First timer- donated LG- having trouble setting the temp

[kupi99]

From reading the posts on here, I see that LG are notroious for having problems with maintaining the temp at 99.5. However, I'm having hard time just getting mine to set at 99.5. The closet I've come is getting it to 99.6. I don't have any eggs in yet.

What I have tried so far:
1)Checking what the temp says, adjusting it, coming back and checking it again a good while later, at least 15min, if not longer. My temp is always off when I come back, usually somewhere bwt 99.0 and 100.4. (occasionally I have come back to see its much higher/lower 101. something or 98.something, but I can usually adjust it off those temps fairly easily).

2) Standing over it while reading the themorater and adjusting as necessary. This is most frustrating, b/c the bator won't pick one temp for me to adjust from. I'll read the temp, make a slight adjustment up or down, and the temp flucates for several min while I do nothing. There's a thermometer in my classroom, so I can see that room temp hasn't altered at all in the time I've been standing there. My room temp as a rule stays pretty stable (at least while I'm here at work) bwt 70-80 degrees.

There are two other factors that might be affecting this. One, my bator is stored in a computer cabinet (there are plenty of holes in the back of the cabinet for air to flow through). I have to store the bator in here so I can assure that it it won't be disturbed over the weekend once we've put the eggs in it. Two, I missing the red plugs that came with bator. This bator was donated to my school by another school, and those are gone.
I know missing my plug will effect my humidity, but I am trying to get my temp stable first, and then create a makeshift plug, and finally stablize the humidity. I could really use help asp on this, as I wanted to get the eggs set in the bator tomorrow, but will have to wait until next week, since I don't have the temp and humidity stable yet.

Anyone who has sucess with these bators have some advice as to how to get the temp to 99.5 and stay there for more 3 seconds? Thanks!

 

[emit]

the temp. is not that bad.. 99.6 with a swing to 100 put tape over the hole. you might wait awhile longer for the temp. to stable. I waited almost 1 hr.. the humidity can be adjusted by the water wells in the bottom if not enough put sponges (wet ones) in Mine did the same thing with the swing temp..

 

[mwdh1]

Is it a still air or forced air Incubator (Does it have a fan)? Is your thermometer accurate? You may try adding a 2nd thermometer. Also remember air is less dense than your eggs, It will fluctuate a lot more when empty, You may try adding a couple of rocks (about the size of your fist in the corners of the bator) to help stabelize your temps. That works for me with my older hoova. as for the plugs, you can simply put a piece of tape over the holes to regulate the humidity.

I hope this helps

 

[kupi99]

Its a circulated air one. My thermomater should be acurate; it's brand new. It's Fluker's thermo-hygrometer. I'll try the rocks.

 

[mwdh1]

OK, for forced air, your temps are pretty much dead on. With the rocks, of course wash them first, put them in the bator, and let it set over night before touching the temp adjustment. It takes them a while to get up to a solid temp, but if you have the room leave the rocks in with the eggs just in case of a power outage or anything like that because they help hold the heat.

 

[kupi99]

Excellent. Clean rocks are in bator. Will leave them there, and check it when I get back to work in the morning!

 

[kupi99]

Came back to the classroom this morning, and theromometer read 99.3. Is this close enough? Should I try and rejust it? The room temp in my classroom was 75 this morning. Thanks!

 

[kupi99]

Grrrrr, now it reads 100.7. I know some flux is normal with these bators, but is this too much? It's been less than an hour since I checked it last, and room temp has gone up to 77.

Should I continue to try and adjust it to get it to hold steady, or just let the bator regulate itself?

 

[AHappychick]

someone mentioned a while back that you can get a knob from radio shack that fits on the temp adjuster and will allow you to dial in with more accuracy I never got one deciding that I hated my LG but I bet that would help. I also found that for the last few days I needed to add extra water trays (cut up plastic cups) under the grate so that I could get the humidity where it needed to be. Also if the thermometer is directly over the water the temp will be lower so it is best to use 2 thermometers one on the top of eggs one at the bottom and split the difference.

 

[kupi99]

I adjusted it alittle, and now its down to 99.4-99.6. If it stays in this range, around 99.3-100.ish, is this considered stable? I have a hard time getting it to stay stable at any temp, n/m 99.5.

Right now I am employing the method where I adjust and walk away for 30 min or more, since its the school day, and I'm teaching.