Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I picked this beverage cooler up from a guy I work with to convert into an incubator.
I've been looking for one of those small dorm type refridgeraters for a while then I lucked out and got one with double pane front glass.Makes it real nice to see whats going on in there.Anyone use one of these as an incubator?Any tips on converting?

I'm no expert, but I just converted a similar cooler to use as an incubator this next season.

First thing to do is get rid of the refrigerant. Ideally, this should be done by a professional to prevent injury, and to prevent allowing the refrigerant to escape into the atmosphere which is illegal. Unfortunately, mine fell off the back of my truck while unloading it, and the coolant escaped. Luckily, there was no other major damage.

Next, inspect the seal on the door and order a new one if needed. Mine needed it and the seal cost me $75.

Remove all the cooling system, and then clean it all up.

Measure the height of the inside, and round down to the nearest even numbered foot. Buy enough 11" flexwatt to run the length of the 2 sides. 11" flexwatt must be cut in 1 foot increments, which is the reason for the even numbered measurement. (I assume thats true for flexwatt brand, mine is Calorique).

You'll want a good proportional thermostat. I used Herpstat. Obviously, you don't need one with a night drop! If the cooler already has a flourescant light in it, you can use that as well. Also a small fan.

I used a fan that I already had, but I've heard a lot of people say that they use a 120v fan from Radio Shack.

I also used a power strip with a circuit breaker in it.

Solder or clip power cords on each of the two strips of flexwatt, and tape them to each side of the cooler.

Hooking it all up - The light, the fan, and the thermostat are all plugged into the power strip, and the flexwatt plugged into the thermostat. (The light and fan are not controlled by the thermostat.)

Run the probe for the thermostat down the back and lay it or tape it to the center shelf.

In testing mine, I've found that there is a temperature gradient of several degrees. Without the fan running, its hotter up top. With the fan running, its hotter at the bottom. I think if I put the fan on a rheostat, and slow it down, it should take care of that problem.

Mine has an advertising panel at the top that has space behind it. This is where I put all the wiring, thermostat, and switches for the fan and light. Doesn't look like yours has that, so you'll have to think about where to put that stuff.

Good luck!
Steve

hoot you have some good ideas.i would like to clear up a common misconception,you can cut 11" flexwatt at any length just like 3" or 4".those one foot lines are for referance only.of coarse the cut end must be sealed as the exposed wire is hot.

you guys are lucky to find such coolers,i'm still looking.have fun! TWH

Well, I was going to say that the Calorique tape specifically states to only cut on the line...but...I went to look at the exact wording, and the exact wording is..."Cut here".

Out of curiosity, does it matter if the black zig zag lines are cut? Or should a person at least be careful to cut between those?

Thanks!
Steve

I guess now I can cut that extra heat tape off there at the bottom!!

By the way, "Blakes' Snakes" is a "working name". Haven't made any final decisions yet! My son and I both have the middle name "Blake". And you'll see a "Marx Toys" logo on the bottom left of the sign. A little inside joke, as I am a Marx freak. I've been collecting Marx trains for several years.

Steve

you can cut a strait line on the tape,no need to zigzag.your cooler is kool.i've been to the pepsi and coke distrubators looking for a cooler where the compressor has gone bad,no luck yet.still lookin. TWH

Thanks,
I bought my cooler from a Restaraunt Supply store.

Steve

Keep an eye out for local auctions for stores going out of business, also drive behind shopping centers and see whats outback the food stores, you would amazed how many of them will just say take it. I got mine from an ice cream place that went out of business.

If I read that correctly,you say you used two lengths of flex watt.Did you then combine them into one plug somehow or does the thermostat have a plug in for each length of flex watt?

lbrat,
The Herpstat thermostat that I'm using has an "extension cord" type plug that will accept 3 plugs. However, in my snake racks, I use the same thermostat. What I do there is plug a power strip into the thermostat, and plug the heat tapes into the power strip.

So, in answer to your question, the heat tapes are independently wired. By the way, if you go to WalMart or Target, etc, and buy cheap extension cords and cut the "female" ends off, you can wire the cord to the heat tape and have a plug already attached. I've actually found the extension cords are cheaper than buying bulk wire from Lowes. And thats without considering plugs.

Steve

I used one this past season and it worked GREAT.

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1.1 Pied ball python
0.1 Spider ball
1.0 100% het pied ball python
1.0 Albino ball python
0.2 100% het Albino ball pythons
1.0 Pastel ball python
0.1 Normal ball python
0.0.1 Green tree python (Aru LT)
0.0.1 Green tree python (Wamena LT)
1.0 Leucistic Texas ratsnake
2.0 Cornsnakes

Hey Joe!

It won't happen this season, but hopefully next season there will be some little albinos in mine whose mom(s) came from you!

Steve
(Adam's dad)

I'm assuming the water bottles are in there to "consume some mass"? For lack of a better term.
That really looks good.I'm going to get started on mine soon.