Ideas for thermostat in styrofoam bator. Also bator elements.

[chicken_angler]

Okay I have my homemade styrofoam incubator 95% done and it hasnt cost me a penny. My question is:


what do i use for a thermostat? My dad has hot water heater thermos but they range from 125 to 180 degrees. Too hot right?

Are there any other things i could use as a thermostat? How bout those circular control switches in your house that are hooked up to your furnace? Would one of those work?

I think I have verything I need in my bator. I have egg turner, light socket, PC fan, plastic viewing lid.

Anything else?

Cody!!

 

[steelshot]

Hey Angler,
Why not get you a wafer thermosat like come in most incubators. They are fairly cheap and work fine. The hot water therm will not work.(TOO HOT)

 

[congdon476]

You might have to break down and get the $8 water heater therm at Home Depot or Lowe's (we found at Home Depot... but some say Lowe's). It's a SMALL one-- only 2 screws/connectors. Not to be confused with the multi screw/connector ones.

We made this mistake in thinking they didn't exist when we went to Lowe's and they were out of stock. Only had the $14+ ones.

I have also heard of people using a dimmer witch instead. Maybe you have one around the house?

 

[chicken_angler]

I am not sure if I can get one of the wafer thermos. How much are they? My dad wont let me spend a lot on this because he says i cant incubate eggs in it. He has a few of the circular controls but we arent sure if they would work.

Cody!!

 

[congdon476]

The cheapest I could find a wafer was $15.00 before shipping on the internet.

 

[tinners204]

No you can not use the thermostat that is on the wall that controls your furnace. The temperature does not go up high enough. Your best bet would be to buy the wafer thermastat. You will spend the least and still get a decent hatch.

 

[chicken_angler]

What do you mean dimmer switch?

 

[pascopol]

Quote:
Water heater therm is not accurate, wafer is better.
I have reptile thermostat with the probe in my homemade bator.
Very accurate, keeps my bator within 1 degree of Farenhite.
It is much better that thermostats used in low end commercial incubators (Little Giant, Brower etc)

I believe I paid below $30.00

If you consider your time, effort, money spend on hatching eggs it is cheap.

Can't get great hatches with lousy thermostat, that's the bottom line.

 

[tinners204]

Quote:
Water heater therm is not accurate, wafer is better.
I have reptile thermostat with the probe in my homemade bator.
Very accurate, keeps my bator within 1 degree of Farenhite.
It is much better that thermostats used in low end commercial incubators (Little Giant, Brower etc)

I believe I paid below $30.00

If you consider your time, effort, money spend on hatching eggs it is cheap.

Can't get great hatches with lousy thermostat, that's the bottom line.

Where did you get your reptile thermostat from?

 

[Stephens]

You can run down to Lowes and get a lower element themo. It ranges 90 to 120 if you decide to go this route. They cost $8.95.