Need help raising temp. Picture added....

[SoCalChick]

I have built a hatcher and used a Hovabator heating system in it - but cant seem to raise the temp about 84 degree. Any suggestions??? I would be very grateful. The bator is built mostly of 1 inch thick wood - with two thick plexiglass sides.

 

[slickchik]

How big is the bator? Maybe the heating system isn't powerful enough for the size you built.

 

[SoCalChick]

It is 15x15.

 

[lemurchaser]

Add a light bulb or heating pad and see if the thermostat can be balance that way. It sounds like the space is too big for the heating element. What is the 3rd dimension of it?

 

[SoCalChick]

15x15x17. I have just added a light bulb - should i wrap it in foil?

 

[dbcooper02]

It sounds like you are trying to heat 3 to 4 times the volume of air as compared to the styrofoam bator that heat element was used in. I think it will probably work, but for me it raises a few questions.

Why so tall?
Are you using a fan, or still air?
Guessing that the heating element is mounted at the top, but where is the thermostat located?
Where are you measuring the temp?
How much vent area are you using?

I don't have or even know if there are correct answers to these questions. Just some things to think about that might get you on track to make it work.

 

[SoCalChick]

ok - i put a reg 60 watt bulb in and it went up to 103+. So i have removed the bulb and now trying an energy efficient bulb as they put off less heat. .......

 

[SoCalChick]

Quote:
It is tall as it has 2 shelves. And it the height someone recommended.
It has a fan. the heating element is at the top and the thermostat is located at the side about 2/3rd the way up.
For the temp & hum. level I bought a digital thermometer which is sitting in the middle of the bator.
It is sealed completley with a small hole drilled in the back.
Thanking you for your help......

 

[SoCalChick]

Here is my hatcher.....

 

[lemurchaser]

Or try a 40W bulb. You may have to put the bulb on a dimmer, in order to get the right amount of heat so the heating unit can maintain the fine adjustments. I don't know though, I've never seen one that does it this way.