Help with cabinet incubator and Sweating

ktown1787

In the Brooder
7 Years
Dec 16, 2012
11
0
22
I built a cabinet style incubator with two trays and a turning bar to turn the trays. I bought a thermostat/ fan from incubator warehouse and use plastic dishes in the top with humidity pads to control humidity. I also have a plexi glass center in the door. This is my first time using it and all the factors are correct. Temp is holding at 99.5, humidity with one dish and humidity pad stays around 45-50% for the first 18 days then I add second dish and pad to get to 60% for the last 3 days. My biggest problem is there is sweating towards the front of the incubator. This collects on the pelxiglass door and runs down the front and collects in the front of the incubator. I have had the incubator running for almost two month and have had two fairly successful hatches. I am noticing though that the wetness is creating mold growth in the incubator. How can I control this? Should I put some sort of sealant inside the incubator? Should I move the plastic dishes further back into the incubator so there is not so much concentration towards the front? The incubator is made from non presssure treated plywood.
 
Your incubator needs a small amount of fresh air so sealing it air-tight is not the answer. If the condensation is only happening on the plexiglass, then it's the temperature difference between in the inside and the room temperature.

Try hanging a towel over the plexiglass to add some insulation and see if that helps. If so, then you can either get thicker plexiglass or make a double pane window.
 
Should I add vents to the back or front? I believe I will replace the plexi glass.
 
Do you have any vents in it now?
My cabinet has 4 vents on the top and 2 low on the door. They are about 1" diameter with sliding gates. I've been running it with only one vent on top open.

The window in my door is double pane glass.

If you don't have any vents, then add one. Try the towel over the plexiglass and see what happens.
Like I said previously, if you're only getting condensation on the window then it's the temperature difference on the two surfaces of the window. You might could even try taping a sheet of heavy duty foil over it so there is an air space between the window and the foil. You'd have to get a good seal with the tape.
 

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