DIY incubator... is this the right type of thermostat?

[sheeshshe]

http://www.amazon.com/Camco-7723-Lo...F8&qid=1369944549&sr=8-1&keywords=camco+07723

?? this is all I could find for searching for a single probe water heater thermostat. is this the right thing? I'm so confused.

 

[loveourbirds]

ive never had any luck with water heater thermostats they have to large of a temperature range (like most house thermostats). electrically that thermostat would work for you.

everyone has their own ideas of what a thermostat should be, I personally don't like digital. and experience tells me to stay away from water heater and house thermostats. I also sometimes need to upgrade a switch in a thermostat for larger incubators.

this is a link to the thermostat I prefer, when you loosen the screw it raises the temperature. that is backwards from most and a lot of people don't like these for that reason. but once you get it adjusted you shouldn't have to mess with it. the ones I have used in the past hold the temp within one half a degree.

http://incubatorwarehouse.com/hova-bator-wafer-thermostat-3122.html

remember when choosing a thermostat, if it goes bad it will never happen on Monday morning. and Friday night on a holiday weekend is the wrong time to try and find one and have it expressed shipped. I keep an extra switch and wafer on hand for my incubators, but I also run 3 all the time.

 

[Goblnfvr]

If you are going to use a water heater thermostat [WHT] then yes that is the right one.
I use a WHT in my coolerbator I built and it works very well and I only have a +/- 1/2° variance. The main thing with WHT's is the set up of them is critical for them to work properly as they work off of radient heat and need to be placed fairly close to your heat source. Mine is only 1 1/4" from the light bulb and I modified it by drilling extra holes through the front side to allow more air flow.
Here is a picture of my set up.
I have a 4" computer fan at one end then a 60 and 40 watt light bulb and the WHT at the other end.



Good luck with your build!!!

 

[sheeshshe]

thanks! Yes, I was going to make one with a cooler thing... I was going to use this tutorial here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/missprissys-chic-chick-homemade-incubator

what kind of thermometers and hydrometers are you using? I am reading so many differing opinions on which are accurate and which aren't.

 

[Goblnfvr]

I started out with a number of different thermometers and humidity gauges.
I have now settled on 4 of them.
I use a La Crosse Technlogy wireless thermometer as my main one [the one that all other thermometers are based from]. I know that when it is reading 100.5°F then my incubator is set right. I like the wireless because I set it in the kitchen and it saves me from having to go down to the basement all the time to check the temps.
The other thermometers read a degree or degree and half lower during most incubations.
The other thermometers I use are a National Geographic - temperature and humidity, and Springfield Precision which also read temp and humidity.

These ones have worked great for me from the start and I have had great hatches.

 

[sheeshshe]

thanks!

which type of thermometer would I use to put in wet sand or a baggie of water to mimic the temp inside of an egg? Would I use just a regular mercury type thermometer?