Reptile & Amphibian Forums

OK I'm finally done with this project. Total construction time is about 6 hours not counting time to take apart the fridge (about 2 hours). Total cost is about $180 give or take $20. I did not have to purchase any lumber that was used on the doors or the false bottom. Heat is two 40w light bulbs in ceramic fixtures controlled by a Helix thermo and monitored with three digital thermometers. Air circulation is with a 3" radioshack fan blowing air from the false bottom and a 4" fan blowing air down from the top. Let me know what you think of my modification of a great design I saw earlier this year from someone (sorry I can't remember who had the much larger all wood/glass version).

Josh Hutto
JKReptiles

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2.3 het pied (RDR, alan bosch x 2, BHB x 2)
0.1 High Contrast Albino (Gulf Coast)
1.1 het albino (ben siegel, Gulf Coast)
1.2 het citrus ghost(Gulf Coast line)
1.0 citrus ghost (Gulf Coast line)
0.1 graz pastel female
1.6 05 normal bp's
0.6 04 normal bp's
2.5 adult normal bp's (some need breeding to see if norm)
4 various corns
0.1 brazilian rainbow boa (alan bosch)
1.0 american pit bull terrior
1.1 taco dogs (ankle biters)
1.0 grey cat
1.1 bearded dragons

a BAD dog is MADE not bred, support the American Pit Bull Terrior as the greatest breed of dogs on Earth!!!!!

np

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2.3 het pied (RDR, alan bosch x 2, BHB x 2)
0.1 High Contrast Albino (Gulf Coast)
1.1 het albino (ben siegel, Gulf Coast)
1.2 het citrus ghost(Gulf Coast line)
1.0 citrus ghost (Gulf Coast line)
0.1 graz pastel female
1.6 05 normal bp's
0.6 04 normal bp's
2.5 adult normal bp's (some need breeding to see if norm)
4 various corns
0.1 brazilian rainbow boa (alan bosch)
1.0 american pit bull terrior
1.1 taco dogs (ankle biters)
1.0 grey cat
1.1 bearded dragons

a BAD dog is MADE not bred, support the American Pit Bull Terrior as the greatest breed of dogs on Earth!!!!!

Looks good! Can it hold 90F with those 2 bulbs? Can it hold 90F with one? If one burns out, it would be a bummer to lose everything. I like the design though. If it really works well (keep us posted) and holds the temps I might build one like it.

Ben

Josh
Nice job. Just a couple of suggestions. You may want to trade out the wood floor for a piece of plex. Or drill a "peep" hole in the front of the lower drawer. Either way so you can tell if a bulb burns out without having to open the bottom "heat chamber" to check on the bulbs. Also if the bulbs are constantly going on & off you may want to attach a dimmer switch. This will cause less stress on the filaments of the bulbs & they will last longer. Bruce

i'm using a helix proportional thermostat, the bulbs never go off, it adjusts the amount of power needed for the lights to hold the temp. As far as one light being able to hold the desired temp, there should be no problem. Also there is no need for a peep hole, I can see the light comming from the fan on the false floor to be sure that at least one light is working. Warm-up time from 72 degrees to 89 was only 45 mins. It has been holding between 88.6-88.9 for the last 3 hrs. I will keep it running until I get eggs just to make sure everything is all well and good.

Josh Hutto
JKReptiles
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2.3 het pied (RDR, alan bosch x 2, BHB x 2)
0.1 High Contrast Albino (Gulf Coast)
1.1 het albino (ben siegel, Gulf Coast)
1.2 het citrus ghost(Gulf Coast line)
1.0 citrus ghost (Gulf Coast line)
0.1 graz pastel female
1.6 05 normal bp's
0.6 04 normal bp's
2.5 adult normal bp's (some need breeding to see if norm)
4 various corns
0.1 brazilian rainbow boa (alan bosch)
1.0 american pit bull terrior
1.1 taco dogs (ankle biters)
1.0 grey cat
1.1 bearded dragons

a BAD dog is MADE not bred, support the American Pit Bull Terrior as the greatest breed of dogs on Earth!!!!!

Very nice design! I would suggest ceramic heat emitters rather than light bulbs. I couldnt trust them, although I do know people use them with great success
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Greg Power
B.O.A. Inc
boainc@gmail.com

I have always woundered something about those, how do you know when they quit working? I use heat tape, so I put a temp sensor right on it, but with a light you can see it is out... with a ceramic lamp how do you know its bad? I supose after the ambiant temp has fallen you will see it on the temp sensors... but seems a little late for what I would like. I would want to know BEFORE my eggs go bad that the heat source has gone out.

exactly why i didn't use them

Josh Hutto
JKReptiles
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2.3 het pied (RDR, alan bosch x 2, BHB x 2)
0.1 High Contrast Albino (Gulf Coast)
1.1 het albino (ben siegel, Gulf Coast)
1.2 het citrus ghost(Gulf Coast line)
1.0 citrus ghost (Gulf Coast line)
0.1 graz pastel female
1.6 05 normal bp's
0.6 04 normal bp's
2.5 adult normal bp's (some need breeding to see if norm)
4 various corns
0.1 brazilian rainbow boa (alan bosch)
1.0 american pit bull terrior
1.1 taco dogs (ankle biters)
1.0 grey cat
1.1 bearded dragons

a BAD dog is MADE not bred, support the American Pit Bull Terrior as the greatest breed of dogs on Earth!!!!!

Had this one made by Pro-racks in the UK.
Holds 40 boxes.
Seven heat strips in all.
2 pulse proportional stats.
Holds temps within 0.5deg from top to bottom.

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www.repteq.com

Hey Josh,
Nice Incubator! I'm in the process of setting one up "now" with a small/med upright freezer. I'm using 11 inch heat tape and a Herpstat therm. I didn't install the fans yet, but I'm interested in seeing what the difference in temp. is from top to bottom after a few hours without them.
Glenn