Different temperature readings

[Space999978]

2 different readings. the wired one is reading 99.5 and the box thermometer is reading 96.6

 

[AquaDuck]

Is this an incubator or a brooder? If it's a brooder, temp don't matter much as long as the chicks can move in and out of the heat as they please. If it's an incubator, is it forced air or still air? The wire seems to be laying IN the shavings, can you put something underneath it so it measures temp in the air instead?

 

[Space999978]

Is this an incubator or a brooder? If it's a brooder, temp don't matter much as long as the chicks can move in and out of the heat as they please. If it's an incubator, is it forced air or still air? The wire seems to be laying IN the shavings, can you put something underneath it so it measures temp in the air instead?

its an incubator, and the wire is ontop of the shavings, it just looks weird on that pic. its very sensitive to temp changes so i would believe thats more accurate than the box? but im not sure

 

[AquaDuck]

its an incubator, and the wire is ontop of the shavings, it just looks weird on that pic. its very sensitive to temp changes so i would believe thats more accurate than the box? but im not sure

It's a substantial difference... I'd get a third thermometer if I were you, and test them outside the incubator at exactly the same height and place. If one of them is completely off and the other two almost the same, you'll have your answer.
I'd trust the wire more than the box too, but with that temp difference, it could possibly ruin your hatch to be wrong.

 

[Space999978]

thanks for the help

 

[Ridgerunner]

Is it forced air or still air? If a fan is moving the air around the temperature should be the same everywhere in there. If it is a still air, well, hot air ties. Where you take the temperature is very important, especially elevation-wise. Is it a forced air or a still air?

I never trust a thermometer until it has been calibrated. Some thermometers can be set when calibrated, the adjustment might be off. Sometimes that's turning a knob or such that moves the needle. Digital ones may have other ways. Due to manufacturing tolerances some just read wrong. I use an old-fashioned medical thermometer that I trust reads correctly to test my thermometers.

There are two different kinds of accuracy. One is repeatability. If you put the thermometer in there it might read 100 degrees one time, the next time it might read 99 or 101 although the temperature hasn't changed. This is typical of the thermometers you hang on your porch to check air temperature. Many digital thermometers tell you this accuracy. You want one that is accurate to within 0.1 degree (C or F doesn't matter). One accurate to 1.0 degrees is not good enough for an incubator.

The other kind kind of accuracy is that they are set wrong. That might be poor manufacturing or if it has an adjustment that may be off.

That is too much difference. If it is a still air elevation may have something to do with it though they do look pretty close to the same elevation in that photo. I suspect one or both are just set wrong. Which one? I don't know. If you get a third and put it in there how do you know how accurate it is?

 

[Space999978]

Is it forced air or still air? If a fan is moving the air around the temperature should be the same everywhere in there. If it is a still air, well, hot air ties. Where you take the temperature is very important, especially elevation-wise. Is it a forced air or a still air?

I never trust a thermometer until it has been calibrated. Some thermometers can be set when calibrated, the adjustment might be off. Sometimes that's turning a knob or such that moves the needle. Digital ones may have other ways. Due to manufacturing tolerances some just read wrong. I use an old-fashioned medical thermometer that I trust reads correctly to test my thermometers.

There are two different kinds of accuracy. One is repeatability. If you put the thermometer in there it might read 100 degrees one time, the next time it might read 99 or 101 although the temperature hasn't changed. This is typical of the thermometers you hang on your porch to check air temperature. Many digital thermometers tell you this accuracy. You want one that is accurate to within 0.1 degree (C or F doesn't matter). One accurate to 1.0 degrees is not good enough for an incubator.

The other kind kind of accuracy is that they are set wrong. That might be poor manufacturing or if it has an adjustment that may be off.

That is too much difference. If it is a still air elevation may have something to do with it though they do look pretty close to the same elevation in that photo. I suspect one or both are just set wrong. Which one? I don't know. If you get a third and put it in there how do you know how accurate it is?

its a still air incubator. im gonna try getting a new thermometer soon. i have thermostat which seems pretty accurate but idk