Homemade timer for turning eggs in an incubator, diagram, instructions. Do-it-yourself rotating mechanism for an incubator Automatic rotation of quail eggs connection diagram

Electrical diagram of the egg turning system in the incubator.

The components of the proposed electrical circuit are assembled from the simplest parts and mechanisms.

Automatic egg turning system consists of a mechanical part connected by hinged joints to the cart on which trays with eggs are located, or directly to the trays themselves, and an electrical part, including limit switches (fixed position sensors) and an actuator unit.

Mode switch for the electrical circuit for turning eggs in the incubator.

We used a small quartz alarm clock made in China. IN technological equipment industrial incubators used a system of mechanical clocks with limit switches that were triggered by pressing adjusting bolts installed on the time scale of a disk rotating instead of arrows.

A similar system was taken as a basis.

On the dial of a quartz watch, every 90° (15, 30, 45, 60 minutes) there are contacts through which voltage is supplied to the windings of the control relay. And the contacts are closed by the minute hand, on which a small springy electrical contact is attached to the bottom side.

The dial can be processed in any way: glue slip rings, fuse wire with a hot soldering iron, place foil getinax with contact markings, use photocells, reed switches - everything is at the discretion of the designer and everything depends on the available materials.

The spring contact mounted on the minute hand is made of tinned copper wire, it is softer than steel.

The arrow is plastic and it is easy to fuse it with a hot soldering iron or glue a ready-made contact.

The electrical circuit of the incubator rotary system is assembled to a minimum and is easy to assemble.

The operating principle of the electrical system for turning eggs in an incubator.

The control contacts (SAC1) close every 15 minutes. The clock works at normal mode.

Electric drive unit for the egg turning system in the incubator.

Any drive mechanism can be used: children's electric toys, an electric drill unit, an old mechanical alarm clock, an electric drive mechanism for a car wiper, a rotating mechanism from a household fan heater or fan, an electromagnetic traction relay with a vacuum regulator, use a ready-made one from automatic control washing machine or make your own screw one with minimal details (by the way, very simple and convenient). Depends on the design and size of the incubator itself.

If you use a gearbox with a crank mechanism, then the main shaft must have a diameter greater than the stroke length of the rotary frame (with the frame in a horizontal position on the tray). With a screw mechanism, the length of the working threaded part corresponds to the stroke distance of the egg turning system.

Electric drive of the egg turning system in the incubator screw mechanism is controlled by an electric motor with reversible switching, that is, the engine is switched on alternately in the left and in the right side rotation.

Description of the operation of the electrical circuit of the incubator rotary system.

Powered by a battery, the quartz alarm clock operates in normal mode. At regular intervals, namely: every fifteen minutes of the current time, the minute hand, passing over the contacts fixed on the dial, brings a spring contact to them and closes through them electrical circuit. Thus, a control signal is generated for the control relay (K2 or K3).

WITH reverse side relay (K2 or K3) the electrical signal is sent to the limit switch (SQ1 or SQ2).

There is a rod on the movable mechanism of the rotary system, which, moving together with the movable part of the system, presses on the limit switch key, being in one of the extreme positions and thereby breaking the chain: mode switch - control relay - limit switch.

Simply put, it turns out like this: from the mode switch (modified alarm clock), with its contacts closed, voltage is supplied to the control relay and then to the limit switch. If the limit switch is in the closed state, the control relay will turn on and close the drive relay control circuit with its contacts, which will supply power to the electric drive of the turning system.

The system will start and move the mechanism to one of two positions, carried out when turning the eggs in the incubator. The extreme position will be fixed by turning off the limit switch by pressing the rod moved with the frame onto the switch key.

The circuit with a reversible connection of an electric motor is slightly different in that it adds a second drive relay with two controlled (switched) contacts.

Electronics enthusiasts can use a digital timer with self-starting after a cycle or a time relay, once used by amateur photographers. There are many options. You can buy a ready-made electronic unit. Everything depends on possibilities.

List of some details.

1. SAC1 - mode switch.
2. K3 and K4 - control relays of type RES-9(10.15) or similar.
3. K1 and K2 are drive relays with switching current, respectively, according to the load current.
4. HV - light indicators.
5. SQ1 and SQ2 are limit switches. You can use microswitches (MS) from old cassette recorders.

To hatch chickens at home, you will need to either buy an industrial apparatus or make an incubator yourself. The second option is convenient because it is possible to assemble the device required sizes, and under required amount eggs In addition, to create it they use cheap materials, such as polystyrene foam or plywood. All the work of turning the eggs and adjusting the temperature can be fully automated.

What you need to create a homemade incubator

The basis of any type of apparatus for hatching chicks is the body. It must retain heat well inside itself so that the temperature of the eggs does not change sharply. Since due to significant jumps, the likelihood of a healthy brood is noticeably reduced. You can make the body of a home incubator from a frame and plywood, polystyrene foam, a TV or refrigerator case. The eggs are laid in wooden or plastic trays with a bottom made of slats or mesh. There are automatic trays with motors that turn the eggs themselves. Or rather, they are deflected to the side after the time indicated on the timer.

To heat the air in a self-assembled incubator, incandescent lamps with a power of 25 to 100 W are most often used, depending on the size of the apparatus. Temperature control is carried out using an ordinary thermometer or electronic thermostat with sensor. To prevent air stagnation in the incubator, natural or forced ventilation is required. If the device is small, then you just need to make holes near the bottom and on the lid. For an incubator made with your own hands from a refrigerator, you will need to install fans, both above and below. This is the only way to ensure the necessary air movement, as well as uniform heat distribution.

To ensure that the incubation process is not disrupted, you need to correctly calculate the number of trays. The distance between incandescent lamps and the tray must be at least 15 cm.

The same distance must be left between the other trays in the incubator, assembled with your own hands, so that the air movement is free. Also, there should be at least 4-5 cm between them and the walls.

Ventilation holes are made from 12 to 20 mm in size in the upper and lower parts of the incubator.

Before laying eggs, be sure to check whether the fans are positioned correctly and whether the lamp power is sufficient to heat the incubator evenly. This indicator should not exceed ±0.5°C in each corner of the device after complete warm-up.

How to make an incubator from polystyrene foam with your own hands

Expanded polystyrene is one of the most popular materials to create an incubator. It is not only affordable, but has excellent thermal insulation properties and light weight. For manufacturing you will need the following materials:

• foam sheets 2 pcs. with a thickness of 50 mm;
• tape, glue;
• incandescent lamps 4 pcs. 25 W each and cartridges for them;
• fan (the one used to cool the computer is also suitable);
• thermostat;
• trays for eggs and 1 for water.

Before you start assembling an incubator with your own hands, you should draw up detailed drawings with dimensions.

Step-by-step instruction:

1 – water container; 2 – viewing window; 3 – tray; 4 – thermostat; 5 – thermostat sensor.

1. If desired or necessary, a fan is installed, but in such a way that the air flow hits the light bulbs and not the eggs. Otherwise they may dry out.

The heat inside the incubator, assembled with your own hands from polystyrene foam, will be retained even better if all the walls, bottom and ceiling are covered with foil thermal insulation.

Incubators with automatic or manual egg turning

For the process to be successful, the eggs must be constantly turned 180°. But doing this manually takes a lot of time. Turning mechanisms are used for this purpose.

There are several types of these devices:

• mobile mesh;
• roller rotation;
• tray tilt 45°.

The first option is most often used in small incubators, for example, foam ones. The operating principle is as follows: the mesh slowly moves from one side to the other, as a result, the eggs lying in its cells turn over. This process can be automated or done manually. To do this, it is enough to attach a piece of wire to the mesh and bring it out. The disadvantage of this mechanism is that the egg can simply drag through and not turn over. Roller rotation is less commonly used in homemade incubators with automatic egg turning, since its creation requires a lot of round parts and bushings. The device operates using rollers covered with a mosquito net.

To prevent the eggs from rolling, they are kept in the cells of a wooden lattice. When the belt starts moving, all the eggs turn over.

Swivel mechanism which tilts trays, used in incubators large sizes, for example, made from a refrigerator. In addition, this method performs its task better than others, since in any case, each egg tilts. There are automatic egg turning trays. They come with a motor and power supply. There are several smaller ones in one tray. Each rotates separately after a user-set time.

How to make a device for hatching chicks from a refrigerator or plywood

Before you start making an incubator with your own hands, you need to draw up a drawing and diagram for connecting all the elements. All shelves are removed from the refrigerator, including the freezer.

Step-by-step instruction:

1. Holes for incandescent lamps and one through hole for ventilation are drilled in the ceiling from the inside.
2. It is recommended to line the walls of a homemade refrigerator incubator with sheets of polystyrene foam, then it will retain heat longer.
3. Old shelf grates can be converted into trays or new ones can be placed on them.
4. A thermostat is attached to the top outside of the refrigerator, and the sensor is installed inside.
5. Closer to the bottom, at least 3 holes are drilled for air ventilation, measuring 1.5x1.5 cm.
6. For better circulation, you can install 1 or 2 fans on top near the lamps and the same number below on the floor.

To make it more convenient to monitor the temperature and eggs, you need to cut a hole in the door for an observation window. It is covered with glass or transparent plastic, the cracks are carefully coated, for example, with sealant.

The video shows an incubator made with your own hands from a refrigerator.

If there is no refrigerator, then the frame is made from wooden beams, and the walls are made of plywood. Moreover, they must be two-layer, and insulation is placed between them. Light bulb sockets are attached to the ceiling, and bars for installing the tray are mounted in the middle of two walls. Another additional light bulb is placed at the bottom for better evaporation of water. The distance between it and the tray should be at least 15-17 cm. A viewing window with sliding glass for ventilation is made in the lid. Closer to the floor along long walls holes are drilled for air circulation.

Using the same principle, incubators are often made from TV cases for small quantity eggs The process of turning eggs in them is most often carried out manually, as it takes a little time. Trays can be made from rounded slats. This incubator does not need fans, since ventilation occurs every time the lid is opened to turn the eggs.

A container of water is placed at the bottom of any incubator to create optimal level humidity required for eggs.

To hatch a very small batch of chicks (10 pcs.), you can use 2 inverted basins. To do this, one of them is turned over to the second and secured at one end with a furniture canopy. The main thing is that they cannot move away from each other. A light bulb socket is attached to the ceiling from the inside. Sand is poured onto the bottom, which is covered with foil and hay. The foil should have many holes with a diameter of 3 mm so that moisture can pass through it. To regulate the temperature, use a bar with steps, which is inserted between the basins.

In order for chicks to hatch in any incubator at the same time, the eggs must be the same size, and uniform heating of the entire space of the apparatus is also necessary.

Two-chamber homemade incubator - video

Any kind poultry you need to know and take into account many nuances. For example, many novice poultry farmers are interested in how to turn eggs in an incubator. There is no clear answer to this question, since each educational literature provides different information. However, it must be taken into account that when incubating eggs it is important to create conditions that are as close to natural as possible. For example, a laying hen turns her eggs several dozen times a day when hatching.

The problem of turning over is solved by using modern automatic device, but you still need to know how often to turn the eggs in the incubator.

Experienced poultry farmers recommend turning eggs up to 96 times a day to achieve maximum incubation results and up to 24 times a day for optimal results. If the eggs are turned more often, the hatching result may worsen.

It is impossible to turn it over manually so many times. So what should those who hatch in conventional incubators without automatic turning do?

The success of the entire incubation process depends on how many times you turn the eggs in the incubator. The eggs are usually turned by hand every 4 hours during the daytime. The coup is not carried out at night.

How to turn eggs in an incubator

There are several ways to turn around. For example, if the tray has a vertical rotation, then its axis, when turned over, is tilted 45 degrees in one direction or the other. This method has significant drawback– after turning top part eggs will heat up to 40 degrees, and overheating, as you know, is unacceptable during incubation. In this case, in the lower part the temperature will be 36 degrees, and in the middle - 38. Still, the method is used, but only by those who have a fan in the incubator.

If the tray has horizontal position, then it rotates approximately 180 degrees around its axis. With such a revolution, uneven heating is also possible. Therefore in bottom part additional incubators are installed heating elements.

How to turn eggs in an incubator manually video

Proper egg turning improves metabolic processes, more better development circulatory system and as a result – the successful hatching of healthy and active young animals.

In our difficult times, when prices for goods are rising at an inexorable pace, you will always find an area in which you can profitably apply your practical skills and theoretical knowledge. Looking at the cost of an incubator manufactured in industrial conditions, you can easily calculate the benefits of self-made similar device. Moreover, to make home incubator It's not that difficult to do it yourself.

This is what a forum user says about his homemade incubator with mechanical egg turning geniuscat.

geniuscat

In short: incubator for 60-70 chicken eggs, the revolution is mechanical using a special grille, I don’t do it automatically at all. Heating using light bulbs, two chains. Temperature control using an electric contact thermometer. I don't trust electronics. Temperature spread across corners is 0.5 degrees. Cheap and cheerful. If you have the components, you can make an incubator in 3-4 hours.

The most important thing in manufacturing is to ensure the ability to maintain optimal performance humidity and temperature inside the device, as well as create conditions for timely turning of eggs in order to heat them evenly.

Incubator body

In most cases, the basis of everything is the body. And the incubator in this case is no exception.

During the manufacture of the case Special attention Care should be taken to ensure good thermal insulation for the future device. This will allow you to avoid future troubles associated with compliance with strict temperature regime in the incubation chamber.

Porous materials are quite suitable for making a body. polymer materials, penoplex (expanded polystyrene) 20 mm thick, etc. You can also use fiberboard or chipboard sheets, but you should create double walls with foam, felt or foam core.

The size of the incubator will directly depend on the number of eggs that are planned to be placed in the chamber at the same time. The height of the inner chamber of 50 cm will be quite enough. Square internal base will be equal to the area of ​​the egg tray. But you need to add about 50 mm to it on each side. This is the gap that should be between the tray and the incubator body to ensure air circulation. In the lower base of the incubator, it is imperative to drill several holes with a diameter of 10 mm, through which air exchange will take place between the internal space of the chamber and external environment(the incubator must be constantly enriched with oxygen). For an incubator designed for 50 eggs, 6 holes are enough.

Attention! The lower holes should be positioned in such a way that they are not blocked by a baking tray (plate) with water, which will be installed in the chamber to maintain a sufficient level of humidity.

To ensure unhindered air movement between the bottom of the device and the surface on which it will be installed, there must be a gap of 30...50 mm. In its top cover there should be a viewing window 100x100 mm, covered with glass. If there is no forced ventilation in the incubator, then the glass should be opened slightly during operation, leaving a gap of 10...15 mm.

And one more nuance: one of the side surfaces of the incubator must have a door for changing water and other actions related to servicing the chamber.

Incubator tray

In order for the eggs to be carefully placed in the interior of the incubator, we need to make a special tray. In our case, it can be made based on wooden frame, which is covered with a fine mesh underneath. As a mesh it will be suitable as an ordinary mosquito net, used in the design of modern double glazed windows, and a metal (maybe different) mesh with a cell size comparable to 5x5 mm (but no more). In order to prevent the mesh from sagging, a couple of small slats can be nailed to the bottom of the tray, which will comprehensively strengthen the structure of the tray.

To make it more convenient to turn the eggs during incubation, the tray should be equipped with an insert wooden lattice. For convenience, you can make several gratings at once, having different sizes internal cells. Yes, for quail eggs a grid with a cell size of 45x35 mm is suitable; for a chicken egg you need cells measuring 67x75 mm. If you want to put goose eggs in the incubator, then the cells must be of the appropriate size - 90x60 mm. The width of the grid should be 5 mm smaller than the tray itself. The length should be shorter by 50...60 mm - for quail eggs, 80...90 mm - for chicken eggs and 100...110 mm - for goose eggs. Thus, by moving the grill along the tray, you can turn the eggs 180 degrees. In order to heat the eggs evenly over time, a similar procedure should be performed approximately once every 2 to 3 hours.

Egg turning tray

The height of the sides of the tray itself should be 70–80 mm. The tray should be installed on legs 100 mm high.

This is the most simple design tray, allowing you to turn all the eggs at the same time. But in order to make the incubator design more modern, the process of turning eggs can be automated. And this will require some technical improvements.

How to make a revolution in an incubator

In order to automate the process of turning eggs in the incubator, it is necessary to introduce an electromechanical drive into its design, which is activated after a certain period of time (as we have already said, it is 2–3 hours). The accuracy of the time interval will be ensured by a special time relay. The relay can be purchased ready-made. Those who like to tinker with microcircuits can make it themselves, using electronic or even mechanical watches, which are easy to buy in Moscow and in any village, as a basis.

Here is what user FORUMHOUSE writes about this.

mednagolov

Nowadays it is easy to purchase Chinese electromechanical relays with a 24-hour cycle. In essence, this is a basic watch with a plug that plugs into a socket, and on the body of this watch there is a socket into which the consumer plugs, inside the clock a tiny electric motor turns. There is no need to wind them up; along the circle of the dial, marked out for 24 hours, there are “pressers” with which you set the time intervals.

The electric motor must transmit torque through the gearbox. This will help make the grate move smoothly and keep the eggs intact.

The tray grid should move along the guides. The walls of the tray can play the role of guides. But to avoid accidental jamming, this mechanism can be improved. To do this, a metal axis protruding from both ends should be attached along the central axis of the grille. She will play the role of a reliable guide. The axis will be inserted into special grooves made on the sides of the tray. Similar design It is reliable, it can be easily assembled and, if necessary, quickly disassembled.

In order to drive the grid with eggs, we need a reciprocating mechanism consisting of an electric motor, a gearbox, a crank mechanism and a rod connecting the drive to the tray grid.

A device for turning eggs in an incubator.

As an electric motor, you can use special “motors” for microwave ovens, which are commercially available. Also, some craftsmen create an electromechanical drive based on the mechanism that is part of car wipers. Or here’s a way out of the situation that forum member Mednagolov came up with: the drive of the egg turning mechanism is electric. engine ball valve remote control d=3/4 220v (has an extremely powerful and durable gearbox, as well as microswitches for end positions).

He used the power supply from an old computer, and the time relay - a mechanism from a Chinese watch, which was written about just above.
The mechanism is functioning in the following way: The relay closes the electrical circuit after a specified period of time. The mechanism is driven and moves the tray grid, turning the eggs. Then the limit position switches (limit switches) are activated and the grille is fixed in the opposite extreme position. After a specified time, the cycle is repeated, and the grate returns to its original position. The entire homemade process occurs without human intervention.

Incubator heating

Proper placement of heating elements in the incubator chamber is the key to success, ensuring the hatching of healthy and strong chicks. It is customary to use ordinary incandescent light bulbs as heating elements. Ideally, they are best installed above the tray with eggs, evenly spaced around the perimeter of the incubator. The tray and heating element must be separated by a distance of at least 25 cm. Light bulbs should be used in a homemade incubator low power, 25 Watt, etc. The total power of the heating elements used in such an incubator should be 80 watts - for a device designed for the simultaneous hatching of 50 chicks.

The lower the power of the heating elements, the more evenly the heat is distributed in the incubation chamber.

When placing lamps on the walls of the chamber, you should also ensure that they are evenly positioned around the entire perimeter. Know that by using a series electrical connection of heating elements, you can significantly extend their service life. But the power of each consumer in this case will be halved. This should be taken into account when calculating the number of heating elements, because with the appropriate connection method the number of consumers will have to double.

Temperature control

As we already know, the temperature in the incubator chamber must exactly correspond to the specified parameters. Otherwise, such a device is worthless. Optimal for hatching chicks in artificial conditions is a temperature from 37.5 to 38.3º C. But it should be strictly observed. A regular thermostat, which can be purchased in a store without any problems, will help maintain the specified range. It is necessary that this device provided an accuracy of temperature values ​​corresponding to 0.2º C. An error greater than the presented value can be detrimental to developing embryos.

We think it will not be difficult to connect the thermostat to the heating elements for a person who has decided to make an incubator with his own hands. The main thing is to ensure that the temperature sensors are located near the egg tray. For more accurate readings, the sensors can even be mounted on a tray. As additional means control, you should use a regular thermometer. It is better if it is electronic, capable of displaying tenths of a degree. But in extreme cases, a regular alcohol thermometer will do. It should be secured in the chamber in such a way that it is located immediately above the tray. In this case, its readings can be taken by looking through the viewing glass.

Heat accumulator

JG_ FORUMHOUSE member

To make the temperature drop more slowly, you need to use a heat accumulator. I used water as TA. It provides humidification and also increases the temperature, and when turned off, it releases it for a long time, not allowing the temperature to drop quickly. Only the container with water should be large. You can just put a metal pancake or a dumbbell inside - why not?

It remains to add that without an air humidifier in the incubator, all your efforts are doomed to failure. Therefore, a baking tray or open plate filled with water can be considered one of mandatory elements involved in the incubation process. As for the heat accumulator, a heating pad or plastic bottle with water will never be superfluous in the internal space of your incubator.

Humidity can be monitored using a psychrometer, which can be purchased at a hardware store. The optimal humidity in the incubator should be 50–55% (immediately before hatching the chicks, it can be increased to 65–70%).

Incubator ventilation

Many owners of homemade incubators believe that the fan is an integral part of such a device. But practice shows that a small incubator, the number of eggs in which does not exceed 50, can do without forced ventilation. Air convection occurs in it naturally and this is enough to maintain the vital activity of the embryos.

If your incubator chamber is designed for large quantity eggs, or if you want to create an ideal microclimate inside the device at all costs, then for these purposes you can use special fans with a diameter of 80 to 200 mm (depending on the volume of the chamber).

A fan can be mounted into the top cover of the incubator so that it takes air from internal space cameras. Part of the air flow will go out, and the main volume will be reflected from the lid and pass over the lower supply holes, mixing warm air with cold and enriching it with oxygen.

That's probably all. You can find out the various opinions of our users regarding the design, as well as get acquainted with their practical developments in this topic. We also have information for those interested in productivity. If you want to create more at home, the design of which contains powerful components and complex ventilation circuits, then you should visit this section.

Content:

The desire to receive more and give less is human. But it sometimes leads to the miser paying twice. This postulate can also be applied to incubators. The poultry farmer really needs it. Big, good and high quality is expensive. For example, the price of an incubator for 300 eggs is 29,000 rubles. A cheap one can last one season, and even spoil the hatching eggs. So it turns out that saving does not lead to good things.

But now for those who are “friendly with technology” and have skillful hands, there is an opportunity to save money and get a reliable (there will be no one to blame) device that is very important for the poultry farmer. We are talking about a homemade incubator. Complete collection kits are available for sale, and the automation necessary to improve them is also sold separately.

Requirements for homemade incubators

Before assembling the incubator, you need to know technical specifications which he must provide.

• When incubating chicken eggs, the number of continuous days of its operation is 21 days.
• Eggs in the incubator are laid at a distance of at least 10 mm from each other
• The temperature in the incubator varies depending on the stage of development of the embryo in the egg.
• In automatic mode, the eggs are turned over once every hour.
• Supported optimal humidity and ventilation. Air speed 5 m/s.

Ready-made kits

For easier operation and increased reliability future design it makes sense to buy ready set automation into a homemade incubator. For example, like the one in the picture below.

It includes:

• Thermostat providing automatic visual control of temperature and humidity.
• Sensors that scan the state of temperature and humidity inside the incubator.
• Transformer 220/12 V.
• Universal tray with automatic rotation. You can put either quail or chicken eggs in it.

The price of this set is 5,000 rubles. But you can be sure that the incubation process is going correctly. Temperature and humidity correspond to the specified parameters, and the turning of the eggs occurs on time.

If you are only interested in automatic egg turning, you can purchase a simpler kit.

This photo shows dimensions devices. They will tell you how to place it in the future incubator.

This kit consists of the following:

• Reversible motor - 14 W, 2.5 rpm;
• Stars - 1 meter;
• Limit switches - 2 pcs;
• Mounting bracket;
• Connecting wires.

The kit is sold already assembled and configured. It just needs to be connected to the control thermostat. Price - 3990 rubles.

Connecting this device in a homemade incubator looks as shown in the diagram.

But motorized trays must be contained in some kind of housing. And it matters for the incubator. After all, inside it thermoregulation of air exchange is carried out for incubation of the egg. Therefore, the thermal insulation qualities of the material from which the incubator will be made are very important.

An excellent option for the case is old refrigerator. Its body also has the properties of a thermostat, and the doors close conveniently and securely.

Converting a refrigerator into an incubator

Before you start assembling an incubator from an old refrigerator, you need to get rid of unnecessary parts in it and remove freezer.

To ensure proper air exchange, you need to establish a ventilation system.

Ventilation and humidity

To ensure ventilation, two holes with a diameter of 30 mm are made in the refrigerator body. One is below, the other is above. Tubes are inserted into these holes. By completely or partially closing these openings, you will regulate the air exchange inside the device.

At the bottom, install a fan on rubber pads. You can use a computer fan. Place a cuvette filled with water nearby. With the help of the evaporation of this water it will be possible to regulate the humidity in the future incubator. Secure the heating elements. These can be ordinary incandescent lamps or heating elements.

In this case, air exchange occurs like this.

• The air below is heated.
• It is moistened with water vapor from the cuvette.
• Fan air flow chases upstairs.
• Part of the heat is transferred to the hatching eggs;
• Some of the air cools and is blown out.
• After cooling, part of the air falls down, and the other enters from the outside through the lower hole.

Heating system

The simplest option heating - these are incandescent lamps with a power of 25 W. Four lamps are taken. Two are installed at the bottom, two at the top. Or you can use more powerful lamps (40 W), but take fewer of them (2 pieces). An alternative to lamps can be heating elements.

Trays and their rotation mechanism

You can buy a motorized tray made in China. They are also of high quality, and are cheaper than imported ones. Their kits include:

• frame on which mini-trays with cells for eggs are installed;
• power unit;
• low-speed engine, eliminating sudden jerks when starting to move.

These are very convenient trays. Their rotation is carried out by a built-in motor, which just needs to be connected to the included power supply. Full cycle(90 degrees) rotation of the trays takes two hours.

If you don't want to use this very much convenient solution, then you can make the trays yourself. For example, from metal, wood and mesh or any other available material. The main thing is to install them without distortion in the body of a homemade incubator. Secure the rotary axes for the trays with brass bushings or use special bearing supports.

A chain drive can be used as a mechanism for rotating the trays. Its connection diagram is shown in the figure above, and what it will look like in established form in the photo below.

Conclusion

It’s worth making an incubator yourself only if you have plumbing skills and are “friendly” with electrical engineering. Then you can significantly reduce your costs for purchasing this product. It won’t be completely free, but you will be able to purchase and install better and more reliable components.

All components of this device can be easily purchased. This was written about above. To control the entire mechanism, you will need to purchase a thermostat. And then apply your skills in plumbing.

As you can see, this option for equipping the turning mechanism is more troublesome than purchasing a mechanized tray. But the price gain is not so obvious.