HELP, QUESTION: Water Heater Thermostate

[chickenlittle32]

I decided to use the hot water heater thermostat bc we built a cabinet bator based on al...(dont remember the rest of his name) as a matter of fact, rebel..the second link is what I am talking about. Ours is a lil bigger tho. I am just worried about the different temps and readings of humidity...they aren't off by a lot...just a few degrees each...

 

[lostsoulhelpmejebus]

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Yep, they all look like they are have more area inside than a Little Giant styrofoam incubator...better chance of keeping a more constant temp.

 

[lostsoulhelpmejebus]

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We ended up using wafers in both the incubator and hatcher, temps are rock solid.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

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Yep, they all look like they are have more area inside than a Little Giant styrofoam incubator...better chance of keeping a more constant temp.

It will work in a shoe box if the thermostat is close enough to the light. I do agree that your better off building bigger if ya can for stability reasons.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

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If its fluctuating more than you think is should move the thermostat closer to the light an the fluctuations will get smaller.

 

[jus1jack]

I just went through this last week myself. What rebelcowboysnb says is dead on. It is not easy to get it just right though. I found mine to be more stable by putting thermostat at the heat source and even more stable without the fan running. After much unhappy fiddling with mine I tride a dimmer switch it worked like a charm but real susceptible to room temp swings.
Then I found a thread on here about using an aquarium heater thermostat. https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=2630123
I had one so I put on mine to give it a try. It is perfetc + or - .5' . I'm not sure how long it will last but I'm going to fire it up in the morning and give it a go.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=26580-first-incubator-test
Hope this helps. I'm sure it would be much better to get a wafer thermostat but what's the fun in that? Good Luck...

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[rebelcowboysnb]

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[rooster-red]

I made a cooler bator 2 years ago using a light bulb as a heat source, water heater thermostat to control the light bulb and a computer fan to circulate air.

I use a thermometer with a probe inside a water wiggler placed at egg level. this closely simulates the core temp of the egg. The surface air temp has a small swing to it, but the core temp in the water wiggler stays constant, which is what you're really shooting for.

I've hatched 6 times in this homade bator, it works like a charm.

 

[2txmedics]

the room regulated in temp is no problem...we live on 4 acres and we have a ...what use to be an apt next door we call it the shop now...nice little place, but nobody lives there, we use it as storage, and also as an apt. when inlaws come in.

so thats where my LG is bating...holding steady without fail at 99.5+100.00 and 35-40% humidity...started a new hatch. I regulate the a/c when I need it to drop down a bit...works like a charm.

I just wanted to make a bator...like everyone in here...see if I could do it and to have more bators!!!!

 

[feckless_son]

I bought the same thermostat.
I put some mason jars full of water in the bator.
It stabilized the temperature.