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Homemade bator... a few questions update post 6

Discussion in 'Incubating & Hatching Eggs' started by X2Farm, Jan 25, 2011.

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  1. Jan 25, 2011 #1
    X2Farm

    X2Farm Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Homer, GA
    Well, I bought a cabinet bator, old homemade wood, a while back, for a steal of a price, thanks to a couple fellow BYC'ers!). All intact aside from wiring, heat element and trays. We got the wiring and heat element done. Set the top on and fired up the bator (turner and all) and it worked like a champ! The temp reading was 108, at the bottom and 113 up top. Turner turns like a well oiled machine, fan circulates air well. Left it running for a couple hours and it did fine.

    Questions-
    With the temps so high, no eggs or trays, would they change once those are added? Any guess how much?

    Would 1/2" hardware cloth work for making the trays? Or should I use 1/4"?

    The thermostat things are old, there's two of em (I'm guessing a low and high) and they look like this https://www.gqfmfg.com/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=285 How would those be adjusted?

    I'm anxious to try the bator out, but wanna make sure I get everything dealt with as best as I can before a test hatch!

    Thanks!
    Nic
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 25, 2011
  3. Jan 25, 2011 #2
    sonjab314

    sonjab314 Constant State of Confusion

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    Any temp over 104 will cook your eggs. You need to lower your temp down before you put the eggs in. Since you have a fan in place that circulates the air, your temp needs to be as close to 99.5 as you can get it. Good luck with your project. Sounds like you made a real find [​IMG]
     
  5. Jan 25, 2011 #3
    X2Farm

    X2Farm Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Homer, GA
    Quote:Yup, had that problem with my Brinsea... 110 for over a week due to a bad thermo [​IMG]

    But it seems this bator will hold upwards of 180 eggs or so... and without having the racks made for them, I can't throw 180 eggs in and see what happens... tryin to get a ball park figure oh how much it might go down? If at all?

    Hopefully I can get a good steady temp... I just need to figure out how to change the high and low on the two thermostat things [​IMG]

    Thank you [​IMG] I have bargain, Ms Nancy Garry here on BYC and lockedhearts, Karen, to thank! [​IMG] [​IMG] for this great deal! [​IMG]
     
  7. Jan 25, 2011 #4
    midget_farms

    midget_farms Chillin' With My Peeps

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    It won't go down for long.

    The eggs you put in will be cold in comparison to the bator. But as soon as they come up to temp it will be the thermostat that controls the temp.

    You need to be under 100*

    I don't know about those thermostat switches as far as adjustability - but I would start there.
     
  9. Jan 25, 2011 #5
    X2Farm

    X2Farm Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Homer, GA
    Quote:yup, now to figure out how [​IMG] [​IMG]

    It looks like I can get a small allen key and adjust... guess I'll unhook both 'stats and see if that helps any
     
  11. Jan 25, 2011 #6
    X2Farm

    X2Farm Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Homer, GA
    [​IMG]

    Ok, so, I can't figure out how to adjust these....

    Can anyone help me?
     
  13. Jan 25, 2011 #7
    rebelcowboysnb

    rebelcowboysnb Confederate Money Farm Premium Member

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    Um those dont adjust. They are just push button switches.


    The whole thing should look like this.
    [​IMG]

    You turn the L bar to adjust it.
     
  15. Jan 25, 2011 #8
    X2Farm

    X2Farm Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Homer, GA
    Quote:OH! Wow... ok I'm a doofus [​IMG] I had no clue!

    So I need a few more parts I guess....

    So it has two of these... here is what it all looks like
    [​IMG]

    Any way to simplify this without spending anything? Maybe putting a water heater thermostat in there? Or can I get it workin easier with just a few small parts? [​IMG]
     
  17. Jan 25, 2011 #9
    rebelcowboysnb

    rebelcowboysnb Confederate Money Farm Premium Member

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  19. Jan 25, 2011 #10
    X2Farm

    X2Farm Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Homer, GA
    Quote:Ok, thats what I thought...looked at the GQF site after you posted above...

    So I take it to be ones a high temp and ones a low temp? Any way to figure that out?
     
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