Cabinet Styled Styrofoam Incubator?

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punk-a-doodle

punk-a-doodle

Crowing
10 Years
Apr 15, 2011
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Just wondering if anyone has ever tried stacking two styrofoam coolers on top of one another to make a cabinet-type incubator? Would the heat source be better located at the bottom or the top? Would it have enough insulation? My original plan was to combine two coolers horizontally, but they are not perfectly square as I had thought.
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The tapered sides would be a pain to attach snuggly. However, they stack perfectly...
 
Oh wow, another punkyrooster. OH, the other one is punky rooster (space between the words).

Oh, sorry, I was off topic.
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I don't understand how you could make 2 styrofoam incubators into a cabinet. I am unable to envision it. Maybe a picture would help?
 
Gidday from Melbourne!
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I'm trying to make my own incubator too! My Light is at Top connected to Water Heater Thermostat and I have some small vents cut in bottom section so the Warm Air will still be forced "down" & "out".. (a few holes so I can close and adjust humidity) I also have a small 12v DC fan running inside to mix up the air... As Long as you seal between container I believe it can work for you (maybe plain Duct Tape could work?) , but that might Also depend if eggs are sitting on Bottom floor or raised up a bit?... (my tray for eggs is Raised with Vent Holes few inches below that) To me it's a bit of trial and error and I'm still not ready yet!.. But wish you good luck
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, I think it's more challenging and self rewarding to build your own.. cya
 
Kathy: Man, when my first choice, 'hardboiled', was taken, I was *sure* no one would be geeky enough to combine chickens with 80s culture! I must meet this punky rooster. XD To avoid confusion though, I've changed my name to pay homage to yet another 80s (well, early 90s) staple.
I'll try to illustrate what I mean with the use of photos, descriptions, and crude drawings!

Brimstone: Thanks for chiming in! The general consensus from poking around the forums seems to be that forcing the air downwards works best in upright incubators, as you have done. I'd love to see photos of your incubator! Best of luck with yours as well. It has been really fun learning how to do things like splice wires.
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(PS, love your pig profile picture!)
 
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Some mock up designs. Each cooler is about 19 inches long by 15 inches wide, and 13 inches high (but the walls are about 2 inches thick, so subtract that to get the inside dimensions). I'm going to start with one cooler plus a half a cooler (the half cooler will contain the heating element, fan, water). I'd like to build up to two and a half coolers with multiple egg trays. The fan I bought is a slightly larger than normal 12 V for a computer. The diagrams don't contain outside air vents, thermostats, access doors (I'll probably put those on the side or back of the coolers), or anything, I'm just showing the main components. Would a 12 V fan be able to be located where I have it, and still push enough air down two vinyl tubes to create a duct system that empties at the bottom? Would hole-punched tubes work for that? I have a double paned window in one cooler right now. My plan would be to have another double paned window in the cooler above it, then two small circular port windows to allow for easy visual checking of the bulbs and water levels. Input away!
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Sketch of incubator layout:
Drawing to the left is with the single cooler.
Drawing to the right is when I add a second cooler.
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How the outside would kind of look window wise:
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How the inside would be set-up fan/heat/water/duct wise:
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@ punk-a-doodle, Great design.. And "NO" it's not fun wiring up all those fiddly little wires to DC motors & Timer Relays... It's even more "NO" Fun waiting Weeks & Weeks to get stuff off EBAY!
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You know I can order something from US and less than 7days... Try Hong Kong and could be 3 weeks!! go figure? Anyway, I'm going to Mount a Few Fans just few centimetres from Top Roof drawing down... It's Hottest point is Top of Roof. I see your design kinda looks like it will pressurize Hot air to move through Tubes... A good idea
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I'm finding my tiny window really FOG up so I could adjust a smaller fan onto them? hmmm not sure yet!! it's a work in progress that's taken over a month already... but it's ok I got plenty of little egg layers out the back... Japanese Quails..
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I definately aint no expert, not even close, but it might be an idea for a few small plugable external holes to adjust humidity (maybe near water tray so you can top up without opening bator?) Anyway Good Luck, I've put pics up before of my slow going progress but here is some of my design so far... The DC turner motor is from an Old VCR I ripped apart and conveyor I made from scrap Stainless... I'm going with "compact" hehe... cya & good luck, I'll post some more next week...
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Forgive me!
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it's definately "overcomplicated" but what can I say? I love Stainless Steel...
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Oh man, look at you with your tech wizardry! I'm so glad I don't have to worry about the auto-turners and really complex stuff until I expand to two coolers down the road. Your set up is so tidy! Awesome, awesome work.

I hear you on waiting for ebay items. That part...not fun.

That's definitely the theory..pressurizing the hot air down the tube...but will it work in practice? No idea! I guess I could always add a tiny fan to the bottom or top of the tube to help the air along if it needs it? And they didn't make it into the drawing, but I've been stressing over air vents for a week now. I really wanted adjustable, sturdy vents. There is a swivel, multi-slot desk grommet that I *finally* found that seemed promising, but they are 5 bucks a piece. The adjustable vents made for cages are ten each! I finally realized that the tops of my spice containers range from large to small, are made from sturdy plastic, and have twistable lids that can be adjusted to pour, sprinkle, or fully close. And are completely free...though I will cry for my poor, mangled Greek seasoning bottles. Their sacrifice is a noble one.

I looked a bit into defogging incubator windows today. I learned that glass windows tend to be cooler than the surrounding environment, and that heating them up is a common way to clear away condensation. I'm not sure an interior fan pointed at your window will clear it, as it isn't drying the air (just moving it in this situation) or heating the glass. Take this all with a grain of salt though, I could be completely wrong. A lot of people use RainX or homemade solutions (from vinegar to wax) to create a layer that condensation runs off. I hear RainX works really well, but that some other similar things leave residue over time. Some people use a plastic heat-wrap sealant that helps insulate the glass and thus keep condensation from forming. There are also micro-heaters of various kinds that can warm up small spaces or glass. Here's one I might make to lay between the two window panes:
http://www.dewbuster.com/heaters/heaters.html
Not sure if that is helpful at all.

Excited to see more pictures!
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Great thx for your reply, it is great to bring your own ideas to fruition.. I'll put up some more pics next day or two, because I'm working on 2 piece box, bottom is "done" yippee... Top with Thermostat is more tricky.. yeah annoying those foggy windows... perhaps spray some kind of anti-fog would be cheapest practical option... but I'll still trial fan onto it, see what happens...

..About your Tubes forcing Hot Air down... I think they'll loose some temperature between journey from Top to Bottom.. Before you cut holes all the way along tube, Why don't you force hot air all way to bottom and then rise by itself through some vent in floor of each layer?? then if no good then go with the holes?... Anyway it looks unique design and quite good, hope it works well... A few trials is good experience anyway... would be interesting to have thermometer Top inlet and bottom exit?? I think your idea with the sliding Vent holes is GOOD!! Why didn't I think of that! ...I'm gonna borrow yours ok?! hehe... But from what I've trialled, doesn't take much of opening to loose humidity...

Take care and I'll reply here next few days.. cya
 
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Good job ...

you inspired me to modify my egg setter with styrofoam plus a little stainless steel, lol ....

this is my setter :
 
Way to Go! AHSworkshop!
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Your operating a little high tech for me
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I reckon that's a pretty expensive setup you have there and looks very professional. On the flip side my total cost was around 35aud so I'm happy with that especially my first attempt without ANY clues other than a polystyrene box hehe
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. The Thermostat I use is very cheap wafer kind, and yeah I do get big temp fluctucations, but got some advice here that says they can be easily modified and tuned to =/- .5 deg C. I am impressed with your giant plastic cog... I was going to go with a Cog design, but Largest I could find was a Spur gear 32P 72T. Oh I also ripped apart some old photocopiers (Great source for cogs usually 32P!) I'll use cogs next design.. hmm most of your website is in german?or something? but I'd be happy if you can pass over schematic for timer relay switch... it looks makable (I paid 16aud for mine! most expensive part of project...hmmm!!) , but I'm a hopeless solderer!
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But at moment I got a noisy fan which is driving me crazy...

Here is a picture of my other half-a-bator in progress... I used some old coffee tin foil and some aluminum Tape (great Stuff! Will ALWAYS have some in my workshop from Now On...
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) The fans are not mounted properly, working on it!!
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p.s. I agree with you, Stainless Steel is Great... Cheers
 

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