Hova.1602:How many turns?

[mominoz]

I am still trying to get my new Hovabator 1602 to the right temp, while my eggs wait in the crawlspace

and I had 105= the first day, kept turning back..finallytook it apart and reset it up, thinking I'd let too much of the screw turner into the wafer. So today I have 95, I had adjusted it yesterday after I reset it up 2 times. Someone wrote in search that tiny turns affect the temp. But didn't seem so yesterday. I just turned it another whole turn to increase to try to get to 99-100 (we also have a probe in there-electrical gadget of hubbys) . How many degrees per turn? average? does anyone know? Like one turn one degree? I have water in resevior.

 

[mandelyn]

I can't remember how many turns when I first set it up. But I had a spike a week ago, up to 102 (small spike, luckily, since my husband left a window open over night and threw off the room temperature).

It took me a minute to put it back to place, I went 3/4 turn down, went back to look and it was 98, went 1/2 turn back up and it stayed where I wanted it at 100. I usually work in 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 turns after I have it in "start up" mode prepared for fine tuning. You want to find 100 degrees and go from there.

When I first set it up, it was something like 3 days to get it right.

It takes hours to adjust sometimes, you have to be patient. If you turn it every half hour, you'll never really know where you are because it hasn't "settled" into it's temperature yet. Once you see the temp you want, leave it for like 12 hours and see if it's still at that later.

Edited to add: make sure you're using a digital thermometer too, the one it comes with on the board is NOT reliable.

 

[snazzyboots]

i am on my second hatch with mine. this time and last the temps were all over the place. i got 9 out of 29 first hatch. i hope to do better this time. either way i am at least going to have hubby put a fan in or just get a different incubator. i have 3 thermometers in there and all 3 read something different. i'm sure there are hot and cold spots. i really don't like it. has just been too unstable. good luck with yours. i know that there are a lot of people on here that use these and get really good hatches with them

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Not sure exactly but wafer thermostats change one degree at about 1/8th to 1/4th of a turn. Same amount on a LG would be something like 20 degrees

 

[ChickyChickyBaby]

I use an LG and a Hovabator (both still air). I have noticed with the LG I have to basically nudge it. With the Hovabator, I have to move it about 1/8 of a turn -
Once you turn it, give it 12 hours or a little longer to stabilize. Then adjust once more, wait 12 hours and check again. And so on.

If you have a turner in it, be sure it is plugged up and running. Those little things can throw off some heat too and may change the temps.

Whichever type of digital thermometer you use, be sure it will read over 99 degrees (some don't). I use an accurite from walmart that is dark grey and shows temps indoors and out, time and humidity - it has a probe on a wire which I drop down through a vent hole to keep an eye on temps.- it wasn't expensive - $12-$15 and it is the most accurate one I have found that is cheap.

 

[mominoz]

I think I got it stable. I turned it another half turn and it has been 99-100 for over 12 hours. L got accurite themometer/hygrometer, and that and the probe (hubbys electrical meter and th thermometer all read the same.) Now I am playing with humidity, it was 43% , but down to 38%, since I will be setting duck eggs, I added water to another channel around one side to see what I get. It is in a room with stable temps within 3-5 degrees. We are in Ga. , but I have a house hygrometer too. 50%+ is normal for around here ,even with our heat pump running.... also the tips I read here on tightening the nut down is useful---like most info. sheets, they assume you have the knowledge they do and understand reference points..... If all goes well I may set tonight or tomorrow.