*emergency* not sure how to get incubator temperatures down!

[MeepBeep]

See the thing is, it's a flood light. So it looks like it's so huge and bright and 250 watts but it's actually only 65.

That is the problem, unlike say a regular 60 watt bulb that radiates heat and light a full 360 degrees around it in all directions, the reflector bulb you are using is focusing that entire wattage, all heat and light in a focused beam directly in front of it...

 

[XxPandaxX]

here is is now. Actually since I did this the temperatures dropped REALLY low - into the 80's. Waiting for them to come back up... poor embryos. I'm sure I've lost a couple of them already with all the temperature fluctuations

 

[XxPandaxX]

shouldn't the fan be spreading all of this around though?

 

[MeepBeep]

shouldn't the fan be spreading all of this around though?

A fan moves air, the IR heat waves being emitted by the light are mostly unaffected by the fans movement of air until those heat waves radiate of something else in this case the surface of the egg and my then it's mostly useless... A fan will help but it won't remove hot spots...

 

[XxPandaxX]

so should i keep it like it is with the cold temperatures or go back to before

 

[MeepBeep]

I would focus on fixing the temps and getting them even not trying to 'compromise' with something that isn't working... Cooking the eggs is no good and neither is keep them too cold... Try the suggestions above, it's really time to rebuild/redo your incubator and get it dialed in with more even heat or you will likely be wasting your time and those eggs...

 

[XxPandaxX]

but that's my point the temps were evened out and well before I changed the eggs around to get them out of the light. I don't see how they're gonna bake if they're at the right temperature

 

[WalnutHill]

I can help you understand the physics of it. Say you are outside on a hot summer day and the temperature is 80 degrees under the porch roof. Then you step out in the sun, and feel a lot hotter. You are absorbing the heat and light from the sun. The eggs will do the same when they are directly under a heat source. Using a traditional bulb allows the light out 3/4 of the sphere, where a reflector bulb will focus its heat and light on a much smaller area. The "average" temperature may be okay, but some eggs will be hot and some will be cold.

The best incubator designs don't need a fan, but a fan makes it much easier to design a home made incubator. The first thing to watch for is flammable objects, any heat source can burn combustible materials including egg cartons, or melt plastics and emit toxic fumes. So be sure that the heat source is as far from flammables as possible. Next is to be sure you have air circulation. A little throughout incubation is necessary. Be sure to use a light bulb appropriately sized for the volume of space, unless the heat source is ALWAYS on it isn't too small, and if it's too big it will be hard to keep the temperature consistent. Just like a furnace, if it runs almost all the time the room temp stays more even than if it cycles on and off.

And of course be cautious with electrical circuits, including extension cords. Never interrupt the neutral (white) wire (wide pin) of a circuit. Place your thermostat or switch in the narrow, hot, black wire side of the circuit.

If you use a water tray for a humidifier, be sure it can't splash on a hot bulb or come in contact with wiring.

I made my first incubator out of a ceramic bulb holder and salvaged shower pan top and bottom. It wasn't great, but it worked to hatch eggs.

 

[MeepBeep]

but that's my point the temps were evened out and well before I changed the eggs around to get them out of the light. I don't see how they're gonna bake if they're at the right temperature

Well I'm confused, your initial post said that the eggs varied from 104 to 89 degrees, and/or they varied from 99 and 92 degrees... And I failed to see you say they were all holding a steady 99.5 now...

Take a small (sandwich sized) ziplock bag fill it with about 1/3-1/2 cup of 99.5 degree warm water out of your sink, it's important to start with the 99.5 degree water so it balances faster and you don't cool down or heat up the incubator, fold (or roll) the bag with a thermometer in the middle... The thermometer should not be surrounded by water top and bottom... Place this water filled bag at different egg locations and check every 10, leave in each location for 30-45 minutes, if the temp goes up or down you don't have even heat, it should hold a steady 99.5 no matter where it's placed and no matter how long it stays in that location...

 

[XxPandaxX]

Right but after he told me that I shouldn't need to use the towel to keep in the heat and I took it off all went smoothly - not at 99.5 steadily but between 99-103 which is fine by me - until I tried to move them away from the light. Then it became unsteady again. So I'm now trying to bring the temperature back up once more. I'm thinking maybe just toss this batch and make a more sturdy incubator.