DIY Incubator Thermometer Question...

[mudmonkey]

I've built 2 incubators so far. Only one has really been tested (by use). The hatch ratio was great, but during the process the temperature seemed to bounce up and down between 96 and 104. It drove me crazy. I was sure that the eggs were getting cooked and chilled. In the end it worked out.

I found directions for building the incubators here on this site. I used the water heater thermostat (at $8 it seemed hard to pass up) and a thermometer/hydrometer combo that I found at Lowes ($12). I'm wondering if the thermostat isn't sensitive enough...or if the thermometer isn't very accurate.

Has anyone found a good quality thermometer that is inexpensive? Or a thermostat that is a bit more sensitive?

 

[Colonel77]

I don't care much for the water heater thermo. I have one still running but like you it really fluctuates. I had an old heat only household thermo and thought I would test it out. It holds within one degree and clicks on and off constantly. I have since put them in two of my home built bators and they work great! You can buy them at just about any home improvement store and they are usually cheap for a heat only one.

Try it out and see what you think. They work great for me and as soon as my hatch is done in the water heater one it is getting swapped out too.


Edit: I should mention you will need one that you can take apart and adjust to allow a higher heat range. Most only go to 90 degrees and will need to be modified to reach 100 before shutting off.

 

[mudmonkey]

Quote:
Thanks for the information. I'll pop over to the hardware store tomorrow and see what I can find. Is the modification something that I can find a tutorial for online? I'm guessing that it is.
I'd like to get another batch of eggs and try a different thermostat so this may work out great.

 

[Colonel77]

The ones I'm using have a dial on them and there is a set screw behind them. I just turn the screw in so the dial can turn further allowing for a higher temp.

 

[mudmonkey]

Quote:
Okay...well it can't get much simpler than that...I'll take a look and see if i can find ones that have a similar construction.
thx.

 

[isabrowneyedsue]

Quote:
i bought a reptile thermostatic power source, as an emergency shut off if the temp ever went over 102, that seems really sensitive, i found one on ebay for 30 bucks, it's made by ZILLA, i also bought their thermometer/hygrometer, and it is spot on! a little pricey at the pet shop, i wish i would have had time to ebay that one too. they are both extremely reliable. hope that helps

 

[mudmonkey]

Quote:
i bought a reptile thermostatic power source, as an emergency shut off if the temp ever went over 102, that seems really sensitive, i found one on ebay for 30 bucks, it's made by ZILLA, i also bought their thermometer/hygrometer, and it is spot on! a little pricey at the pet shop, i wish i would have had time to ebay that one too. they are both extremely reliable. hope that helps

Thanks! I'll check those out too. I guess if I'm going to continue to hatch eggs it may be worth putting a little money into the incubator.

 

[isabrowneyedsue]

good luck