Brinsea Ovation 56 EX

[MLay]

I spoke to Brinsea this morning and will be sending the unit back. The hose was not pinched. It continued to put water into the unit to the point it flooded the floor. I removed water 3 times from the unit because in it's attempt to get the humidity up, it pumped more and more water without evaporating resulting in water on the floor. I've gone "old school" trying to save this hatch by turning off the humidifier feature, filling both reservoirs with water,and adding 2 additional small trays with paper towels and water. These efforts got my humidity up to 69%.

That being said, the instructions for the unit were missing key steps that the helpline told me about. The most troubling part of this conversation was about the conditions the unit can operating in effectively. This is the reason I am sending it back. The unit is in my basement with an ambient temperature of 66-68 degrees and RH of 50-55%. The helpline told me the problem was the ambient humidity. The ambient humidity can be no lower than 60% and they said 70% is better. The unit will flood if operated in a lower humidity. The rep further explained that northern states have this issue and southern states do not due to the higher humidity. I can find nothing online or in the manuals that indicate this but I believe it because the unit continued to flood until I turned the humidity feature off. I live in Missouri.

That being said - I lived and learned. I will continue to look for an incubator that does a better job of regulating humidity.

 

[howesmr]

The ambient humidity thing sounds concerning. We are hatching batch two today and settings have been perfect. We live in Arizone and humidity rarely over 30% and right now my home weather station says 16% indoors. The brinsea pump is putting in constant drops but stays rightvat 45% then 65% for hatch. I even leave air port always open for plenty of fresh air. I do go through a lot of water.

 

[angnic22]

Thanks for sharing your issue. I'm on my third hatch. No problems. I bought the sensor mentioned previously and I love it. The alarm is priceless. I let my jar of water get too low but was able to remedy very fast.

I did notice that if the jar of water gets too low, it stops pumping. And I mean like an inch and a half. You'd think it'd keep going so long as tube is still submerged.

Anyway, I love mine. My first is also a Little Giant. I've hatched numerous batches the past year but now it goes wonky after 2 weeks. Good for lock down/sick brooder but not full term. Much much much better than the Farm Innovator. Had problems from day 1 with that thing.

By the way, I'm in Georgia. Bought second sensor to monitor conditions inside the home. RH indoors is 45-55%.

Happy hatching y'all!

 

[howesmr]

I discovered this morning that extra sensor mentioned works as a hatch alarm too

Can see the spkies after wet chicks come out.

 

[Kindercare]

Got my Ovation 28 yesterday and hooked it up. It was so loud that it sounded like an airplane taking off. My mini advance never exceeded a quiet hum. I was this close to returning it, but I seem to have been able to fix it by tightening all the screws in the top unit. Worried it will start up again.

Anybody else experience this? How loud are your systems?

 

[lawman7]

Interesting.. I live in Montana and I have not had any issue with the humidity in the ex 56.

 

[MLay]

The final out come from my first hatch was 32/34 eggs. I'm pleased with that. I continued to battle the humidity and checked on the unit every few hours around the clock to keep everything where it should be. To save the hatch, I ended up putting 2 small containers with distilled water and paper towels inside the unit in addition to the 2 built in water reservoirs. The unit really struggled at the end to keep the humidity up when there was only the two unhatched eggs left and the unit continued to overfill rather than create humidity even with the 2 extra water containers inside.

I am still trying to work out everything with Brinsea which is becoming a challenge. Always call and try to get a live body. Don't leave a message. I have yet to have any messages returned. Additionally, the company has yet to respond to emails to the sales or support mailboxes. (**See note in following post regarding response.**)

 

[MLay]

I did get in contact with a live person at Brinsea and they will be sending a new fan and new/different evaporation block. I am now in the "experimental program" with Brinsea and have agreed to test with them.

I believe the lack of response is being caused by working with a company based outside the US with a different time zone. When I spoke to the representative today, it was clear the information I sent in the emails was reviewed and acted upon. Just no acknowledgement to me.

The lab in England has tested my conditions for two days and will be forwarding me an email with recommendations.

The fan is being replaced more to confirm that it is not the fan. I DON'T think the fan is the problem. I think the issue is the surface area of the available water given my ambient operating conditions.

I would be curious to know the operating conditions of current and successful Ovation 56 EX owners - specifically ambient RH and ambient temp. I am 50-55% RH and 66-68 degrees. Mine is in the back corner of my basement away from all windows. I kept the vent 50% open during the first 18 days and then ended up closing it as much as possible during lockdown. I started 100% open at lockdown and then closed it trying to maintain my humidity.

 

[bostonsharbor]

I discovered this morning that extra sensor mentioned works as a hatch alarm too



Can see the spkies after wet chicks come out.

I'm 10 days in to the hatch and I have pretty good development so far, 21 out of 28 candeled active the first time. I just added the SensorPush to the incubator yesterday to the Brinsea Ovation 28 eco. When the Brinsea thermometer was reading 99.4, the sensor push on the bottom front wall was reading 95.6. Where did you put your sensor push in the Ovation and did you notice a temperature differences on the bottom of the unit?

 

[howesmr]

I have left my Brinsea at the factory settings. I put the sensorpush in one of the racks in place of an egg and it kept the last egg from falling over. I usually use nice round rocks as place holders. When transitioning to the hatch i tucked the sensor to the side in one of the slots where the racks normally sit. My sensor push usually sits around 98.5. Yours seems low. might want to put some others in for a spot check to see who is right. 4 degrees is a lot.

Once you are happy what the actual temp is then you can adjust the sensor push and it will save that setting. I added +1.0 F and it stays right at 99.5 to 99.6.