Well I was going to wait to do this thread AFTER I set my eggs.. but I thought that I would go ahead and share.
I have been wanting a cabinet style incubator for some time, but I lacked the funds to purchase one. I have 4 incubators currently. A Brinsea Octagon 20 Eco, a Hova 1602n and a 1588 and an LG that was given to me for a test, which I have just set. This was the same LG that I used in my last test, but due to power outages, and other problems out of my control I had to disqualify my test. So.....
A friend of mine called me up the other day wanting me to set some eggs for them. I agreed and they said they would bring them over shortly. Well.. They showed up all right, with 12 dozen pekin eggs..
Another friend of mine had given me an old upright freezer that compressor went out, to convert into an incubator.. Well I guess I better get moving.
As you see this is a basic upright freezer, inside is all metal with metal shelves.
Well Time for the Hard ware.. as Alton Brown would say.
I went to my nearest hardware store and purchased a box of 75w light blubs, a ceramic light fixture (2.35) and a lower hot water thermostat (8.75). I rummaged through my junk box (known as my shop) and found 2 nice whisper fans both 115v. I put a sheet of HEAVY foil over the top shelf, and installed a section of 3/4 board on the back side to hold the light fixture, the euro-strip(fancy terminal strip that was found in the junk box) and any other items I needed. One of the whisper fans were small, but moved a good bit of air. I placed it under the light blub blowing upwards on the blub. the other I placed pointing down to pull the air out of the heating chamber into the incubation chamber. I mounted my thermostat on the wall across from the blub, so that the incubator's heating cabinet would be controlled by the down draft of air, and not forced.
My hatching area consists of 3 shelves that I will eventually fabricate some type of turner, but for now I just need the eggs set. I will basically use a 2 X 4 and move it from one end of the egg holders to the other 3 X daily.
As you also see in the above picture, my temp reading is coming from the middle of the incubator. This is a forced air, so the middle is where I want to take readings.
I will use the tray on the bottom to hold a water tray. I didn't have time enough to put a viewing window, so it will have to be opened on occation to check eggs, and hatches. Also I drilled two 1/4 inch holes on top of the bator, and two on the bottom for fresh air.
I have been wanting a cabinet style incubator for some time, but I lacked the funds to purchase one. I have 4 incubators currently. A Brinsea Octagon 20 Eco, a Hova 1602n and a 1588 and an LG that was given to me for a test, which I have just set. This was the same LG that I used in my last test, but due to power outages, and other problems out of my control I had to disqualify my test. So.....
A friend of mine called me up the other day wanting me to set some eggs for them. I agreed and they said they would bring them over shortly. Well.. They showed up all right, with 12 dozen pekin eggs..
As you see this is a basic upright freezer, inside is all metal with metal shelves.
Well Time for the Hard ware.. as Alton Brown would say.
I went to my nearest hardware store and purchased a box of 75w light blubs, a ceramic light fixture (2.35) and a lower hot water thermostat (8.75). I rummaged through my junk box (known as my shop) and found 2 nice whisper fans both 115v. I put a sheet of HEAVY foil over the top shelf, and installed a section of 3/4 board on the back side to hold the light fixture, the euro-strip(fancy terminal strip that was found in the junk box) and any other items I needed. One of the whisper fans were small, but moved a good bit of air. I placed it under the light blub blowing upwards on the blub. the other I placed pointing down to pull the air out of the heating chamber into the incubation chamber. I mounted my thermostat on the wall across from the blub, so that the incubator's heating cabinet would be controlled by the down draft of air, and not forced.
My hatching area consists of 3 shelves that I will eventually fabricate some type of turner, but for now I just need the eggs set. I will basically use a 2 X 4 and move it from one end of the egg holders to the other 3 X daily.
As you also see in the above picture, my temp reading is coming from the middle of the incubator. This is a forced air, so the middle is where I want to take readings.
I will use the tray on the bottom to hold a water tray. I didn't have time enough to put a viewing window, so it will have to be opened on occation to check eggs, and hatches. Also I drilled two 1/4 inch holes on top of the bator, and two on the bottom for fresh air.
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