Hovabator 1588 running too hot

[4hSasha]

We have 4 Hovabator 1588 incubators 3 are new (about 4 years old) and the other is newer but square so must be an older version. All are supposed to be preset at 100 degrees, but when we set them up to test with a turner in and the thermometer (both digital and new regular) they are running too high at about 102 and 104 consistently even with water.

Can these incubators be adjusted?

We use these for classroom programs and this year we have double the classrooms we usually have and need every incubator in working order!

I have contacted the company with very little help at all from them.

Any tips would be great!

TIA!

 

[Egghead_Jr]

On the bottom of the heating unit is a series of switches, 1 through 8. 1 being the lowest temp setting and 8 the highest. Turn off the setting it's on and turn on a lower setting.

It is very unusual that all units are running high. Unless someone was playing with the units and clicked on the 8th setting I'd sooner suspect something else. But...if your not setting these on radiators in a window during full sun...yes, they are too hot. Check what setting they are on now. Look at where they are set up to see if solar radiation or other heat source could be at fault. If location is good then try lowering temp by 3 or 4 notches. Only one switch of the eight should be up in direction of numbers. 1 is lowest temperature and 8 highest.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

BTW, don't fill all the bottom troughs. If this is the bottom type I'm thinking of it has outside channels and three smaller dishes in center. I'd only put water in one or two of those small center trays. Candling eggs through incubation would be fun to do in the classroom. Then you could check the air sac growth progression. By this you'd know if you've too much or too little humidity during incubation. Seriously though, only use one or two of the smallest water trays first 18 days. For days before and during hatching the outside channel and one center tray should be enough. You could fill all and if condensation coats the window then you know your well over 80% RH and don't need to be. 70-75% humidity for hatching is good. You still have clear glass to view that way too.

30-35% humidity during incubation should achieve the air cell growth above. Less water surface area results in lower humidity so you can adjust if needed and really don't need hygrometer if candling. Or just trust me and only keep water in one center tray.

 

[4hSasha]

Thank you I've followed the advice. Unfortunately we had 3 incubators we couldn't use because even when clicked to the lowest number they still ran at 101. One we thought would be ok we used and for most of the time it was at 100 but one day suddenly dropped to 94 and went back up- there went half our eggs at day 13 stopped growing.
We are generally frustrated with the incubators. I'll be contacting the company again.