Older cabinet incubator... how to adjust temp!?!

[dbcooper02]

I personally would never ever reccomend using a water heater thermostat in any incubator. The wafer is easily replacable. It just unscrews fron the L shaped adjusting screw. You should be able to find wafers for about $10 each. The cabinet incubator with the 2 wafers is what I use (3 1202's and a 1250 hatcher) and I think it is a great set-up. I can tell the front wafer is dead by noting its expanded condition. If you compare it to the rear one you can see what I mean. The wafer when cool is flattened, as it heats up it expands and shuts off the heating element by contacting a microswitch. They never expand to the extent that your front one has unless they have failed.

For the time being, until you can get one, you can remove the front wafer and regulate the temp by just using the rear one per the GQF instructions.

db

 

[NYREDS]

Quote:
Absolutely right. Water heater thermostats are no where near precise enough for an incubator.

 

[CrazyWestTexasFarmGirl]

Ok temp is steadily coming down. The front one that is expanded..... when I adjust that screw the indicator light clicks on and off like a tstat should. I have the temps down to 102 now. I will see if I can get it to temp and hold the way it is and then work on finding me replacements...... WHEW... Y'all are AWESOME!

 

[CrazyWestTexasFarmGirl]

Ok now that I know how to adjust the tsats I almost have it spot on to temp ALREADY!
Its clicking on and off to hold temp. Should it click off and on frequently once its holding steady?
So wafers are the most reliable? Do they have like an electronic one of any kind that would be as reliable? Something I might be able toadjust easier than the screws or should I stick with the way its set up. I need to figure out if the auto turner is working now.... I know the Rapid turn feature works for sure. Just not sure on the auto. It doesnt have a window in the door which will drive me batty... We might have to make one so I can see.... and a remote thermometer.... Right now I have to open the door to check the temps....

 

[dbcooper02]

Clicking off and on is normal, that's what a thermostat does to maintain the temperature. Wafers thermostats may not be the most reliable, but they certainly are the most afforable and easy to deal with. GQF will sell you an adjustable or preset electronic t-stat for about 77 bucks plus shiping. They sell the wafer for $6.75 and the snap switch for $10.12. I would stick with the original setup, I certainly have no issues with mine. Mine have been running continuously since Jan 2007.

As for the turner, you realize the switch has 3 positions, Up for rapid turn, centered is off, and down is auto turn. Level the trays with the rapid turn and then flip the switch down. Come back in an hour or so and you should find the trays tilted one way or the other. Check again in another hour or so and you should find them tilted the other way.

The only one of mine with a window is the hatcher. I rarely monitor the temps or humidity in the incubators they just run and run.

I'd suggest checking the seal of the door gasket on yours. They can make it tough to maintain humidity if they are leaking. You can check by closing the door on a dollar bill all around and see if there is a gap, or go around the perimeter of the door with a lit candle and check for drafts. A suitable replacement seal can be found at Home Depot or Lowes or local hardware store.

The current April/May Backyard Poultry magazine has a nice article on remodeling a cabinet incubator. Adding casters, cleaning etc.

 

[CrazyWestTexasFarmGirl]

ok temp is at 99, pan is full of water for humidity and we are waiting to ensure temp is maintained and then I have 7 dozen eggs to put in there...... Then my poor friends can actually have eggs for eating like they are begging for......... Cause I will have about 250 eggs incubating and my husband is going to murder me when they all hatch.......

 

[greathorse]

You have a very nice very solid incubator. I have an incubator and hatcher in that series or models. For about 65.00 you can get an electronic stat for your primary and use a wafer for the secondary. The wafers can stick or go bad with time and especially lack of use. They are not costly, about 15 bucks for the wafer and the switch. The two older 1200's I purchased each had a wafer that was bad. You should have a backup on hand.

I have never understood the fascination with using a water heater stat which is simply not calibrated to be very accurate as opposed to spending a couple of dollars on a wafer. Simply makes no sense to me.

If it were my I would get the electronic and back it up with the wafer.

Good luck and nice find.

 

[Irish Ridge]

Quote:
I'd like to use one and try this method: https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=26580-thermostat-modification
He claims 0°F temperature swing!
Has anyone tried this?

 

[Chris09]

Quote:
I'd like to use one and try this method: https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=26580-thermostat-modification
He claims 0°F temperature swing!
Has anyone tried this?

I agree with NYREDS,
I wouldn't trust one of those water heater thermostat in a incubator.
For $17.00 you can get the complete Hova-Bator wafer thermostat Switch.

Chris

 

[greathorse]

Quote:
I'd like to use one and try this method: https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=26580-thermostat-modification
He claims 0°F temperature swing!
Has anyone tried this?

I agree with NYREDS,
I wouldn't trust one of those water heater thermostat in a incubator.
For $17.00 you can get the complete Hova-Bator wafer thermostat Switch.

Chris

WHY???? If these water heater stats were all that every incubator would be using them. Wafers are so inexpensive yet this desire to use something designed for a totally different function. I dont get it