Parts needed for cabinet incubator

[HatchCraft]

I use a variety of heat elements . On the dual fan incubators I use either a finned strip heater or a wire wound ceramic core element. On the single fan type designs I use a coiled resistive wire element. I have a bulk roll of wire and cut what I need per design.

Photo of single fan hatcher I was working on today.



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[badwhiskey]

Hatcher could be incubator if hand turned right?

 

[Fat Daddy]

I use a variety of heat elements . On the dual fan incubators I use either a finned strip heater or a wire wound ceramic core element. On the single fan type designs I use a coiled resistive wire element. I have a bulk roll of wire and cut what I need per design.

Photo of single fan hatcher I was working on today.



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Yeah, Thats real nice work right there!

 

[blakemartin3]

I work at a cabinet shop too and that's how I was able to build mine. I'm hatching bobwhite quail eggs, and I'm getting too many eggs now and my little giant can't handle this many eggs. I need personal opinions on every piece of equipment to buy. Like the thermostat, element, the thermometers everything. I just have heard a lot of people have almost burned their house down and I just need to know the safest an easiest route to take

 

[HatchCraft]

yes badwhiskey, it would work well as a manual turn incubator. For some odd reason I prefer to hand turn eggs.

 

[blakemartin3]

And fat daddy does the big whole where the fan goes not matter. Like would that not change the temp up with that gap

 

[HatchCraft]

I have some general knowledge of incubators, but most of my specific knowledge is of my own designs. I can,t tell a lot from your single photo. How do you envision the air flowing. Looks like the humidity / fan shelf and egg drawers extend from front to back with little air gap . Do the egg drawers have solid or wire bottoms. Less restriction equals better air flow and better flow equal uniformed temps. I am guessing you will need more than one fan because of the width. GQF manufacturing sells 225 watt heating element with the ceramic insulators that could work if the incubator isn't located in a cold area. That would be a good choice or a 300 watt finned strip heater. If you are on a budget they sell wafer thermostat that are cheap and easy to install. The STC 1000 digital thermostats are inexpensive and work well. Search for them on ebay. They cost around 20.00 I use PID digital , but the set up I use runs 100.00 As far as safety, rule 1, don,t use any larger heating element than you need to. 300 to 400 watt should be enough for an incubator that size. I repaired a home made incubator for a guy that had a 1500 watt space heater in it . Fan failed and it caught fire. Rule 2 use a secondary thermal shut off in case primary thermostat fails. Include a fuse when wiring in case of electrical short. I use a fused power entry module. Many good ideas on this site if you search for them. Sorry I can't be more help.


Example of air space front and rear with vented drawers for air flow.





Bad design. Not mine.Heating element to large. 1500 watt.
No thermal shut off.

Example of a fused power entry module.

 

[badwhiskey]

Good God that heating element was nuts

 

[badwhiskey]

Would two light bulbs work instead of the wire insulators?

 

[badwhiskey]

Anyone know gqf or dickey cab specs and size?