Ideas for thermostat in styrofoam bator. Also bator elements.

[moduckman]

A regular incubator thermostat is fairly inexpensive.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Quote:
Yes you can an there very accurate. There not made to go above 90 but if you rotate the whole assembly it will. It works off gravity. Its rotational position to the ground not its self.
Ive been using them for 3 years. They react to temp changes quicker than a wafer.

Square type in a fridge-bator.

Round type in a cooler. This one was 12V.

The newer heater only type should work even better, they have an adjustment screw to turn the heat range up.

 

[chicken_angler]

Thanks guys. Yeah my circular furnace control only goes up to 80 degrees


Cody!!

 

[chicken_angler]

Hey rebel, do you have any more pics of that setup? How did u hook it up?

Thanks!

Cody!!

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

On the 12V model I just wired the common an the heat wire in line with a 12V tail light bulb.

On the bigger 120V model the thermostat wont hold that kind of power so I used a relay. I ran 12V(from a phone charger plug) threw it an where the light was on my 12V model I put the relay. Then the poles of the relay can switch a 120V light or as I've done switch an outlet an plug in a hair dryer.

A normal automotive relay is rated for up to 220V but there a little hard to explane how to wire. You can use a ford solenoid to Its stronger an simpler to wire.

They explane the wiring real well on the solenoid on this thread.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=1369369
Hope that helps.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

You could also get a digital thermostat an use it. You look for the thermoresister on it an add another resister to it to change the value. It no longer shows the right temp but will keep to +/-.5*F but you have to use a thermometer to figure out how far the read out is off by in the first place. But its only a $0.10 part to change a house digital thermostat to be usable.

 

[Fudgie]

Quote:
DITTO!!!!

 

[griffin45]

Really your circular thermostat will work. you have to calibrate the angle that you mount it then calibrate new temp markings (as long as it is a mercury activated thermostat). Don't spend money you don't have and keep the mercury out of landfills!

Chris

 

[chicken_angler]

Thanks!

 

[cpeter2]

I found that the water-heater thermostat I used didn't work at all. Temperature range was over 10F. So, I ordered a wafer type 'stat. Now please don't laugh, but I haven't figured out how to wire it. If you care to help (and are patient) please contact me directly at [email protected]. Thanks.