croc doc's incubator

[K1LOS]

Hey, I was hoping croc doc could post the pics of his incubator again. I was reading an older thread and your pictures were no longer available, but everyone seemed impressed. I'd like to see it for some ideas. Thanks alot

Geoff

[crocdoc]

Here's the link:

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=39007&perpage=15&pagenumber=2

Scroll down a bit and you'll see the photos. If the photos don't show up, Photoisland may be down (this is guaranteed to happen on any day ending with a 'y'). What usually works if the photos don't show up but Photoisland ISN'T down is to right click on the little red x, choose properties, copy and paste the image's URL into your browser and hit Enter.

[Vengeance]

nope no luck :/

[K1LOS]

I am getting a 404 error when i try and go directly to the images. This is the link i used

http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Dec/200312277533717632408208.jpg

anyway you could msn them to me?

Geoff

[crocdoc]

hmm... I'll try some new links:
Here's the whole incubator (egg boxes currently have less moisture in them than they had in this pic)
http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Apr/2004454871281628696681.jpg

Here it is with the shelves removed. The thermostat probe and max/min thermometer probe are attached to the middle of the back wall
http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Apr/2004458760107996265600.jpg

Here are the shelves. The ramps tilt the egg boxes up at the back so that any condensation on the lid rolls down the front rather than drips on the eggs, but so far there hasn't been any. Shallow lips on the front of the shelves keep the egg boxes in place
http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Apr/2004458871328524781882.jpg


Here's the incubator with all lights on (including the white flourescent viewing light) but with the egg box shelves removed. Not much light reaches the middle area where the egg boxes are kept
http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Apr/2004458082313070042425.jpg

[K1LOS]

wow that is nice. How do you feel the cost of operation is compared to the more commonly used heattape? It seems to me that the lightbulbs would be easier to set-up, but would be more costly in the long run. Thanks for posting the pictures for me!

Geoff

p.s: what kind of thermostat are you using?

[crocdoc]

Hi Geoff,

The thermostat is the most important part of that incubator. It is a Habistat dimming thermostat and the dimming makes all the difference in the world. Instead of the bulbs bringing the incubator up to temperature then switching off, they dim as they approach the desired temperature, preventing peaks and troughs. This also extends the life of the bulbs, for they are not switching on and off, and reduces the amount of electricity used. Not that it uses much, anyway, when you compare the four 15 watt bulbs (which are rarely, unless I leave the incubator door open, fully on) with the few hundred watts keeping the adults going to produce those eggs!

[KingFfaj]

so do all your lights work at the same time? and do they not get wet?
also are there any modifications you made because of air flow?
sorry for all the quistions but i plan on getting a incubator soon, and i'll prolly have a bash myself, before i pay for one;)

[crocdoc]

All of the lights work at the same time except, of course, the white viewing flourescent, which is on a separate switch. They don't get wet as the incubator itself is dry and all of the moisture is in the egg boxes. The only modifications I made for air flow was to drill holes in the PVC shelves and make sure the egg boxes are centred on the shelves so air can flow all around. Also, the small ramps on the shelves keep the egg boxes off the shelves themselves, allowing some air flow underneath

[Icefire]

Where did you got your Habistat thermostat ?
I never saw cheap diming (proportional thermostat) in canada
just a typical thermostant 500W with probe is around 60$usd 100$cdn

[crocdoc]

who said anything about cheap? :)

I got these habistats at a reptile place here for around $170 (which would be around $150 - 160 CDN, I think). It's worth it.