Havobator modify to include cooling?

[Thyla]

Hi all,

I've been using a Havobator for many years with no dramas except now I want to incubate eggs at a lower temp than normal (25 celcius) during summer. Outside summer days can easily get to 38 celcius. I live in a rental and have a portable air conditioner unit but it only manages to keep the room down to about 34 during these heat wave times.

I'm after a way to keep the temps down by around 10 degrees (to keep it at 25 throughout summer). I've spoken to 2nd hand fridge and fan specialists and their best recommendation is to buy a $900 high quality air conditioner which would keep the whole room down. I'm really after a way to modify my existing setup to include a cooling device (maybe computer water cooling?) that I can connect directly into my cool/hot thermostat and not have to worry about it over summer.

Thoughts on this? Has anyone done something similar before?

Other option is an old glass door fridge which people often convert into an incubator. Maybe I can keep the refrigeration part (increase the fridge temperature from the normal 4 celcius to around 15 celcus) and then just throw the Havobator inside that?

 

[phatty]

Working wine cooler with heating and cooling thermostat

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[andynic07]

Just direct the portable vent into a wooden box with your incubator in. It should be able to keep the smaller area cooler without a problem.

 

[Thyla]

Just direct the portable vent into a wooden box with your incubator in. It should be able to keep the smaller area cooler without a problem.

Good suggestion. I will keep this in mind, however ideally something cheaper than running my aircon unit just for the incubator. Also if I do this, it would mean I'd be subjected to temps of 39!

There's got to be another viable option.

 

[phatty]

I have the same problem the only option I have come up with is the wine fridge

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[andynic07]

I have the same problem the only option I have come up with is the wine fridge

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How do they heat and cool? I know they are designed to keep wine at an exact temperature but not sure how it works.

 

[phatty]

You still need a heat cord if the temp drops heat kicks in if it get to hot the fridge kicks in


2 thermostats microclimate do a cooling one I believe


I have not made one yet but know some one who has I need to have a look but that is his basic design

 

[mummabear]

It is very easy. You buy a cheap wine fridge that still works. You need 2 thermostats. 1. A cool control thermostat (got mine from Herp shop) that is plugged into the fridge. If your temps get too hot the fridge comes on and cools down to desired temp. 2. A thermostat for your heat source. I use a pulse proportional one. You can use a heat cord or heat mat. I run all my wires out the door of the fridge. No need to cut or remove anything. Very easy and very effective. I have one wine fridge set at 29.5 and i have one set at around 24.

 

[Thyla]

It is very easy. You buy a cheap wine fridge that still works. You need 2 thermostats. 1. A cool control thermostat (got mine from Herp shop) that is plugged into the fridge. If your temps get too hot the fridge comes on and cools down to desired temp. 2. A thermostat for your heat source. I use a pulse proportional one. You can use a heat cord or heat mat. I run all my wires out the door of the fridge. No need to cut or remove anything. Very easy and very effective. I have one wine fridge set at 29.5 and i have one set at around 24.

So when the temp gets too hot it just turns on the fridge which cools until the temp drops then the fridge turn off? So when it's on, how cold is the air coming out? Is it essentially a 3 degrees celcius air being pumped around? Wouldn't this cause spikes (or trophs) in the temps during the cooling period?

 

[beardedman]

have you thought of buying a different type of hovabator that has heating and cooling last time i saw if you buy them from america your looking at like $70-80 for one with a heater and cooler

 

[mummabear]

Thyla, there doesn't seem to be a problem with temp spikes. I measure the temp in the actually incubator and there is very little fluctuation. There would be even less in the actually egg containers. I would imagine the incubation container would shield the eggs from temp spikes. But the reality is that the heat cord and the fridge work in unison and don't let the temps spike. When the wine fridge comes on the fan circulates the air quite quickly. I have been using this method for around 3 years with no issues. In winter the fridge almost never comes on and in summer the fridge is almost always on. I wouldn't do it any other way.

 

[Snowman]

I prefer to just run an air con as cooling the house gives my reptiles a thermal gradient to be more comfortable with.

 

[Thyla]

Thyla, there doesn't seem to be a problem with temp spikes. I measure the temp in the actually incubator and there is very little fluctuation. There would be even less in the actually egg containers. I would imagine the incubation container would shield the eggs from temp spikes. But the reality is that the heat cord and the fridge work in unison and don't let the temps spike. When the wine fridge comes on the fan circulates the air quite quickly. I have been using this method for around 3 years with no issues. In winter the fridge almost never comes on and in summer the fridge is almost always on. I wouldn't do it any other way.

Ok thanks mate that was my biggest concern. So just to clarify, you have an incubator sitting inside the fridge? Or do you just have egg containers sitting openly in the fridge space.

Thanks beardedman I will check it out. I didn't know Havobator have a cooling device option too. Another option is buying a ready made reptile incubator (the fridge looking ones) which have cooling/heating built in with digital thermostat.

I will have a look at finances over the next few days and go from there.

 

[phatty]

No incubator in side fridge the fridge is the incubator

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[mummabear]

I use the wine fridge as the incubator. I sit the closed containers i put my eggs in on the shelves of the wine fridge. The containers with my eggs in have 60% perlite with 40% water mixture by weight.

 

[Thyla]

yeah I tried a slightly drier mix last time and I think I prefer the 50/50 or even a little wetter, but I use vermiculite instead of perlite. I'm thinking about a combination of sphagnam moss and vermiculite would be good. I might start growing some carnivorous plants while I'm at it. hehe. Yeah I think I'll go with a new reptile glass door digital incubator if I don't find a fridge with glass door during throwing out week