incubator ideas! post your ideas for home made incubators, whether they work or not~

[wattsjadajoe]

posted twice

 

[galanie]

I get the same results by putting the back of the thermostat around 3 inches from the heat source as in this page http://cmfarm.us/WHTincubator.html

How many new holes did you add to it? I added 2 and put light bulb with in 1 1/2" and still getting big flux in temps with water heater thermostat.

I don't drill any holes at all.

 

[3forfree]

wattsjadajoe, You're right on about the amps. Everything that uses electricity has an amp rating,and everything needs to be wired accordingly. Wire size being the main thing. The more amps you're using the more heat you're producing in the wire. If you got too much heat, the insulation starts to melt causing fire, then you're screwed. Don't be screwed.

 

[moetrout]

Quote:


It seems like the same would be true with a light bulb? I experimented with hairdryer element and fan that I pulled out of the hairdryer and connected it to be controlled by a WH thermostat. I set the hair dryer about 1.5" from the thermostat. The thermostat did turn the hair dryer on and off. I did this all outside the incubator. I guess I need to mount it all and check my results inside the cooler. I have a pic of it all setup mounted on a board on my kitchen island if anyone wants a peek.

 

[mohillbilly]

the same is true about any heat source as they all have to cool down once they shut off the trick is finding one that heats fast and cools fast

 

[fried green eggs]

I don't drill any holes at all.

I'm glad it works for others but, I tried flipping the WH thermostat I have so, the wafer was towards the light bulb at 3", 2", 1 1/2" even 1" away and still got way too much flux in thermometers and in the egg thermometer hygrometer set where eggs will be. Maybe I got a bad one but, I'm done fooling with it.

I ordered another GQF Wafer Thermostat and a extra wafer for it.

 

[quintinp]

I'm glad it works for others but, I tried flipping the WH thermostat I have so, the wafer was towards the light bulb at 3", 2", 1 1/2" even 1" away and still got way too much flux in thermometers and in the egg thermometer hygrometer set where eggs will be. Maybe I got a bad one but, I'm done fooling with it.

I ordered another GQF Wafer Thermostat and a extra wafer for it.

Well, I don't know what else to tell you, except for

Did you drill holes into the thermostat?

What type of incubator are you using, cooler, styrofoam box, fridge?

And, Lastly,

Do you have a fan?

I know that you just ordered a wafer thermostat, but you could always save the wafer thermostat for use in a cabinet, or fridge incubator.

Then you could have the WHT incubator as a Hatcher, and the Wafer thermostat incubator as an incubator for the eggs only.

Just a thought!

 

[fried green eggs]

Well, I don't know what else to tell you, except for

Did you drill holes into the thermostat?

What type of incubator are you using, cooler, styrofoam box, fridge?

And, Lastly,

Do you have a fan?

I know that you just ordered a wafer thermostat, but you could always save the wafer thermostat for use in a cabinet, or fridge incubator.

Then you could have the WHT incubator as a Hatcher, and the Wafer thermostat incubator as an incubator for the eggs only.

Just a thought!

Thanks for trying to help but, I just think I got a bad W H thermostat to start with - it was the last one at my Lowe's and the package had been opened.

I already made a Big red igloo bator last week for incubation. That one has a gqf therm, compu. fan, 2 light bulbs, automatic egg turner -had to cut off two rows but, it will still hold 27 eggs. I have a digital thermo / hygrometer w/ remote probe. I also put in a large top window and added a large sealed front plexiglss hinged access door.

This (smaller blue igloo cooler) bator I am building to be my hatching bator only. I thought the cheaper WH sounded ok and I did everything just like the videos show (drilled ceramic and placement) It has a compu. fan placed so it blows across light bulb. I put a window in the top and plexi access door on front with insulation to seal like my big red. I am spoiled by how easy the temp. is to get right with gqf. I ordered a spare wafer for gqf and another digital thermo. hygrometer for small bator too!

I plan to put first eggs in big red tomorrow eve. so, I have time to get blue one all set befor hatching.

 

[quintinp]

I am glad that you have the other to work with though.

I don't know if you ordered a wafer thermostat for the blue incubator.

By the way, your thermostat could be a bit faulty, I remember when I took one apart, I had noticed a golden colored wafer that was sealed to one side of the thermostat, by a little bit of lubricant.

If the thermostat, didn't have enough lubricant to start with, it wouldn't have ever been that good.

I am guessing that it was just a manufacturing error.

I hope you can get either a working water heater thermostat, or get another wafer thermostat.


I am a HUGE fan of wafer thermostats.

 

[fried green eggs]

I couldn't see if the wafer in the WH thermostat I bought was bad but, it wasn't going to work for a bator. I did order a gqf thermostat for my hatching igloo and a extra wafer - just in case one of them needs it. I took apart a small crockpot today with 120 watt heating element and plan to use that as heat sorce for my hatcher bator. The crockpot has a bi-metal thermostat so, i may save that for later.
put eggs in my incubator bator tonight and will be putting more eggs in on Saturday when they arrive. I have a large window on the lid and with the access door on the front, I can change a light bulb or even the wafer - if I need to. The nightlight helps lightbulbs cycle less often and helps me see it's still working fine.