How do i calibrate thermometer without having an already calibrated one in the first place?

[aart]

Okay, so when I get the food one I should calibrate by checking the boiling temp and the ice bath correct?

A good idea to check all therms before starting a new hatch.
Not all therms can actually be 'calibrated', which means you can adjust them.
The one I linked can be calibrated, but likely won't need to be.

Don't forget to check what the boiling temp is at your elevation.
First you'll have find out what your elevation is.

 

[Josh7182]

A good idea to check all therms before starting a new hatch.
Not all therms can actually be 'calibrated', which means you can adjust them.
The one I linked can be calibrated, but likely won't need to be.

Don't forget to check what the boiling temp is at your elevation.
First you'll have find out what your elevation is.

Okay, yeahh when I mean calibrate it's more of like taking a mental note and then adding or subtracting from the final temp. Okay thanks so I'll get a food thermometer and I'll take note of the boiling point and the ice bath. Thanks for all your help, I hope I'll be able to hatch some chicks.

 

[Finnie]

so if possible I don't really want to spend much

Why don’t you just put the thermometer in your own mouth and see if it comes out close to 98.6? Then call it good.

I bought the Thermoworks thermometer based on Aart’s recommendation, and I have been very happy with it. I like that it is fast, and if I care to, I can watch the temp rise and fall as my incubator regulates itself. I now know that one of my incubators has a tighter range than the other one. (Both are fine.) And I can poke it through the different vent holes on the lid of them and see where the hot and cold spots are. And during the “off season” it doubles as a kitchen thermometer, although I already had one of those that works fine.

So it’s definitely a worthwhile investment. Maybe for later in your hatching career, after you become a hardcore addict.

 

[raingarden]

I trust the medical thermometer because if it is wrong the company would be liable for someone's health. It would not have come to market if it didn't work correclty because the company would be dragged into court over it. Also, the medical thermometer has a narrow range. The broader the range the more difficult it is to get accuracy and precision.

 

[Josh7182]

Why don’t you just put the thermometer in your own mouth and see if it comes out close to 98.6? Then call it good.

I bought the Thermoworks thermometer based on Aart’s recommendation, and I have been very happy with it. I like that it is fast, and if I care to, I can watch the temp rise and fall as my incubator regulates itself. I now know that one of my incubators has a tighter range than the other one. (Both are fine.) And I can poke it through the different vent holes on the lid of them and see where the hot and cold spots are. And during the “off season” it doubles as a kitchen thermometer, although I already had one of those that works fine.

So it’s definitely a worthwhile investment. Maybe for later in your hatching career, after you become a hardcore addict.

Ahh that's a good idea, never thought of putting a food thermometer in my mouth lol. Yeahh if this hatch fails I'll consider getting the thermoworks!

I trust the medical thermometer because if it is wrong the company would be liable for someone's health. It would not have come to market if it didn't work correclty because the company would be dragged into court over it. Also, the medical thermometer has a narrow range. The broader the range the more difficult it is to get accuracy and precision.

Ahh as in like oral thermometers?

 

[raingarden]

Yes, like the one in the medicine cabinet.

 

[aart]

Why don’t you just put the thermometer in your own mouth and see if it comes out close to 98.6? Then call it good.

Because our body temp can vary greatly, so is not a good 'standard' to test against.

I trust the medical thermometer because if it is wrong the company would be liable for someone's health. It would not have come to market if it didn't work correclty because the company would be dragged into court over it. Also, the medical thermometer has a narrow range. The broader the range the more difficult it is to get accuracy and precision.

I doubt liability would come into play.
But....oral medical thermometers are more accurate than most other therms,
and yes, in the right range for incubation.
Read the package for range and tolerances of any therms you think of buying,
not all are marked.

 

[Finnie]

Because our body temp can vary greatly, so is not a good 'standard' to test against.

True, but they were looking for a cheap alternative, so probably have to settle for a little bit of inaccuracy in that case.

 

[Josh7182]

Because our body temp can vary greatly, so is not a good 'standard' to test against.

So it's best to test it against the ice bath and the boiling water in your opinion?

True, but they were looking for a cheap alternative, so probably have to settle for a little bit of inaccuracy in that case.

Yeahh you're right, but wanna get it as accurate as I can. Thanks

 

[aart]

So it's best to test it against the ice bath and the boiling water in your opinion?

Only if the therm is capable of that range of temps.
An oral medical therm does not have that range,
a food therm usually does.