Little Giant Incubator Tricks

[JWEBB]

A trick I've been using to help keep temps more stable is to use a "seedling mat" (for example: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002LVU4Y8/ref=oh_details_o08_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 )

First lay down the mat, then a 12x12 floor tile, then the incubator on top.

I started doing this to help buffer the temperature swings in my house. Since we heat only with a wood stove the room temperatures can fluctuate 20+ degrees in a 24 hour period.

Since doing this the temps in the incubator have been much more stable, usually +/- 1 degree.

thanks! this is a great idea, I just moved the LG into the dining room near our furnace... it was crazy trying to regulate it in the cooler bedroom. Def a challenge to get it stable they do need some help in the cold.

 

[bradselig]

A trick I've been using to help keep temps more stable is to use a "seedling mat" (for example: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002LVU4Y8/ref=oh_details_o08_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 )

First lay down the mat, then a 12x12 floor tile, then the incubator on top. 

I started doing this to help buffer the temperature swings in my house.  Since we heat  only with a wood stove the room temperatures can fluctuate 20+ degrees in a 24 hour period. 

Since doing this the temps in the incubator have been much more stable, usually +/- 1 degree.

This is a great idea! One thing I would do is add little feet to the bottom of the tile (rubber cabinet door bumper maybe?). I don't have experience with the seedling mat, but I used under the tank heaters quite a bit for reptiles. They can very easily over heat if they don't have enough airflow around them. Raiding up the tile 1/4" would be plenty to prevent any overheating. If you are worried about the loss of heat, tape the mat to the bottom of the tile so heat is still transferred to the tile, but allows air flow under the mat. The foil tape found in the heating and cooling/HVAC section of stores works great with heat pads.

 

[cmom]

Quote:
I don't think the seed mats get that hot. A heating pad would be a different story.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: THe LGs are tricky-- and challenge us tobetter understand incubating!!! I too moved mine from a cold back room to a bathroom that receives a direct flow of warm air from the wood stove. Gotta kep the wood stove going to help the incubator at its best. I keep the LG thermometer UNDER the LG and slide it out for a reading of the room temp-- might need to feed the beast to improve the temps.

Love the ingenuity of the plant mat and tiles.

 

[topdycke]

What about using a ceramic or stone tile in the bottom of the incubator to act as a heat sink to stabilize the temperature?... There is also a thread started on using heating pad on a baking rack on some risers as a brooder - seems like that is a possibility too without the risers for the incubator.

 

[topdycke]

One thing I have learned now is that the LG is really sensitive to changes in household temps. That was what was so annoying at first about the changes and I didn't make the connection. We will see early next week what the results are

 

[JWEBB]

very true. I'm taking the LG back to the store, my house is not insulated at all (lathe and plaster) and it will be a disaster. I tried to regulate it for 2 days full of eggs... thats enough! lol I'll have to stick to the coolerbators.

 

[JWEBB]

What about using a ceramic or stone tile in the bottom of the incubator to act as a heat sink to stabilize the temperature?... There is also a thread started on using heating pad on a baking rack on some risers as a brooder - seems like that is a possibility too without the risers for the incubator.

Oh that might be a good idea! hmmm I see was it this thread someone was using a seed starting heat pad under the incubator too help regulate.

 

[JWEBB]

This is a great idea! One thing I would do is add little feet to the bottom of the tile (rubber cabinet door bumper maybe?). I don't have experience with the seedling mat, but I used under the tank heaters quite a bit for reptiles. They can very easily over heat if they don't have enough airflow around them. Raiding up the tile 1/4" would be plenty to prevent any overheating. If you are worried about the loss of heat, tape the mat to the bottom of the tile so heat is still transferred to the tile, but allows air flow under the mat. The foil tape found in the heating and cooling/HVAC section of stores works great with heat pads.

these are all great ideas maybe I'll play with the LG a little more with the ideas here. I can use it in the warmer weather too may as well just keep it.

Thats true Arielle, I think it does keep us on our toes!

 

[Arielle]

One thing I have learned now is that the LG is really sensitive to changes in household temps. That was what was so annoying at first about the changes and I didn't make the connection. We will see early next week what the results are

THe instruction booklet clearly states the ambient temperature in which the LG works best. I run the wood stove to keep the room in that range, or just shy of it in reality, and it can hold the temp. ALso swings in the thermometer temps are normal, as it is measuring the air temp that is passing the thermometer-- what we are after is the egg temp of 99.5-100.0 if LG has a fan. or on average 102 at top of eggs if without the fan.

THe LG is a great teacher-- no set it and forget it.