Hova-bator Genesis 1588 and Accurate Humidity Control

rick54

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I recently purchased the Genesis 1588 in order to hatch some quail eggs. I've been reading many of your posts, which cast some doubt on the accuracy of the humidity reading shown on the control center panel of this incubator. Many of you have inquired as to a reliable brand of hygrometer that gives an accurate reading, as well as not breaking the bank in order to check the accuracy of the incubator.

I also have searched extensively in the past for an accurate hygrometer to monitor the room humidity in the winter months that I control for the storage of a couple of fine stringed instruments. The hygrometer of choice that I've settled on is the Caliber IV. I've purchased a second one to dedicate to using with my incubator, along with a Boveda One-Step Hygrometer Calibration Kit. Both items I purchased off Amazon.

The calibration kit is a humidity standard of 75% RH, and is good for 3 months. I slid both of my Caliber IV hygrometers into the kit bag and let them sit for two days. After the two days, I did adjust the newly purchased hygrometer while it was in the bag to reflect 75% RH. My original hygrometer was right on at 75% RH. After two more days, both hygrometers read 75%. The temperature of both units were within +/- .3 (3 tenths) degrees of one another.

I have now inserted my newly calibrated Caliber IV hygrometer onto the screen of the incubator. With channel one filled with water, the control center of the incubator reads 58% and the Caliber IV reads 64%. So after just a couple of hours of running, as you can see, the 1588 runs about 6% to the low side. The temperature on the control panel of the 1588 reads 100.3 and the Caliber IV reads 100.1. I'll give it a full 24 hours of running and compare the two readings again to see if that 6% figure tightens up even more.

Yes, there is a way to adjust the humidity reading on the 1588 to reflect that of the Caliber IV, but now that I know that it reads 6% to the low side, I'll just mentally compensate for that, or just go by the Caliber IV reading.

In closing, I'd like to say that I've invested $41 dollars into the additional hygrometer and calibration kit to rid myself of any doubt as to the true humidity inside the 1588, and to secure peace of mind.
 
I have the older model 1588 with those horrible dip switches for temperature adjustment. When I got mine it was running about a full degree too high. Those dip switches were difficult to adjust that finely. Definitely do not trust the instruments, thermometer or hygrometer, that come with any incubator. They need to be calibrated so you know what you are dealing with.

Once I got mine adjusted I found it to be pretty reliable. I assume they still have that plastic tray in the bottom to add water. It’s a bit challenging to fine tune humidity but after using with it bit you can manage. That plastic tray makes clean-up a lot easier too. I think you will be happy with it. Good luck!
 
Yes it still has the clear plastic tray for the water, which I hate by the way. Being that it is clear, makes it very hard to see the water level as you're pouring into the channel. I was thinking it would be nice to add some food coloring to the water to be able to see the water level.
 
Yes that can be a problem. I haven’t tried food coloring, not sure how that would work. I don’t think it would hurt anything. I’ve learned to judge it reasonably well but if the light is not right a flashlight might help you see water level better.

Or just don’t try to fill it all the way. What controls humidity is water surface area, not the depth of the water. By not filling it quite so full you just have to fill it more often. That’s the main purpose of my hygrometer, telling me when the water has run out and needs to be refilled.
 
All good comments there Ridgerunner.

And as for a 12 hour update on the humidity readings with the calibrated hygrometer, I'm seeing the incubator at 53% RH and the Caliber IV at 60% RH. Temperature is at 100.3° and 99.6° respectively.
 

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