more fan on the top.