DIY Cabinet Incubator (Old Refrigerator)

[CharlieHorse]

Quick Q:  Is the electronic thermostat from GQF supposed to cause my heat lamps to flicker?  My incubator will maintain the proper temp but the lamps are constantly flicking on and off.  Is that how this thermostat works? 

 

Commercially built incubators are switching on and off constantly (quite a few times in a minute).

[wildergamebirds]

  Hey, Chuck, We missed you (a little).

  With that setup, you may burn out bulbs pretty fast.  I've always heard that the switching on, and off causes most of the "wear and tear" on the bulb.  Graingers has heat bar elements that are designed for the kind of switching encountered in an incubator.

[Little Bear Game Farm]

Thanks guys! 

I'm going to run with the bulbs for now because I have eggs set in there and don't want to be screwing around rewiring for a half hour.  I'll definitely be switching when I get a chance.

And, this set up could get expensive....  My mom always told me it costs a nickel every time you turn the lights on

[wildergamebirds]

And, this set up could get expensive....  My mom always told me it costs a nickel every time you turn the lights on

  That might be a consideration, also, I'm not sure.  I would think heat element(s) more than adequate to do the job, would use less energy, in the long run.  A one thousand watt element for a 3 cu. ft. incubator would not be efficient, of course.

[CharlieHorse]

I'd probably get an element from a GQF cabinet incubator and forget the bulbs all together.

 Here's what I'd do:   http://www.cutlersupply.com/store/item.0759.html

We missed you (a little).

You're just so dog gone nice and sweet.   

[wildergamebirds]

You're just so dog gone nice and sweet.   

   But fickle, huh?

[Little Bear Game Farm]

Update on the incubator....

Works great, so far I'm at 55 hatched out of 121 set.  The old fridge has maintained temps between 99 and 100 the whole time.  Humidity around 60% but wow do I need an auto filler for that.  I had no idea how much water that would go through to maintain the proper humidity.

Here's a pic of the beginning of hatch.

Thanks for the help guys!

[CharlieHorse]

Auto-water is very nice, a guy can practically go on vacation.

Looks good...........but you better keep that door closed.

[antonette93]

I think you can also create a home made cabinet incubator for your eggs or what we call the old refrigerator. Like my father do, he personally made his incubator. Good luck!

[Slayton]

Fantastic job.

I have been looking for a resonably built Homemade Incubator. I am looking for an old fridge right now. Thanks a ton for the post and updates. I am a DIY guy all the way.. Have you installed the heating element yet? If so how is it working?

Slayton