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I am going to convert this cooler into an incubator and was wanting to know the best way to heat it. I thought about using 11" heat tape controlled by a helix dbs 1000 and 4" inch fans to move the air over the heat tape. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

>>I am going to convert this cooler into an incubator and was wanting to know the best way to heat it. I thought about using 11" heat tape controlled by a helix dbs 1000 and 4" inch fans to move the air over the heat tape. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
>>

"Defenetly don't want to mess with that you should crate her up and send it to me, I will properly dispose of it for you! LOL"

Actually most of the info on DIY incubators says the exact same thing, infact I was planning on the same with an old Deep Freeze. The only problem I heard was adequatly removing and dispossing of the refrigeration unit, as well as the freon. Although in you case I think you could probally get away with keeping the cooling unit. It has fans in it correct?

Let me know how it goes.
Jeremy
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"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow Red Tailed Boas -Coming Soon-
0.1 Albino Red Tailed Boa -Coming Soon-
1.1 Hypomelenistic Red Tailed Boas
2.0 Double Het Stripe Albino Red Tailed Boas
0.1 Suriname Red Tailed Boa
0.1 Anerthrystic Red Tailed Boa
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse

The freon has already been removed before I got it. Yes it has fans in it already even though I don't think I will use them. It also has lights installed already for easy viewing. I was thinking of using 3 strips of the 11" flexwatt, probably use 5' sections for each strip and place fans to circulate the heated air.......

>>The freon has already been removed before I got it. Yes it has fans in it already even though I don't think I will use them. It also has lights installed already for easy viewing. I was thinking of using 3 strips of the 11" flexwatt, probably use 5' sections for each strip and place fans to circulate the heated air.......

I assume you will placing the heat tape at the bottom and the fan as well. Did you plan on putting tubs of water in the incubator to increase Humidity?

Other than that sound like you have it down.
Jeremy
-----
"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow Red Tailed Boas -Coming Soon-
0.1 Albino Red Tailed Boa -Coming Soon-
1.1 Hypomelenistic Red Tailed Boas
2.0 Double Het Stripe Albino Red Tailed Boas
0.1 Suriname Red Tailed Boa
0.1 Anerthrystic Red Tailed Boa
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse

I will have to add several tubs of water to maintain not only humidity but also to help hold some of the heat in when a door is opened. I was thinking of running the heat tape down the back enclosed with fans at the top of the enclosure to draw the air in and fans at the bottom to blow the heated air out into the incubator itself. The measurements of this soon to be incubator are 8 feet long, 43 inches wide and 6 feet 8 inches tall. Thanks..........

>>I was thinking of running the heat tape down the back enclosed with fans at the top of the enclosure to draw the air in and fans at the bottom to blow the heated air out into the incubator itself.

Sounds like a plan although I don't think you will need fans top and bottom one end will suffice. If it was truely sealed the fans top or bottom will draw air in the vents top or bottom.

Remember hot air rises so it may be a good idea to have the fans at the bottom drawing in the air to your heat panel and vents at the top to let the air escape once heated.

This is only a suggestion it will most likely work either way but I feel it will be more efficiant my way.

Your choice, Good Luck!
Jeremy

Looks like I am not the only night owl!
-----
"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow Red Tailed Boas -Coming Soon-
0.1 Albino Red Tailed Boa -Coming Soon-
1.1 Hypomelenistic Red Tailed Boas
2.0 Double Het Stripe Albino Red Tailed Boas
0.1 Suriname Red Tailed Boa
0.1 Anerthrystic Red Tailed Boa
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse

Fans won't do much if anything to disperse the heat produced by heat tape alone. But since you'll be using large tubs of water as a thermal mass source (good idea, BTW) you'll get a layering effect from the moist air and the fans will help disperse that.

The problem with that much moisture is that you'll then likely need to exhaust the entire incubator. Opening it on a regular basis will probably help, but you may also want an exhaust fan.

It's really hard to say, there are so many factors. It might be that you could put an exhaust fan up near the top and it would have to run often enough to layer the air properly from top to bottom, especially if your tubs of water are completely open.

But if your tubs of water are partially sealed off then you won't get as much layering effect and you might need to take a different strategy.

Personally, I'm a fan of dry incubators and then controlling moisture in the individual incubation boxes. But maybe this is not ideal for the species you're breeding.