- Joined
- Mar 11, 2009
- Messages
- 63
Slingabator
I keep some of my T's in my basement which is usually pretty cool. The adults and subadults seem to fair ok, however I noticed my slings to be a bit sluggish at lower temps. I started putting them in my reptile egg incubator, but the dragons are starting to fill them up so I had to make a new incubator for the slings.
About 2 weeks ago I found a wine refrigerator dumped behind one of my customers building. It was perfect, clear front door, heavily insulated cabinet and plenty of room.
I gutted all of the refrigeration coils/compressors/electronics to cut back on the units weight (from 42lbs down to 28lbs). Once it was gutted I fixed a strip of 3" heat tape from the bottom to the top vertically inside the cooler. I used a preexisting hole through the back to run the sensor and heat tape power wires. I cut some generic home depot shelving to size for the shelves inside. The shelving that was already in place was made to cradle wine bottles so it wont work to hold small containers evenly.
I wired everything into a Johnson controls A419 Stat which maintains 80f with a 1f differential. I also have a high limit wired in to cut off power at 90f in case of a t stat failure. I dont want to cook the little guys.
I also cut in 2, 2.5" vents on either side of the cabinet to allow ventilation and fresh air. I am probably going go back and add a small computer fan to circulate air and give the incubator a higher air exchange rate. My goal is for the air to change once per hour or every two hours.
Well, heres the pics.....
thermostat mounted on the back
Front, with door opened.
Door closed. (glass is tinted)
I keep some of my T's in my basement which is usually pretty cool. The adults and subadults seem to fair ok, however I noticed my slings to be a bit sluggish at lower temps. I started putting them in my reptile egg incubator, but the dragons are starting to fill them up so I had to make a new incubator for the slings.
About 2 weeks ago I found a wine refrigerator dumped behind one of my customers building. It was perfect, clear front door, heavily insulated cabinet and plenty of room.
I gutted all of the refrigeration coils/compressors/electronics to cut back on the units weight (from 42lbs down to 28lbs). Once it was gutted I fixed a strip of 3" heat tape from the bottom to the top vertically inside the cooler. I used a preexisting hole through the back to run the sensor and heat tape power wires. I cut some generic home depot shelving to size for the shelves inside. The shelving that was already in place was made to cradle wine bottles so it wont work to hold small containers evenly.
I wired everything into a Johnson controls A419 Stat which maintains 80f with a 1f differential. I also have a high limit wired in to cut off power at 90f in case of a t stat failure. I dont want to cook the little guys.
I also cut in 2, 2.5" vents on either side of the cabinet to allow ventilation and fresh air. I am probably going go back and add a small computer fan to circulate air and give the incubator a higher air exchange rate. My goal is for the air to change once per hour or every two hours.
Well, heres the pics.....
thermostat mounted on the back
Front, with door opened.
Door closed. (glass is tinted)
