Porcelain light socket?

[Intheswamp]

Quote:
But to heat the area inside the incubator the lightbulb has to have a much higher temperature....kind of like a propane heater burning to heat a cold room up to 70*.

Having said that and also what I wrote in my previous message... It will work and there's millions of plastic/bakelite sockets in use with 60w light bulbs with no issues. I think that you are right and that it will work ok. But...I'd still use a porcelain socket.

Ed

 

[ken]

Just to clarify my answer, In my incubator I have two lights and a hot water tank thermostat, the air temp is holding at around 100, my lights only are on for maybe 15 to 20 seconds then they are off for a few minutes at least.
Ken from Maine

 

[Intheswamp]

Quote:
I take it you have them wired parallel. I like the redundancy, good back-up design.

Ed

 

[ken]

Yup, I have lurked for a long time on this forum and have tried to learn as much as possible, and one thing I thought was a good idea was having two lights, quicker heat and if one bulb goes out you still have at least one to keep it warm.
ken

 

[chauqg]

It is clearly a safety issue... I have used a porcelain fixture on my custom made water heater and placed the fixture and bulb in a 12" cinder block and put the cinder block on a 12x4x18" flat cinder block JUST TO BE SAFE.... I never feared electrical mishaps.

I would not sleep if I had to worry about an incubator failure with full electrical power in the unit. You know and the mfg knows that the plastic could cause a FIRE. Plastic + 117 volts can easily start a fire..... That is why they are called accidents, and they do happen.

Porcelain does not burn.... Has a much higher menting point also.... DONT RISK IT! Follow the manufacturer's guidelines. They call for porcelain for a reason.

 

[Intheswamp]

Sounds like you studied well. I'm still in the studying stage.

Is your 'bator still-air or forced? Did you drill holes in the cover of your thermostat?

yourhighness, if you're comfortable with the plastic socket, go for it. If you feel iffy about it return it and get a porcelain one. Times'ah wastin'!

Best wishes all,
Ed

 

[Intheswamp]

Quote:
But do you really think the government would let the plastic sockets be sold if there was a tendency for them to catch on fire?

And in most normal installations (non-incubator) the sockets will probably be facing downward (from the ceiling) with the heat rising toward them.

But still,...I'd use porcelain.

Ed
(ok, I think by now everybody knows I'd use porcelain, but that I think the plastic ones are ok.

)

 

[yourhighness]

Last time, the temp stayed very stable with the light almost always on. It was in a room with no windows, no drafts or anything, and it'll be in there again... But ok, thank you for the opinions everyone, keep 'em coming!

edit: I am pretty comfortable with the plastic, but if it's convenient in the next few days I'll definitely be grabbing a porcelain. Just takes a second of rewiring after all

And while I'm editing, how do you guys feel about a 60watt halogen lightbulb?

 

[ken]

Yes, I did drill three holes in the thermostat, I just looked and I have one porc. and one plastic fixture I have two one inch vent holes in the side Like I said really none of the ideas I used, are mine ,they are copied from the learning section of this site from other chicken folks I lined the bottom and the sides of it with 3/8" styrofoam insulation and made a eggturner mounted on a piece of PVC pipe another borrowed idea. So far it seems to be doing what I think its supposed to be doing, but my eggs were started on the 27th so time will tell. I have a fan but have not installed it yet that is on the to do list. If I can figure out how to load a pic I will try tomorrow. This site has so much knowledge and experienced people who take it very serious, thankyou to all of you. After this hatch I will be prob. swithching to a wafer thermostat like another poster had stated once "they are only $20." and very accurate and you dont have to tamper with a hot water heater thermostat. I have 7 RR hens and a Dominique Rooster so I always have a bunch of eggs , kinda got caught up in the forum with all the chat about hatching, next thing I was at the hardware store then in the shop, and now watching 20 eggs thru a glass window like a kid. lol kept telling the wife it was for the grandson.
Ken