Incubator Build Questions

[rthensley]

I pretty much have everything worked out except my thermostat.

I'm trying to decide between two options:

1) The MTM Scientific heater & thermostat http://www.mtmscientific.com/incubator.html

This unit would provide a heat source and a thermostat. It would also allow me to directly connect a fan (although I THINK the fan would just turn on while the unit was heating). But, I would have to solder it all together (I have soldered some, but I would hate to screw this up).

2) The ReptiTemp 500R http://www.cheappetproducts.net/Repti_-_Temp_500WATT_THERMOSTAT_with_PROBE-P69363.html

This unit only controls the heat source, but it seems pretty easy to use. I would probably wire up two light bulbs to this unit. I would have to install my fan with a separate power source.


Any thoughts on either of these?

 

[AHappychick]

well you lost me after the first line, as the only thing I know about bators is how to pay via paypal for a genisis 1588 that oes it all for me

hope someone has the answer for you though

 

[Aiden Kendall]

I have the Reptitemp in my homemade incubator and it works fine. I'm on my 3rd hatch using it and it maintains a consistent temp and I'm totally satisfied with it. The only adjustments I have to make are when I lockdown; when the humidity goes up, the temp goes down but it's very simple to use and I'd recommend it.

If you have any questions, PM me and I'll answer them the best I can.

 

[muddstopper]

This http://www.mtmscientific.com/incubator.html is a very low wattage heat emmitter supplying only 20w of heat. Think of something about how much heat the tailights of you car would emmit. The heat is provided by the resistors that protrude along the edges of the PCB board. Temps are controlled by the potentinometer (the square blue thing in the middle of the board). Think dimmer switch because thats really all it is. It doesnt turn the heat on or off, it only regulates the amount of heat the resistors can build up. It does this by reduceing the voltage supplied to the resistors. This size and type of device would ony heat a very small incubator enclosure and because you would have to open the bator up to make any type of temp change, the small amount of heat it provides would take a very long time to recover the heat lost due to opening the bator up to do the adjustment. It might work in a LG type bator, but probably couldnt heat up anything of bigger size. I wouldnt waste my money on this item.

The reptitemp is a true thermostat that regulates temps by turning on and off the heat source. It works by use of a sensor located on the end of a wire that can be placed inside the bator while the thermostat is located outside the incubator. It is also rated for 500 watts of power. For comparison, most cabinet incubators only require about 240watts to maintain a large cabinet full of egg. A benefit is that to adjust the temps, you wouldnt have to open the cabinet to make necessary changes. For $29, this is certainly a much better buy and better product than the mtmscientific thermoheater. It can be used to lightup a 20w bulb ( the amount of heat the MTM heater supplies), or two 250w heat lamps if you decide to build a much bigger bator in the future.

I havent used either so consider this just my opinion

 

[mayberrygirl]

I am getting a Repti Temp for my brooder to maintain temps with a sweeter heater. I hope to have the set up info on my BYC page soon. So glad to see someone has one for an incubator and it works!