Electric Egg Incubator (150 watts,1 amp)?

Question

I purchased a small electric incubator for my geese eggs. Every thing worked properly for a fortnight when due to a central power cut for about half an hour, all my 18 eggs in the incubator had to be thrown away. So I think I need a stand-by generator or any simple apparatus to assist the incubator; somebody advised a U.P.S currently used for computers. Please help me for any simple way to boost the incubator.

Answer 1

You didn't furnish much information, but it sounds like your incubator runs on 120 V and draws around 1 amp. This implies 120 x 1 = 120 watts, not 150 watts. Perhaps there was some rounding in the numbers printed on the nameplate.

A standard 12 V power inverter can easily provide 120 - 150 watts of power at 120 V ac. Rather than a full generator, you could wire up a deep-cycle battery and a regular inverter to power the incubator when the power goes out.

Wire up a relay so when the electricity is on, the relay pulls the contacts to power the incubator off the line. When power goes out, the relay contacts release and the incubator is then powered by the inverter. If you can find a relay with six contacts (or use two relays) you can even keep the battery disconnected from the inverter until the power goes out.

A computer UPS system would work, however they typically only have enough power to safely save your work. Maybe 10 to 15 minutes. You'll end up with a pretty expensive UPS.

Figure the incubator is going to draw around 12 amps at 12 V dc. A deep cycle battery rated at 100 A-hrs could power the incubator for about 8 hours. (100 A ÷ 12 A-hr = 8.3 hours) These numbers are before you dial in any battery derating or other reserve margins.

Answer 2

First, I would insulate the incubator. If done well enough, a power failure of a few hours should not have any effect. Insulation will also lower the power needed all the time. (I assume the incubator has a thermostat of some sort.)

Then, use the 12 volt battery and inverter but the circuit can be simplified by using the battery always. Add a battery charger (I assume one would be needed anyway for when the battery is discharged) that is always connected to the battery.

The inverter should be rated for more than 150 watts just to be safe.

The charger should be rated for about 15 amps. That will allow for 20% or so loss in the inverter. 150 watts x 1.2/12 volts=15 amps

If the AC power is on, the current for the incubator/inverter will come from the charger and not from the battery automaically. If the power fails, the charger will stop supplying the current and the battery will then supply it.

No relays or other switching.

PeteC

Answer 3

you have two options for your back up power.
1) use a car battery heavy duty and an inverter wired in a four pole NO-NC relay(this is standard relay, and i've used a lot of these).
or 2) install three receptacles inside the incubator and wire it for 12 volts(use 3-25 watts 12 volts bulbs) to be powered by a heavy duty 12 volts car battery. use also a 4pole NO-NC relay to select normal or back up power.(look for somebody that understand control circuits to draw the schematics).
note; for your charger,. use a charger that will maintain trickle charge when the battery is full.