Help in incubator PLEASE, what all did we forget?!

[Wyogirl]

As for the fan, I use the smallest one you can buy at Wal Mart, works perfect and if you live near Home Depot or even an Ace hardware they might have the water heater thermostats (the low reading ones) 90-120 or ebay has them also
Ayda
PS Good Luck

 

[ChobeeChickenMommy]

Quote:
Thank you. I'll grab a fan in the am. Do I need a water heater thermostat? I really don't have 90-120 to spend... I don't work & w/ 3 kids we have managed to make everything free.

 

[cmom]

You can check your temp and put the lowest wattage bulb that will keep the temp where it should be. I use a 15 watt bulb and it keep my temp perfect.

 

[ChobeeChickenMommy]

Quote:
We have a 20 watt in there now. It's a normal size like say beach cooler w/ wheels...

 

[Chinchilla2]

A water heater thermostat should only run you about $20.00 tops at a Lowes, Home Depot, or your local hardware store. You want the bottom or single element thermo. It can be spliced into the wiring for the bulb. The object here is that the thermostat will cause the light to go on and off (like the element in a water heater) helping maintain temp to optimum.

Take the "hot" wire on the lamp (should be the one without a "rib" on it) run it from the plug end to the incoming side of the thermo. Run neutral (ribbed side) from the other side of the thermo to the light, then neutral from the lamp to the plug. Set it up so the metal side of the thermo faces the light (about 1.5 to 2" gap there). Angle fan so it blows through the gap. Two or three thermometers scattered throughout the cooler to check for cold spots.

Some drill holes in the body of the thermostat to make it "quicker" and reduce the temp range between on and off a bit. Do a search for "thermostat heater holes" or something along that line here and you will come up with some ideas. One is https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=576807. The page that eventually wound up with me being on the board is this one... https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=8510

 

[ChobeeChickenMommy]

Quote:
Wow! That's neat! My hubby is an electrician, I am going to show him this & see if he'll do it quick when he gets home tomorrow from work. Thank you!

 

[ChobeeChickenMommy]

Ok the temp is going up & the humidity is perfect so the eggs are in. Day 1 is tomorrow! YAY!!!!!

 

[Wyogirl]

Quote:
Thank you. I'll grab a fan in the am. Do I need a water heater thermostat? I really don't have 90-120 to spend... I don't work & w/ 3 kids we have managed to make everything free.

I meant the temp of 90-120. The cost is about 15.00 i think some have used a dimmer switch to control the temp and as someone mentioned a light bulb 15watt would also work.
Ayda

 

[cmom]

I have a dimmer switch on mine with a 15 watt bulb. it works great.