What light bulb for homemade incubator

[tripledfarms]

I need advise on what size light bulb to put in my homemade incubator with fan. (size of a mini fridge) When I bought the incubator, I was told it ran off of 2 of the 150w lightbulbs. Well brought it home and it had readings of about 108 degrees. Ive tried different combinations of lightbulbs and can not get a number close to 100. What size light bulb or bulbs should I use? Thanks

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Are you sure your thermometer is accurate?

150 seems high.

A small LG incubator uses a single 40 watt heat element.

I prefer a metallic heat element rather than light bulbs.

 

[tripledfarms]

Ive got 2 different thermometers. And there about 1 degree apart from eachother

 

[DwayneNLiz]

my home made incubator has 2 - 40w bulbs

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Ive got 2 different thermometers. And there about 1 degree apart from eachother

How does that make them accurate?

I had 6 thermometers in mine and they were all wrong. It wasn't till I had both a Brinsea Spot Check AND a Thermoworks instant read pocket thermometer that both agreed, I realized the others were off and some were WAAY off.

 

[tripledfarms]

my home made incubator has 2 - 40w bulbs

DwayneNLiz, are the 2-40w bulbs soft white or clear bulbs? Or does it matter? Thanks

 

[DwayneNLiz]

DwayneNLiz, are the 2-40w bulbs soft white or clear bulbs? Or does it matter? Thanks

Doesn't matter so long as they are incandescent and not Teflon coated

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Wattage generates the heat (and light) but the color or lack thereof matters not.

Another reason I like a metallic heat element is that there isn't bright light in the incubator. It isn't real bright under a broody hen.

 

[DwayneNLiz]

Lol yes very true ChickenCanoe but light bulbs are very easily attainable


And my cooler is smaller, so you may want 2 - 60w bulbs

 

[DwayneNLiz]

Oh and I forgot to say welcome to BYC!!!