My worm box incubator

[redneck]

Just finished my first incubator. I got three worm boxes from Walmart. They were pretty banged up, I had to repair a lid to make it work. I used a 12V DC fan from a computer power supply. I had a double light fixture that I put two 60W bulbs in for heat. One would work, but I figured I would use two in case one blew the incubator would still be heated with one bulb. I got a hot water heater thermostat out of a water heater from the recycling center, and a power cord from a computer. I also used a 120V in 12V DC out power transformer for the 12V fan.
The repair work on the lid.

Pic of the incubator.

I used one of the lids to make a shelf in the box for the eggs. I needed a handle to lift the shelf out. I used a piece of cutting board on the bottom and a clothes hanger for the lifting handle.

12V DC fan, pushes hot air from the bottom to the top.

Double light socket.

Thermostat.

A small piece of cutting board as a fan cover.

Plexiglass window 9"x9" 1/4" thick, siliconed in place.

Total cost for incubator $0.00 I need to get a good thermometer and a hydrometer for it. I put the thermometer from my brooder in it for now to test it. By that one it is holding at 99 deg. I am going to run it this week and see how it works, maybe next weekend I can find some eggs for it.

 

[mamading]

Wow. I'm impressed! Keep us updated on how it works out for you!

 

[aran]

looks fanastic mate..good work!

Mine is much simpler...i have not managed to find the correct power adaptor for the fans i removed from the computer so i guess we are going with the still air incubator after all

Am getting some silkie eggs in the next week or so and getting them started...hope yours does well mate...it looks really professional!

 

[redneck]

Try this link for a 12V power supply.
http://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?UID=2007060916481185&item=15-1085&catname=electric
Here's one for a 120V fan.
http://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?UID=2007060916481185&item=16-1322&catname=electric

 

[aran]

oh thanks mate thats great.
The two fans I have are from a dell puter:

"JMC/Datech model 0825-12HBTL
DC 12V 0.35A
brushless DC fan"

and

"NddN DC brushless
model AD0812HS-A70GL
DC = 12V
0.25A"

Are either of these any good? the NddN is the one from the power supply like you said...it only has the two wires coming from it whereas the other has 3.

aran

 

[redneck]

I would use the Nddn and order the transformer in the link above.

 

[aran]

cheers..will do.

 

[aran]

hey redneck can you show me a couple of pics of how you fitted the thermostat and the power cord to all of this? I know very little if anything about electronic/electric type stuff but do want to learn. I have a soldering iron and a voltage meter and a bunch of other tools...i just dont know which wires go where. The same with the light fitting...which wire attaches to where?

Sorry if this is all really basic stuff...i tried to find this info online without much success.

 

[redneck]

I followed the wiring diagram from a homemade incubator that I found on the internet. Here is the link: http://www.afn.org/~poultry/matilda.htm If you need pictures I will take them. The wires that you will use are the black and the other one is the white one. I will post some pictures today of the wiring.

 

[schmoo]

WOW

great job! Very inventive.