A LAB CO2 INCUBATOR COSTS 8,000 DOLLARS - THIS ONE IS A REPTILE EGG INCUBATOR WITH ADDED GAS CONTROL
Labs pay 8,000 dollars for a CO2 incubator; this one starts from a reptile egg warmer and adds Arduino-controlled gas.
ScienceOpen-hardware
- difficulty
- ●●●●○
- time
- a weekend-plus
- license
- GPL-3.0
- repo
- repo ACTIVE53 stars
●●●●○ · a weekend-plus · GPL-3.0 · 53 stars · repo ACTIVE
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
- Electronic parts — full list with part numbers in the repo BOM
- Dev board / microcontroller — runs the project firmware
Partner
COMPAREE VERDICT
This is a serious piece of lab equipment built honestly: rather than pretending to fabricate a heated chamber from scratch, it starts from a commercial reptile egg incubator (which already handles 37°C and insulation) and adds the part nobody sells cheaply — closed-loop CO2 control. An Arduino reads an ExplorIR-M-20 infrared sensor and drives a 12V solenoid valve through a relay, with an OLED showing the current CO2 level. The maker then grew actual mouse fibroblast cells in it, which is the only proof that matters in a build like this. Commercial lab incubators start around 8,090 dollars new; even used Thermo Heracell units go for 3,500 dollars to 5,000 dollars, so the cost saving is real. The single thing most likely to go wrong is underestimating the complexity of the cell culture side: you need sterile technique, growth media, and access to cell lines, none of which this repository provides. The hardware is the easier half. The design is based on an earlier Pelling Lab incubator (credited in the docs), which is licensed CC BY-NC-SA — that non-commercial restriction propagates, so while the GPL-3.0 code is permissive, the design as a whole cannot be sold. If you are setting up a home or community biolab and already know how to handle cells, this is a genuinely useful build. If you are starting from zero on the biology side, the incubator is not your first problem.
IN THE REPO
NOT IN THE REPO
- —The repository contains a complete BOM, two circuit diagrams (breadboard and schematic), and working Arduino code.
- —No CAD files — the build starts from a commercially available reptile egg incubator, which already solves heating and insulation.
- —The design is based on an earlier CO2 incubator from the Pelling Lab at the University of Ottawa, licensed CC BY-NC-SA; that upstream licence restricts commercial use.
- —This repository is GPL-3.0, which does permit commercial use, but the derivative nature means the NC clause from the Pelling Lab design still applies.
- —The documentation explains the build and shows real mouse fibroblast cells growing inside — the proof that it actually works.
- —You need access to mammalian cell lines, growth media, and basic sterile technique to use this as intended; the hardware build is only half the story.
Can I build this?
Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.
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Videos
Full build and cell culture demo from The Thought Emporium
Gallery
Start here
Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.
- 1.Read the full BOM in the repository and order the reptile incubator first — everything else waits on that arriving. (The BOM is in the main README.)
- 2.Source the ExplorIR-M-20 CO2 sensor — it is the most expensive single part and has the longest lead time.(Check usual electronics distributors; budget $120-150.)
- 3.Watch the full video walkthrough to see the build sequence and the cell culture results. (The Thought Emporium shows the hardware assembly and the actual cells growing.)
- 4.Wire up the circuit on a breadboard first, following the diagrams in the repo, then upload the Arduino code and test with the OLED before committing to a permanent build.(The breadboard diagram is clearer than the schematic for a first pass.)
Resources
Documentation, files and community threads for this build — we link straight to the original sources and never rehost the creator’s files.
KNOWN ISSUES
- The single biggest mistake is buying this thinking it solves cell culture end-to-end. It solves the incubator. You still need sterile technique, growth media, cell lines, and a laminar flow hood or equivalent — none of which are trivial or cheap. If you do not already have access to those, the incubator is not your first step.
- The CO2 sensor (ExplorIR-M-20) is expensive and has a warm-up time. Budget $120-150 for the sensor alone, and expect it to take 5-10 minutes to stabilise after power-on before readings are reliable.
- The upstream Pelling Lab design is CC BY-NC-SA, which means the non-commercial restriction propagates even though this repository is GPL-3.0. You cannot sell units or offer this as a commercial service without violating that licence.
- CO2 is heavier than air and an asphyxiant. If you are running this in a small room or poorly ventilated space, a leak or continuous vent can displace oxygen at floor level. Vent properly and do not run it in a bedroom or enclosed workspace.
- The reptile incubator is doing the temperature control, not the Arduino. If the base unit fails or its thermostat drifts, your cells die. Verify temperature stability with a separate thermometer before trusting it with a culture.
- The repository credits the Pelling Lab design but does not link to the original files. If you want to cross-reference or see the earlier iteration, you will need to search for the Pelling Lab CO2 incubator separately — it is not in this repo.
Can I use this without access to a lab?
The hardware build, yes. The cell culture part, no. You need sterile technique, growth media, and mammalian cell lines, which are not hobby-level. The incubator is for people who already know how to culture cells and want to do it outside a commercial lab.
What does the $$ cost band actually mean in money?
The CO2 sensor is $120-150, the reptile incubator is typically $80-120, the solenoid and relay another $20-30, plus a CO2 tank and regulator at $100+. Total is likely $350-450 depending on what you already own. That is 5-10% of a commercial unit, but still a real outlay.
Can I sell these?
No. The design is based on the Pelling Lab incubator, which is CC BY-NC-SA — the NC (non-commercial) clause means you cannot sell units or offer it as a paid service, even though the code in this repo is GPL-3.0.
Do I need a CO2 tank, or can I generate it some other way?
You need a pressurised CO2 source and a regulator. Generating CO2 chemically or biologically will not give you the stable, controllable flow required for a closed-loop incubator. Budget for a small welding-grade or beverage-grade CO2 cylinder and a low-pressure regulator.
What cells did the maker actually grow in this?
Mouse fibroblast cells, shown in the video. That is a standard immortalised cell line used in basic research — proof that the temperature and CO2 control are stable enough for real mammalian culture.
Community builds
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Discussion1
FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM
The maker grew real mouse fibroblast cells in this, which is the only proof that matters for a CO2 incubator. If you were setting up a home or community biolab, what would you culture first?
The Thought Emporium
The Thought Emporium is a Canadian YouTube channel and independent lab focused on DIY biology, chemistry, and unconventional science projects. They built this incubator to enable mammalian cell culture outside of expensive institutional lab settings, then proved it works by growing real mouse fibroblast cells inside. The design builds on an earlier CO2 incubator from the Pelling Lab at the University of Ottawa, which they credit.
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DISCLAIMER
- Comparee is not the author of the projects featured here. All rights to each project belong to its creator — every page links to the original source, and we never host creators’ files.
- Information is provided without warranty and may become outdated as projects evolve. Prices are indicative bands only — always check the creator’s parts list for current costs.
- Building and operating any project is at your own responsibility. Protective equipment, safe workshop practice and compliance with local regulations are the builder’s responsibility.
CompareeTEAM1d ago
Practical notes from our verification: the repository is clear and complete — BOM, two circuit diagrams, working Arduino code, and honest acknowledgment of the upstream Pelling Lab design (which is CC BY-NC-SA, so the non-commercial restriction applies despite the GPL-3.0 code). The single thing that surprised us is how much of the cost is in the CO2 sensor and gas setup, not the incubator shell — the ExplorIR-M-20 sensor alone is $120-150, and a CO2 tank plus regulator adds another $100+. The reptile incubator is the cheap part. The video shows the cells actually growing, which is rare honesty for a DIY bio build. If you are already handling mammalian cells and just need a cheaper incubator, this works. If you are starting from zero on the biology side, the hardware is not your first problem.