Brinsea 190, & other cabinet incubators, Positives & negatives please

[dak]

I finally got my 190 up and running on friday planning to set eggs today. One small problem though. It seems to be unable to get the humidity up beyond 41% using the automatic humidity pump. I have the vents open half way and the pump is running non-stop. Guess I'll contact the company and see what my options are.

Is anyone else having this problem? The humidity in my house is about 20%

 

[BeardedLadyFarm]

Quote:
That seems to be common. I've spoken with 2 others with the same issue. I'm having the same experience. It just doesn't put out enough water. And it's noisy.

Someone else on here called them, and they weren't helpful. They just said it works fine, and brushed her off. I LOVE the incubator, but the pump is lacking, and so is their customer service.

I've been keeping my vents a bit too closed for my tastes, but seem to be getting good hatch rates nonetheless. I'm not hatching in the 190 though, I'm moving eggs over to my old hovabator where I know I can increase humidity. I also have a never ending staggered hatch, so it's easier to not be constantly raising and lowering temperature in the whole incubator.

I'm glad the pump was free, because it doesn't work well enough to warrant the price. I'm sure it would be fine in a humid environment, or attached to one of their smaller models.

 

[dak]

Quote:
That seems to be common. I've spoken with 2 others with the same issue. I'm having the same experience. It just doesn't put out enough water. And it's noisy.

Someone else on here called them, and they weren't helpful. They just said it works fine, and brushed her off. I LOVE the incubator, but the pump is lacking, and so is their customer service.

I've been keeping my vents a bit too closed for my tastes, but seem to be getting good hatch rates nonetheless. I'm not hatching in the 190 though, I'm moving eggs over to my old hovabator where I know I can increase humidity. I also have a never ending staggered hatch, so it's easier to not be constantly raising and lowering temperature in the whole incubator.

I'm glad the pump was free, because it doesn't work well enough to warrant the price. I'm sure it would be fine in a humid environment, or attached to one of their smaller models.

Maybe I should mention something on their facebook page. I am not happy. I thought by getting a good unit I'd have less issues. I do plan to hatch in my Hovabator genensis. I can't really close the vents up though. I'm at 6000 ft and need every bit of ventilation I can get.

 

[BeardedLadyFarm]

If they're going to be dismissive of their customers paying $800 +/- for their products, I don't see why you shouldn't mention it on their Facebook page. Maybe call and see what they have to say first.

You might be able to set up a simple siphon from a jug of water into the humidity tray inside. Then by opening or closing the vents you can adjust the humidity. Not ideal... but may work.

Another BYCer and I are going to try to get a larger silicone tube, that may put out more water with each turn of the spool/turning thingy. Theoretically a wider tube would release more water with each turn.

I appreciate your frustration. Incubation is all about precise temperature and humidity and for the price, you would expect both to be spot on automatically.

 

[dak]

Quote:
I emailed their customer support. Depending on the response, I will go from there.

I thought about the larger tubing too. Not sure how to adapt it to the existing pump though. I'll be furious if I have to start putting extra water containers in the unit. This is what I was trying to get away from. Wishing at the moment that I'd purchased a Sportsman. Heck, for this kind of money, I almost could have gotten the incubator and the hatcher sportsmans.

 

[BeardedLadyFarm]

Good luck!

I think there's a pretty good warranty, so you could return it... But that's a huge hassle.

I think the pump could accommodate a larger tube, it's just the little black connectors that would have to be adapted. Someone handier than I might know where to begin looking for something like that.

But I agree, no modification or guesswork should even need to be considered.

 

[kennedyscochins]

I had the humidity problem with mine too, but I could get it up in the 50's. I had to fill the inner tray also because the pump didn't cut it. I had to basically close my vents too. But, I have to say, I had 100% hatch on one of them. When I put duck eggs in and had to up the humidity, for some reason that time, it stayed up much higher. Don't know why.

 

[dak]

Aren't you in Florida? Your ambient humidity is likely higher. Still not right though.

I imagine it is even harder in the 380 to get a high enough humidity.

 

[FuzzyButtsFarm]

I live in florida and we do get dry spells. During my haloween hatch a front came through and the humidity dropped like a rock. Humidity in the bator fell to 26% with both wells being used. I took an aquarium pump attached it to an air stone and put the stone in one of the wells humidity came back up to 45% with in a few minutes. I used to have fish and I figured if this can arriate the water it could also humidify the air.

 

[dak]

Quote:
I'm sure I could figure a way to raise the humidity. The issue is I shouldn't have to. I paid BIG bucks for this set-up and it should work without tinkering and modifications.