new incubator ideas

[wynn4578]

This will be my first incubator and I'm currently in the design stage. I'm currently working on light placement and I'm hoping for some feedback/ideas/criticism on my current design. Below are my plans for the entire build so you know where I'm going with this.

The plan for the cabinet is to build from a mini wine cooler (23.5"w 20.5"d 32"h). On the back I will attach an air duct and 2 24v 80mm CPU fans for circulation. For now I am going to build a master control box to control heat, humidity, and the egg turner. My eventual plan is to build a controller using a raspberry pi and add pen cameras so I can view the eggs and adjust temp and humidity from my living room any time. (I am not capable of building anything simple

). I would like to locate the lights in the duct and draw the hot air thru. Since I am not an experienced incubator builder I figured I would share some design pics with you guys so that you might be able to point out any potential flaws or deal killers on the design.

planned electrical components (does not include parts for future controller plans)
2 80mm 24v cpu fans for circulation
2 75w incandecent bulbs (heat source)
1 24v atomizer (for humidity)
2 24" 24v waterproof led strip (lights for viewing)
110 temp controller (75w bulbs)
110 humidity controller (will control atomizer)
110 to 24v stepdown (to power fans led lights and atomizer)

Below are some images of my idea for the 75w bulb placement and air circulation.


This is just a front viewshowing the fans and the return.


This is a rear view showing the air duct. in this view you can see the holes where the wiring for the light sockets would come thru.


This is another rear view but i've made the duct transparent so you can see bulb placement (I'm thinking maybe I need to move these down more towards the center.


So that's it let me know what you think so far.

 

[WalnutHill]

Pretty much what I built, but with a nicer box.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/956935/home-made-cabinet-incubator

I like the ceramic reptile emitters better than light bulbs, but that's a personal preference.

Be sure to leave ready access to change your light bulbs. Don't screw the duct cap on.

Your illustrations are great!

 

[wynn4578]

Thanks. I plan on adding an access panel around the lights so they can be removed and replaced. I've thought about the reptile emiters I just wasn't sure how responsive they would be.

 

[wynn4578]

I am curious what type of motors everyone uses for their egg turners.

 

[Daedalus62]

Nice one!!... Really like you design and plans... Keep us posted on your progress, please!!

A couple of, I hope helpful, thoughts...

Personally, I would make that back duct wider... Or (more difficult) make 2 ducts?... And so setting more apart both fans, light bulbs and air return holes... 1 - Better (more even) heat distribution inside the incubator. 2 - Having 2 x 75W incandescent bulbs burning right next to each other (a lot of heat in a confined space, even with ventilation!) is a sure way they won't last long... Spread them more apart.

Please do test with your atomizer, but... I believe, they're overkill in a small cabinet incubator... They generate a lot of humidity and you really don't need that much, unless you're running a big industrial incubator

... Or devise some way to restrict it?... Where do you plan to place it?

The high-tech route you're going, I'm really curious on your egg tray(s)/turner solution

...

My 2 cents...

Keep it up... Have a nice build, and keep us posted!

Cheers

 

[wynn4578]

I'm going with the reptile emiters and doubling the width of the back duct. I've also decide to add 2 fans so there will be 4 fans total. 2 at the bottom that draw air into and blow air through the duct and 2 at the top to pull heated air from the duct and move it through the incubator. Below is an image of the wiring schematic for you guys that like that sort of thing. I'm am a bit novice in the electrical field so if you see anything that can be simplified or might be better ran a different way, I'm open to changes.

 

[gpop1]

consider going with a arduino instead of the raspberry as the parts are cheap and the programming is simple. The incubator im building uses the mega 2560 ($13). Its a lot slower at only 16mhz but it has 54 I/o pins and the add on parts like relays, lcds are real cheap.

 

[wynn4578]

I've have been looking at the arduino quite a bit. It seems it has more plug and play parts as well but I haven't done enough research yet to determine this for certain. Right now the game plan is to go more traditional (electrical and mechanical) using controllers and relays then integrate the Arduino/PI later when I'm ready to add cameras and write an interface to control it semi-remotely.

 

[wynn4578]

Let me know how the 2560 does. I wouldn't imagine the lack of speed would be too big an issue for a project like this.

 

[gpop1]

i started a thread to show what ive been playing with. If you do go with a arduino im more than willing to help.