Homemade bators'- Hot water Heater VS Wafer Thermostat?? your exp's

I have 2 homemade bators' with the wafer thermostat and they will vary at most about a 1/2 of a degree. I have heard 3 or 4 degree variations won't hurt as long as your average is good. But personally I like a much lesser variation.  I suppose it's just what your preference may be.

I have a hot water heater thermostat.  What I have found out is the air temp does swing.  But as long as the inside temp of the egg stays constant, you won't have a problem.  I've hatched 5 clutches so far and all has done well.  I put a small jar of water in the bator and check the temp of the water.  A water wiggler does the same thing, I just don't have one.

Just check and adjust the water temp to the correct setting and leave it alone.  Once you put eggs in it, don't fiddle with the adjustment.  You will only make it worse.

Good Luck

I agree with Perry...go with the wafer, a 3-4 degree swing could make the eggs hatch several days late at best...at worst cook them...

If you want to make a good homemade bator that is dependable you should get a a Ranco, Johnson or even a Helix thermostat ( this one is more expensive but super awesome so only for big bators). You can get all of those at http://www.reptilebasics.com/Thermostats-p-1-c-250.html or
http://www.beanfarm.com/store/agora.cgi?cart_id=4274685.25587&product=Temperature_Control&xm=on. .
If you hatch lots of expensive eggs you should consider a proportional thermostat  rather than a on/off type. A proportional will always be on but will allow more or less power to come through, kind of a fully automatic dimmer .It should keep you temps within .2F whereas a on off can differ around .7F. Reptile supply sites are great places to find heating and temperature supplies in general.

What he said

Plus .... remember the way a standard thermostat works ..... there HAS to be a temp. swing, how else would the device know when to turn on and off. This will have little adverse effect on the eggs, if it did then 90% of the incubators out there wouldn't work.

On the other hand, no temp change means just one less thing to worry about.

You can see a Ranco thermostat in my sig.

Is there a digital thermostat that would work well?  Like a cheap one you  put on the wall?  Crystal

that would be what "She" said. For Crystal : beanfarm sells a Alife Reptile Electronic Temperature Controller for 30$, but you might be able to get something similar on ebay or  a petstore. Its a on /off type of thermostat .It is usually used for fish or reptile tanks. THe cheapest Ranco or Johnson thermostat usually runs 60$

If the wafer doesn't spring a leak, it can last for 20 years.

One thing is sure .... eventually, it WILL spring a leak and fail. There is no time limit on this.

They are cheap, and although they can last for years they should be changed every 2 years at least.