Reptile & Amphibian Forums

First off, I have to give my parents full credit for this idea since I would've never figured it out on my own. I bought a small wine cooler to use as an incubator since it was the size I wanted and it had a glass door. I was planning on putting flexwatt in it to heat, but my parents came up with a better idea.

The wine cooler is cooled by a thermoelectric unit instead of freon. Apparently the unit can either heat or cool depending on which way the electrical current flows through it. My dad just clipped 2 wires and switched them, so now it's heating instead of cooling. I tested it yesterday and it appeared to be working. I plugged it into my ZooMed ReptiTemp t-stat, and it held temps of 89-90F even with the cheap t-stat (before you say anything, I would never use this t-stat with eggs. It was the only spare I had to test it with, but I'm buying better ones.) Once I get the new thermostats, I'm going to set it up with egg containers and perlite and test the temps and humidity for a few weeks. I'll keep you guys posted, but I think this is going to work.

Enjoy!

Thanks,
Shelly

I know nadda about building such things but that is a nice looking incubator, let us know if it holds the temps and humidity.
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Kyle
www.royalvariations.com

"be safe, be happy and dont let anyone make you afraid" David Coverdale

Defiantly keep us posted that is cool and I may just look in to it my self after I hear what you post on how it does.
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2.5.0 ball python
1.1.0 100% het pied
1.0.0 Blond Pastel
0.1.0 Spider
1.1.0 columbian boa
1.0.0 rat snake (alabastered)
1.1.0 corn snake
0.1.0 Chuckwalla (Jamie)
0.0.2 Bearded Dragon
0.0.1 crested gecko
1.0.0 leopord gecko
4.0.0 Quaker parrot (Woody)(Liam)
1.0.0 Landseer Newfoundland (Mac/Newfy)
0.0.5 whites tree frog (trevor, kirmet)
3.2.0 cats (rockie, bs, brownie, lerrado, kole)
1.3.0 kids (dilyen, dakota, chyanne, sierra)
Brian n Chrissy

"snakes are kind of like potato chips, you cant have just one"

How much did you pay for the wine cooler. Sounds like a good investment. And if it doesn't work at least you can change it back and keep beer cold....lol

I bought mine at www.compactappliance.com I paid $139 plus shipping (I think it was about $178 total). They're normally $175 plus shipping, but if you check the refurbished items page they have scratch & dent units and open box units, so the price varies somewhat.

I'm glad you guys like it. I will order the thermostats tonight, and I'll give you an update once I do the longer test .

Thanks,
Shelly

and has successfully incubated chameleon eggs. His is a little cooler / warmer. I looked it up online and they were under $100, I think. I can't remember the name of the unit, but it was called I - something. I will ask him when I see him again.

Cool! Let me know what you find out. Does he use a separate thermostat with his?