How to calibrate a thermometer?

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You need a known temp. to check them. one way is use an ice water bath, take a big glass, fill half way with ice and water. Stir constantly for a few minutes and the water should be 32 degrees. Another way is if you know somebody that has a calibrated thermometer, somebody that works in a lab or in the HVAC field should have one them you can compare that.

One thing we have found in our incubators is go more by the hatch rate than anything else, once you get the settings right and a good hatch rate just leave it at that setting. Most times i'll just do a quick glance at it when I add water.

Steve in NC
 
But these are the little box-type digitals, no probes. I can't very well put them in a water bath, and I live in the boonies big time, so I wouldn't know where to look to find someone with a calibrated thermometer.
 
Those are going to be hard to calibrate.

You could try getting some ice water going, plenty of ice. Put your themometer into a ziplock, and dunk it in. Leave it in for a while You could put the thing in the fridge to be sure it all gets chilled.

It should read 32F. But don't blame me if your themometer gets wet & dies!
 
Quote:
Then you are pretty much going to have to go with what they say then.

Steve in NC
 
Do you have any other kind of thermometer?

If you do,...... do the icewater bath with it. Then put all the thermometers in the incubator and compare the temps.

Glass people thermometers doesn't go that low. what about a digital people themometer? Will it go that low?

Ok, what about taking YOUR temp and then sticking the bx thermometers in you shirt??
lau.gif


I am obviously no help so good luck!!
jumpy.gif


SC
 
I didn't think of that! I have a digital meat thermometer, I wonder if it would go down that low? I'll have to try it out!
 
Let us know if it works!! You can always put all of them in the incubator and compare all three!! At least you would have a starting point.

SC
 
You could calibrate a mercury thermometer in ice an check it ageist the digitals at incubator timp, better than nothing.

You could get a oral thermometer, I trust them to be more accurate than weather thermometers. Your still guessing weather its right or not but I think your odds are better.

Or you could go to your local high school science lab an have them celebrate one for you.

I would take them a good mercury in glass thermometer an have them scratch the 99.5* mark in to it. Then you have a way to calibrate your own. If you drop a digital it changes its reading an needs recalibrating. Mercury thermometers are less sensitive.
 
I have a mercury thermometer that is <8 degrees off. I fried a whole batch of eggs
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because I thouth that they COULDN"T be wrong, and I did not calibrate it. When I took it to work ( I work in a lab) boy was I shocked. I tested it on high temps and low temps. Still WRONG!! So I marked it and don't use that one.
One thermometer which I found to be right on the money is a dial meat thermometer, the ones you use to check meat to see if it is done.Not the digatal kind but the ones with a dial on it. You can buy them in the cookware aisle at walmart. Those you can calibrate and use to check your other thermometers.
 

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