Rebuilding an incubator

[Chinchilla2]

Quote:
The wafer works on the principles of contraction/expansion. In the photos you can see a small silver post in the bracket facing the wafer. When the wafer is in the correct position, it makes contact with this post. When hot, the wafer expands, pressing this post in and breaking the circuit to the heating elements. As it cools down, the wafer contracts, releasing the pressure on the post. The post pops back out and closes the circuit, kicking on the heater.

Normally they are pretty durable.

 

[3forfree]

so that piece in front of the wafer is just a set of contacts that opens and closes as the wafer cycles. Thanks

 

[crj]

Quote:
The wafer works on the principles of contraction/expansion. In the photos you can see a small silver post in the bracket facing the wafer. When the wafer is in the correct position, it makes contact with this post. When hot, the wafer expands, pressing this post in and breaking the circuit to the heating elements. As it cools down, the wafer contracts, releasing the pressure on the post. The post pops back out and closes the circuit, kicking on the heater.

Normally they are pretty durable.

That is so cool to know. I was wondering how that worked. Sorry folks, I was not able to work with the incubator today. I won't be home tomorrow but, if by chance I do get in early enough I will plug it in longer to see what happens.

What about the wires that have been disconnected near the fan? Don't worry about them? It's a ring around the fan but I think it may be a heating element. My guess is to leave them be for the time being.

 

[3forfree]

Just make sure the wires aren't touching anything, and it will be ok

 

[wolftracks]

OK I've been trying to keep up with this thread. I have a practically antique Sportsman. Constant trouble with the turner and I's like to make sure it works perfectly after the new year. A neighbor is going to help me do hatching for people he knows, so I can pay my bills, so it has to work well. I just can't get to it until after Christmas. Just soooo many things I need to get done first.

OK so do slower please! hehe

 

[Chinchilla2]

Quote:
An antique Sportsman is great! What's happening on the turner? The one I had long ago would "clack" on occasions and get stuck tipped to the right. Finally got it working after a little tinkering. If anything, find me somewhere and PM me when you get ready to roll on that.

 

[cmom]

Quote:
That is the wafer thermostat. It is the same thermostat that the GQF (Sportsman and Hova-Bators) incubators use. I just replaced one in one of my incubators.

 

[crj]

I plugged the set up in and only the fan worked. The coil did not heat up. I had it running almost 5 minutes. Was that long enough? I would have thought so but if not I can run it longer next time.

 

[quintinp]

Quote:
No, I bet that the coil has went bad or something, burned out. I would buy a new heating kit. I have seen them on Ebay.

 

[Chinchilla2]

Sounds like a new element is in order. May try wiring the circle element into the system to see if it kicks on. At least that fan works. I have a feeling that it would wind up being the more expensive part since you would have to search around for one that size or wind up finding a hole adapter for it.

Get a new element, perhaps a sealed one like the ring around the fan would work. Also check into a new wafer thermostat while you are at it. Randall Burkey or Cutler Supply should also carry both items. May even find a full wafer thermo and element combo out there.