Brinsea Ovation 28 EX or 56 EX?

[aliciaplus3]

here is my solution. I add a couple extra "wells" for lockdown, but enjoy the humidity pump for the incubation period, I can set it and not mess with it till lockdown. I have used my ex56 for the last 2.5 years almost straight. I had a little issue with the fan early on but brinsea did a great job getting a new one to me.
I love the way it holds temps steady.
I have used this to hatch hundreds of eggs, chicken, ducks and turkey.

 

[Manhen]

View attachment 1997062 here is my solution. I add a couple extra "wells" for lockdown, but enjoy the humidity pump for the incubation period, I can set it and not mess with it till lockdown. I have used my ex56 for the last 2.5 years almost straight. I had a little issue with the fan early on but brinsea did a great job getting a new one to me.
I love the way it holds temps steady.
I have used this to hatch hundreds of eggs, chicken, ducks and turkey.

It makes me wonder why they didn't put 3 wells, or larger wells in the larger model. I think I will use the smaller one for the higher humidity hatching cycle, seems like it should be easier for the e-brain to control.

EDIT: It's an "e-hen".

REEDIT: On the coasts it's an "i-hen".

 

[aliciaplus3]

I have found that with the 2 whipped topping containers my 56 ex I can maintain 65 to 70% humidity. I usually only have to add water to them at lockdown and they are good till the hatch is done.
Because I live at 6000 feet above sea level and in a dry part of Colorado I have learned that most things will need some adaptation by me to work correctly here. Most folks that develop and build this equipment do not live or work in environments anything close to mine, so why would they build something preset for my conditions? Our outside humidity here is usually 10% or so ?

 

[Rockporters]

I have the Brinsea 28 advance. Bought and returned the 56 because it was a nightmare to keep consistent.

Here’s what works in the 28 for me:

• Shelf liner for the bottom at lockdown. Cheap and easy.
  
• Put a strip of the humidity pad from my GQF 1502 into just one water well. Worked amazingly well-took much less water and kept rock solid humidity.
  
• Warm, consistent temp room. It’s all over the place if trying to keep up in a cold room.
  
• I run tubing through the air vents to the water channels. No need to open it when adding water. (Use a syringe)
  
• Set it on a towel instead of cold surface. Wrap a towel around the bottom of the lid, too, if the room is drafty.

And finally, buy a NR360 incubator. Hate it, p.i.t.a design... but like all the reviews say... hatch rates are amazing.

 

[Manhen]

I have the Brinsea 28 advance. Bought and returned the 56 because it was a nightmare to keep consistent.

Here’s what works in the 28 for me:

• Shelf liner for the bottom at lockdown. Cheap and easy.
  
• Put a strip of the humidity pad from my GQF 1502 into just one water well. Worked amazingly well-took much less water and kept rock solid humidity.
  
• Warm, consistent temp room. It’s all over the place if trying to keep up in a cold room.
  
• I run tubing through the air vents to the water channels. No need to open it when adding water. (Use a syringe)
  
• Set it on a towel instead of cold surface. Wrap a towel around the bottom of the lid, too, if the room is drafty.

And finally, buy a NR360 incubator. Hate it, p.i.t.a design... but like all the reviews say... hatch rates are amazing.

I have looked into this cuz some eggs are expensive, and with the EX flooding posts I took a look at my 28 and 56 EX's. The wells fit flush against the table surface. A heat sink. This will cool the water in the reservoir and prevent it from evaporating into the incubator's air. I have placed mine on Styrofoam sheets, mine are about 1" thick. I will rely on the 28 for hatching and the 56 for incubating, but will give tests to see if the 56 works well. I may end up with a lot of chickens just to see how well these work....

Has anyone used ballast (waterbottles or expensive fake eggs) inside the incubator in places where there are empty egg cradles to help stabilize it all?

EDIT: I have also a cheap battery backup/surge protector, it won't last long but it will smooth out the air conditioner starting up...

 

[Rockporters]

I have looked into this cuz some eggs are expensive, and with the EX flooding posts I took a look at my 28 and 56 EX's. The wells fit flush against the table surface. A heat sink. This will cool the water in the reservoir and prevent it from evaporating into the incubator's air. I have placed mine on Styrofoam sheets, mine are about 1" thick. I will rely on the 28 for hatching and the 56 for incubating, but will give tests to see if the 56 works well. I may end up with a lot of chickens just to see how well these work....

Has anyone used ballast (waterbottles or expensive fake eggs) inside the incubator in places where there are empty egg cradles to help stabilize it all?

EDIT: I have also a cheap battery backup/surge protector, it won't last long but it will smooth out the air conditioner starting up...

Try the humidity pads in one of the wells, it really worked amazingly well. I only had to add a little water at a time, and it would maintain humidity levels for hours. Huge improvement.

 

[Manhen]

Try the humidity pads in one of the wells, it really worked amazingly well. I only had to add a little water at a time, and it would maintain humidity levels for hours. Huge improvement.

I am running the first test now. The shop is cool, probably 60F. Both models warmed up fast, the 28 was unopened and I set it at 50% it went to 62% and started down (with evaporating block). Self priming pump is reeeaaaly nice. I opened the 56 to remove the well cover as the evaporating block make it hit the egg holder on that end. Wont use covers in the incubator I realized, just in the hatcher (the 28). The 56's %RH was notable slower of course because I opened it, but it still seemed slower than the 28 after that initial recovery for sure. It was at 39% when I left for the eve (I started the pump on it later so it was lagging). Will probably brave the cold rain to look again. The ambient %RH read about 23-26%. Both models make the same noise, btw.

 

[Manhen]

This morning the testing is good, both right at 99.5-6F and 49-50%RH. I opened them both for as long as I thought it might take to remove eggs and in 5 minutes they were both back on temp and approaching %RH. the 28 went up to 61% RH and then settled back down. The 56 recovered slower. Also, although the shop is heated to a cool temp, outside this morning was 54F and raining all night. I have fermentation and spriouting (small scale, one tub) going on in there as well so while dry there is humidity.

Further test, turn off shop heat. Load the 28 and 56 with ballast bottles. Oh yeah. Put some eggses in it.
In the summer I will test the surge protector, our AC unit dims lights for all of the property when it starts up.

 

[PuurveenM]

We love our 56 ex
We live in Southern Alberta, it is very dry.
The incubator holds 40% humidity and perfect temperature all day.
During lock down I fill the reservoir's 3/4 full and put wet paper towel in the corner. We have no problems getting 70% humidity.

 

[KSH1]

@Manhen any further updates? How did it go? Do you think the ballast bottles help?