Updating an old GQF 1402 cabinet incubator

[WalnutHill]

Only partially weatherstripped, but time for pics.



Casters and insulated bottom. This is foil encapsulated bubble pack, stapled into the bottom panel. It was insulated like this before restoration, but full of mold and rodent urine.



Turner switch side, with plug for water reservoir hose.



Water tray shelf with heating element and new thermostat.



Detail of heating element, insulators and fan



Inside view with trays in full tilt. Hatching tray not installed.

 

[stryker]

Now that is a nice looking incubator!

 

[WVduckchick]

Nice and clean! Great job! Can't wait to see how it works... even if you make us wait until February or so

 

[WalnutHill]

I ordered more turkey egg trays. Capacity is:
198 turkey, duck or peafowl
or
180 chickens and 66 turkey, duck or peafowl
or
132 turkey, duck or peafowl and 90 chickens
or
at least 90 geese
or scads of bantams (literature says 1368 quail, can you imagine?)

Temp holds perfect, just calibrating the GQF dial thermometer with the Spot Check, and measuring temps on each tray.

 

[stonefeather]

Found the wiring issue and resolved it. Turner and indicator work now. I straightened all the bent pieces so there is no slop in the turner mechanism any more, it is much quieter.

I have a roll of weatherstripping on the way so I will be able to finish assembly before the weekend.

I am following your thread, and I think it is great! I just purchased a used hatcher model 1550, and I am about to restore it. I have a much easier job though. It seems that the electric components work great and I don't have the turners.

I had one question though. What type of weatherstripping did you order? I am about to take mine apart to repaint and replace the weather stripping. Thanks!

 

[WalnutHill]

I just got some EPDM rubber "P" profile weatherstripping 3/8" w x 1/4" thick, a 17' roll for about $5. It handles large gaps better than the flat closed cell foam tape, and compresses better as well. There are no light leaks at any of the seams now. The door, back panel, and top all have weatherstripping around the perimeter, and the divider board that mounts the fan where it meets the top of the cabinet.

I got my GQF turkey egg trays. They are Robbins 6 x 6, and require trimming of one to 6 x 4 or both to 6 x 5. For versatility with my existing trays, I cut half of them to 6 x 4, which means fully loaded I can incubate 150 turkey or duck or peafowl eggs.

I also ordered a water pan float and valve from GQF, with the intention of building my own humidity pan. They were kind enough to ship me the full pan with hoses, quick disconnects, and humidity pads. I just need to grab a bucket and fit it with a hose nipple and I will have a fully automatic humidity system.

I'd love to have a hatcher. I saw a couple on the market locally but they were priced like new, and if I am going to pay like new, I want like new, not like what I've seen. I know I will end up building one. It won't be much of a task.

I had this really cool idea for building a combo hatcher/brooder. The chicks would graduate to the brooder when they can make their way out of the hatcher. When the hatch is complete, the hatcher box would be removed for cleaning, and the chicks would not need to be disturbed further.

 

[Buster5782]

Hi. I am curious as to what your heat element is? Is it made from 1/2"x 1/2" cage wire?
I just obtained an old GQF cabinet (model unknown) and it has a spring type heating element
that was broken about 4" from the end. I recoiled it around a metal skewer and put it back but
worried as to how long it will last. I like the way yours looks and I am all about looks as much
as functionality. I am on day 2 of just letting it run and seems to be holding temp ok but would
like to change it to lessen some of my worrying.

 

[Buster5782]

oops....never mind. I can see in these pics that the cage wire is just a protector for
the heating coil. I will add a protector to mine because this is why the element got
broken in the first place. I could see on water bowl that was used had heat element
marks melted into it because the person before me pushed the water bowl too far back.
I can appreciate the neatness of your incubator.......really nice!!

 

[WalnutHill]

oops....never mind. I can see in these pics that the cage wire is just a protector for
the heating coil. I will add a protector to mine because this is why the element got
broken in the first place. I could see on water bowl that was used had heat element
marks melted into it because the person before me pushed the water bowl too far back.
I can appreciate the neatness of your incubator.......really nice!!

Thanks! As you saw, the cage wire is a protector. There is a ground wire with a 1/4" spade terminal attached to one long wire of the grid to prevent shock in case of the element breaking (they can break just from continued use, when the wire is dull gray instead of silver, replace it, they're only $7).

I have mine full of chicken and turkey eggs right now. It's amazingly stable.

 

[stryker]

Am I correct that I read this correctly. Did you say, you have a ground wire attached to the wire mesh in front of the heat element?