Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Anyone have any good ideas for powering an incubator during a power outage. Needs to work for a few hours minimum. Anyone using APC units?

Thanks Dino
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Dino White

www.whitediamondreptiles.com
dino@whitediamondreptiles.com

one word.....GAURDIAN
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www.myspace.com/apabana

We use an APC unit but it does not do so well with our Helix DBS 1000. Error messages occur randomly and we have to press the reset often. We were thinking of changing to a Ranco, but Ranco is not proportional and not really a good thermostat for an incubator.

We would welcome any comments or suggestions. However, here in our rural North Florida weather with thunderstorms and lots of lightning....we are thankful to have a generator to power up when the power goes off. The incubator seems to maintain the 89 degree temp we have it set for even through many hours of no power....and even with consecutive error messages!

Susan
SSNAKES Reptiles

Rancos work fine for incubators, and you don't have to deal with the over complications that come with proportionals. I've used Rancos since 2001 for general temp control and incubation, and never had a problem.
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South Central Herpetological

I have the same issues with the DBS , I think the old style (dark blue one with the tiny set screw to adjust the temp)Helix is ALOT better for incubation, it is easier to fine tune temps as well as the fact that it isn't bothered by surges or spikes like the DBS is.. Use the DBS for a rack of tubs or two so it doesn't go to waste, that is what the are really made for , you'll still have to reset it when a spike hits but it isn't that big of a deal when it's running a rack and not an incubator.. I use the old style 1500 watt helix system for my walk-in incubator, it works well, Anthony McCain..

Thanks for the input thus far....the original intent of this thread was backup power options for an incubator. Does anyone have any further input on that specific topic. I'm looking for ideas that people are currently using that are not generater type backup.

Thanks Dino
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Dino White

www.whitediamondreptiles.com
dino@whitediamondreptiles.com