DIY wafer thermostat

[Eggcellent]

Well after slow roasting some black copper marans eggs the other day after my electronic thermostat stuck on, I decided I needed to use two thermostats from this point forward. I tried to find a wafer thermostat locally, but the closest thing I could find was a wafer thermostat replacement disc. I already bought some replacement eggs so I didn't want to wait to get one in the mail. As they say, neccesity is the mother of all invention, so here it is - my DIY wafer thermostat:

I don't know if anyone would ever find themselves in a similar situation, but if you ever need to build a wafer thermostat and all you have is a disc, here are the instructions:

DIY wafer thermostat

Oh ya, I forgot to mention....It only cost me $13 or so to build. So I guess you could do it if you want to save a few bucks too.

 

[Cindiloohoo]

That's awesome and very inventive in a pinch! Good to know as well considering I want to build a bigger bator. Thanks for posting this!

 

[Serrin]

Hey Eggcellent! That's a great idea! Could you please post a good, clear picture of the 120v push button switch that you used? I'd like to have a better idea of what to look for at the Home Depot the next time I'm down there.

I just happened to pick up a spare wafer thermostat disk the other day, in case mine ever crapped out. I've been thinking of building a cabinet style bator and your idea looks like it might be just the thing for the design I have in mind. But I really need to see that switch so I know I'm getting the right thing.

I'm curious: are you going to be using this as your main thermostat, or strictly as a back up? Seems to me that the design is plenty good enough to use it as a primary.

Sorry about the loss of all of your eggs the other day. I remember reading your thread and thought, how sad. I'm just about ready to start my very first batch of eggs in the bator this next week. A little more tweaking and calibrating and I think I'll be ready....

I sure hope that something like this doesn't happen to me. For all I've never tried incubating myself yet, I still share your pain. Such promise they all held, and so close they were, only to be shot down by a faulty thermostat!

These are the times that try our souls, are they not? I'll keep my fingers crossed for all of us that we each have successful hatches.

Good luck and let us know how the new thermostat works!

 

[Eggcellent]

This may not be exactly the one I got but it certainly looks identical.

I was going to use this as a backup, but after I saw how accurate it is, I made it my primary. I have this one set at 99.5. It never goes lower than 99.4 and never higher that 99.7. My other thermostat is set to shut off at 101.5.

 

[Eggcellent]

Just wanted to report that this thermostat is still performing perfectly. I can't believe how little the temp swings. I have one of those accurite thermometers that keeps min/max. My min was 99.1 and my max was 99.7 overnight. I think the 99.1 was just from opening the bator to hit the reset switch on the min/max.

 

[alicefelldown]

That is fantastic, great job!

 

[RatcliffeChick]

Is this wafer thermostat just wired inline of the black wire? I am going to use it for my brooder light.

 

[Floridachicken1958]

How accurate are these Wafer thermostats? I have a thermostat from a water heater and it just don't wanna hold the heat.Pm me with a answer since I'm new here and don't know how to get back to this post.Hey I got my water heater thermostat high is 100.45, low is 60.5. Is that a good temp fluctuation?
Thank You,