Incubators!!!

2 Parts....

1) What kind of incubator do you use?

2) We use a large mini-fridge (maybe 3.5-4' high) that I gutted and installed a large heat pad running down the back with foil tape. Drilled a hole in the back to run the heat pad wires, the thermostat and two probe digital thermometers (Acurite) and filled the hole in with foam insulation. Water sink in the bottom and 2 liters bottles filled with water in the doors.

The temperature is very steady but unfortunately is stratified by about 8 degrees from the top to the bottom. This results in us only being able to use the middle for incubating dragon eggs. This was fine for this season but we will need the whole space for the upcoming one. I ran a 12v adapter in and put a small computer fan to move the air thinking this would help but it didn't do much. The fan was a very small, very low powered which may have been the problem.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to make the air temp equal from top to bottom? I'm thinking I may need to get a much larger computer fan but thought I'd check here before ordering one.

I would try the false wall approach. There is a false wall down the back or side that draws air in with fans at the top and blows it down into a separate compartment that heats it and blows it out the bottom. It cycles back to the top and continues...

Some examples:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?138711-Just-finished-my-DIY-incubator

http://www.reptileradio.net/reptileradio/showthread.php?t=28116

Are you using flexwat or a heating pad? If a heating pad, I'd switch to eleven inch flexwat. I run a full size old freezer with a four inch fan and five feet of flexwat and my temps are stable from top to bottom.

I use glass wine coolers that holds two tubs each. I place heat tape on the bottom, under the tubs which are suspended and most wine coolers already have a fan built in to move the air.

Thanks for the help guys! I guess I haven't been looking at the right sites because I haven't come across the false wall before. Your links gave a good breakdown and I may try to incorporate it if I move up to a full size one... I don't think there's enough room in this one.

I like the wine coolers..even earlier had considered investing in one that heats and cools and just being done with it. Were you able to easily turn the cooling element off to just run the fans?

I'm using a heating pad Don. The temps are stable though, there's no fluctuation, it just has an 8 degree gradient from top to bottom. The computer fan was only about 1.5cm x 1.5cm so I may try a 3 inch fan if your having success with a 4 inch one with a full size.

Brian, I think the heating pad does not emit evenly distributed heat, that is why I asked. Flex watt provides more even heating. That and a bigger fan may help you. As you can see, my incubator above holds temps constant from top to bottom.

I built a mini frig one this summer still need to heat it up and test it,

Don, I have that same exact freezer. I picked it up as an incubator for down the road, but it still worked so it's currently my deep freezer

Jabberwocky Dragons wrote:

I like the wine coolers..even earlier had considered investing in one that heats and cools and just being done with it. Were you able to easily turn the cooling element off to just run the fans?

Yep, one had a blown fuse so I just cut the cords to the fan and soldered them to a cell charger.

The other worked, but I pulled cords from the circuit board and played trial and error until everything worked but the cooling function. Got shocked a couple times.

Gotcha, I got the infrared temp gun out and there does appear to be a variation in the heat distribution. I think I'm going to order a larger fan first and see if that helps and if not, go ahead and try the Flex watt. I haven't used Flex Watt before but it's probably time to start.

Quote :

Yep, one had a blown fuse so I just cut the cords to the fan and soldered them to a cell charger.

Oh cool. I may look at picking up one as a back-up then. That just seems too easy.

This is where I bought my fan from.

http://www.coolerguys.com/

don't forget to buy the cord at the same time!

Thanks Don. I just ordered the fan... went with an 80mm this time which should push about 4x the air out.