Experience with the Incredible Incubator thermostat FHP-UT115 from Fall Harvest?

[donrae]

My honey bought this thermostat after I had poor hatches with the incubator kit thermostat. It's holding the temp steady, flashes between 99.4 and 99.5 pretty constantly. Thing is, it cycles rapidly and this causes the light bulbs to flash almost constantly. I'm not kidding, it's like a kid standing at a light switch and turning it on and off. Isn't this going to burn my bulbs out? anyone else have any experience with this thermostat?

 

[HatchCraft]

I haven't used that exact thermostat, but some similar to it. Sounds like the thermostat is is working properly. You are correct, constantly cycling on and off will shorten the bulb life. The fast cycle is what allows the thermostat to maintain such a precise temp. I'm sure it was designed to be used with a heat element rather than a bulb.

 

[chicapee]

My honey bought this thermostat after I had poor hatches with the incubator kit thermostat. It's holding the temp steady, flashes between 99.4 and 99.5 pretty constantly. Thing is, it cycles rapidly and this causes the light bulbs to flash almost constantly. I'm not kidding, it's like a kid standing at a light switch and turning it on and off. Isn't this going to burn my bulbs out? anyone else have any experience with this thermostat?

What wattage are your bulbs?

 

[donrae]

I don't remember what the wattage is, and I can't see unless I unscrew them with how they're placed. I want to say we used a lower, like 40, but not positive. The incubator was made in May 14 and stored until now due to my health issues. We'll probably go with a heating element after this batch of eggs hatch. I'm looking at making a separate hatcher with a regular thermostat. I think this constant blinking would give me psychedelic disco chicks!

 

[gpop1]

Change the bulb to a lower wattage and it should cycle less. Dont worry to much about the bulb they get turned on and off 60 times a second in normal use.
Some temp controls have a setting so it will allow a little drift before turning back on. Might be worth checking the instructions for the controller

 

[donrae]

How low would you advise?

 

[chicapee]

How low would you advise?

I put 2x25 watt bulbs in mine and they seem to be better than the 40w