Help with 1st incubator build

Where is your heat source? I only have experience with one build, which was a very simple 15 x 15 x 10" foam box, thermostat, computer fan, 2 x 40W bulbs. I'm thinking that since heat rises, the element would be best in the bottom. I had to add a few foil baffles to help even out the heat in mine, and I still have a 2* gradient in my small box. Or, could you put the element in the middle with a fan blowing both up and down? What are you using for a thermostat?

 

How many ventilation holes do you have? What size, where located? You might want to contact Ozexpat. He's got a lot of experience building larger incubators.

 

Where is the fan and what direction is it blowing?

 

As I'm still building mine take my advice as is, but at the least I would imagine that maybe you need a second fan possibly pointing at an angle to get some airflow in an up down direction. Also the location of your thermostat to your heat source can affect your temps, play with it closer first then further away if you don't get the results you are after. My first tests I was getting about a one degree setting but on a much smaller cooler.

 

A large temperature spread is a sign of insufficient air flow. A 250 watt heating element is ok for that size incubator. You need to double or triple the current volume of air flow. Use a larger fan or multiple fans and enlarge the return air supply. Make sure there is sufficient clear space for the increased volume of air to freely circulate .

 

Following with interest: I have a dorm fridge that I will eventually be converting. I do hope that when you get your design tweaked, you'll share drawings or photos of your set up, especially regarding location of heat source, square" of ventilation holes, and location, and fan size and location. Do you intend to do staggered hatches in this bator?