Hovabator Temperature/Thermometer Question

[leecey411]

Hi, I need help with the correct temp. I have a Hovabator , with a fan and egg turner. The thermometer that came with the incubator reads 100. It is on the egg turner , just about beneath the fan. I have a digital thermometer , a bit away from the fan which reads 90, and a third digital thermometer at the oher end which reads 92. Which one do I use? Where is the proper placement of the thermometer? Thanks All.

 

[MaransGuy]

If you have a fan-circulated unit and you are getting a temp variation of 10 degrees I would try a couple new thermometers. Even a still air would not have that big of a difference. I have a hovabator with fan/auto turner and digital thermostat. I have one temp sensor near the perimeter and one set on the turner as well. They vary less than one degree from each other. I would keep trying thermometers until you can get two to agree on the temp.

Richard

 

[kstaven]

The thermometers that come with them are rarely correct. I would move the thermometer from the edge to the egg turner (middle) and see how it reads there. I will bet it varies by less than 2 degrees. Proper temperature readings are done at egg level.

 

[speckledhen]

I sit my digital (the alcohol ones that come with them are not accurate) offset from the fan a little but away from the edges. That will give you a better reading. Which digital ones are you using?

 

[leecey411]

This morning I had hubby buy a digital baby thermometer and I am comparing it tomy digital oven thermometer. Sometimes they read the same,sometimes off by about 1/2 a degree. I want 99.5 but should that be by the fan or off to the side a bit?

 

[speckledhen]

Anywhere in a circulated air bator the temp should range from 99.5-100 degrees. I just always keep my thermo out from directly under the fan in a more central location. If you have fewer eggs than will fill the bator, it's good practice to cluster them in the middle so I always just measure the temp somewhere in the middle areas. Some thermos are made to measure a contact point, like the ones you put in your mouth, and not air temps, so the mouth thermometers may not measure as accurately as an incubator or room thermometer, IMO.