Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Has anyone connected a digital proportional thermostat to a turbofan havabator? My understanding is that if you do not install the havabator's wafer the heating element will be always on, allow the proportional thermostat to have control. I was wondering if the fan will still run at the reduced voltages?

Hi,I've never used the hovabator,but when I read your question I just wanted to give you my two cents as a former electrician....pulse proportional thermostats should never be connected to any type of electric motor,or motor driven appliance because these types of things require specific constant voltage. There are rheostats that can control motor speeds while not compromising the specific required voltage,but thermostats like Helix Controls can pose a risk of fire if used in conjunction with electric motor driven fans. (There may be some type of consideration taken in the way the hovabator is wired internally,I don't know much about those,or how they are designed to work,my knowledge of wafer type thermostats is limited to the "on-off" types,this may be why they use them with the fan motor?) anyway,I just wanted to give you a heads up,it's not worth risking all your animals,you can make a safe,very effective incubator with just a disposable ice chest,and skip the danger to your prized collection...many pit breeders incubate eggs at ambient "snake room" temps,(78-82) with great hatch ratios,

Thanks for the feed back. I will use the havabator as is until I can build one out of an ice chest. I see now I will need a fan on another circuit. My basement in 72 F right now too cool for eggs