NR 360 Humidity Issues

[QuailHatch]

I Have Coturnix eggs incubating in a NR 360. My thermostat is set for 73* and the humidity in my home is 50-60%. I am having issues with the incubator losing around 15-20% humidity in less than 10 hours. I have 10 days left on the eggs. For the last 4-5 days we add water to Pot A and with the vent half open it will get to 60-62% So we leave the vent fully open which keeps it around 52%. Problem is it is dropping humidity bro around 32-35% before anyone is home or awake to tend to it. What can be done to keep it stable. I have 3 and a half dozen eggs in there and will be really upset if they don’t hatch because of this issue.

also does anyone know of a hydrometer that can be monitored remotely and will log data so I can keep track. I work offshore so I would like something I can monitor to make sure my wife and kids are tending to the incubator and so I know if there is a power failure and restored.

 

[CliftonQuail]

I Have Coturnix eggs incubating in a NR 360. My thermostat is set for 73* and the humidity in my home is 50-60%. I am having issues with the incubator losing around 15-20% humidity in less than 10 hours. I have 10 days left on the eggs. For the last 4-5 days we add water to Pot A and with the vent half open it will get to 60-62% So we leave the vent fully open which keeps it around 52%. Problem is it is dropping humidity bro around 32-35% before anyone is home or awake to tend to it. What can be done to keep it stable. I have 3 and a half dozen eggs in there and will be really upset if they don’t hatch because of this issue.

also does anyone know of a hydrometer that can be monitored remotely and will log data so I can keep track. I work offshore so I would like something I can monitor to make sure my wife and kids are tending to the incubator and so I know if there is a power failure and restored.

There are several Govee thermometers/hydrometers that I've used. For remote monitoring, I have this set
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09BVLP9C5/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It has a WiFi gateway that you can connect to from the internet. The gateway connects to the three sensors via bluetooth (you can also connect your phone to them directly). It logs the data and downloads it to your phone when you connect to the sensor. In the app, you can set alarm points that will alert you if the humidity gets too high or low. I haven't used that function so I'm not sure if the app needs to be active for the alerts to work.
I don't have a NR 360, but others on here do and can probably give you better advice on managing the humidity in the device.

 

[QuailHatch]

There are several Govee thermometers/hydrometers that I've used. For remote monitoring, I have this set
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09BVLP9C5/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It has a WiFi gateway that you can connect to from the internet. The gateway connects to the three sensors via bluetooth (you can also connect your phone to them directly). It logs the data and downloads it to your phone when you connect to the sensor. In the app, you can set alarm points that will alert you if the humidity gets too high or low. I haven't used that function so I'm not sure if the app needs to be active for the alerts to work.
I don't have a NR 360, but others on here do and can probably give you better advice on managing the humidity in the device.

Thanks. I’ve looked at that one earlier today but was turned away because of sensor dimensions. How do you have it in the incubator and not restrict anything? Just sitting sideways on the turner? I looked at this one. Tempcube PRO Remote Wifi Temperature & Humidity Monitor Sensor. Subscription Free, 24/7 Monitor, Unlimited Text, Free App & Email Ale... https://a.co/d/7D020lK
It’s about 3”x3”. I was thinking of Velcro taping it to the lid of the incubator but the price is double the govee.

 

[CliftonQuail]

Thanks. I’ve looked at that one earlier today but was turned away because of sensor dimensions. How do you have it in the incubator and not restrict anything? Just sitting sideways on the turner? I looked at this one. Tempcube PRO Remote Wifi Temperature & Humidity Monitor Sensor. Subscription Free, 24/7 Monitor, Unlimited Text, Free App & Email Ale... https://a.co/d/7D020lK
It’s about 3”x3”. I was thinking of Velcro taping it to the lid of the incubator but the price is double the govee.

The dimensions in the Govee listing are a bit misleading. I think what's listed as "Product Dimensions" is the size of the box that contains the entire system. The individual sensors are less than 1" wide x about 3/4" tall x around 2" long. There's a picture in the listing that shows them at 2.42 cm x 2 cm x 5.61 cm, so my quick measurements are pretty close. There's another picture that shows the sensor on top of a cigar that might give you a better idea of size. They're barely longer than a AAA battery (which is their power source). In my Brinsea incubator, they sit on the bottom underneath the turners and don't interfere at all. I could also put them in the turners where they would take up the space of about two quail eggs.

 

[Susan Skylark]

I initially used a nr 360 and didn’t have humidity issues (though I was home and checking it often and adjusting as needed). Try partially closing the vent for longer higher humidity. Are you opening it at all? I had trouble getting it to shut completely (with a resulting humidity drop) unless you set it perfectly on the ledge. Also, humidity is more of a long term average thing rather than a high/low spike is bad like temp. As long as the average is 40-50 percent you should be fine. Some people even ‘dry incubate’ and do fine. I now have a cheap Amazon incubator with humidity either way high (75) or way low (25) and my last hatch was 100 percent (though only 4 eggs!). Consistent temp is way more important and far more vital, humidity is important but long term average is the main factor not set points in time.

 

[QuailHatch]

I initially used a nr 360 and didn’t have humidity issues (though I was home and checking it often and adjusting as needed). Try partially closing the vent for longer higher humidity. Are you opening it at all? I had trouble getting it to shut completely (with a resulting humidity drop) unless you set it perfectly on the ledge. Also, humidity is more of a long term average thing rather than a high/low spike is bad like temp. As long as the average is 40-50 percent you should be fine. Some people even ‘dry incubate’ and do fine. I now have a cheap Amazon incubator with humidity either way high (75) or way low (25) and my last hatch was 100 percent (though only 4 eggs!). Consistent temp is way more important and far more vital, humidity is important but long term average is the main factor not set points in time.

It was all the way open because with it open between 1/4-1/2 and even 3/4 of the way humidity was staying over 60%. The wife and kids may just have to fight with it till I get home in a week. By then the eggs should be hatching (if the humidity issues haven’t caused issues). I am going to try adjusting some setting with my central AC. It works as a dehumidifier and where I live the RH outside has been 80-100% so it may be my AC is kicking on and dehumidifying my home and causing the incubator to lose humid too quickly.

 

[QuailHatch]

Update. 19 babies. Didn’t have as many eggs in the incubator as I thought. Had 30 eggs in there. 8 were unfertile and 3 never hatched. I did buy a temp stick. But showing a bit of a discrepancy between temp and humidity of the incubator. Wonder which one is more accurate

 

[Susan Skylark]

Your independent thermometer is likely more accurate! I have three cheap ones that agree with one another but not the incubator.