Please help with a homemade incubator--what am I doing wrong????

[TexasVet]

The sensor for the temp regulator is on the back of the unit, because it's designed to sense the temp of the water tank. When I installed mine, I glued 4 little standoffs (feet) onto the back before mounting it in the incubator. That allows the air to circulate to sensor.

Mine has about a 3 degree variance between turning on my light bulb and then turning it off. My first batch of eggs (ducks and chickens) appear to be right on schedule, so I assume all is working well.

Hope that helps!

Kathy in Texas

 

[tiki244]

http://www.cutlersupply.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_32&products_id=307

wafer thermostat complete $19.50



The way my bator is set up is the thermostat is in same place as yours and my 2 light bulbs are on one end, then a little wire cage and the fan is attached to that going away from the bulbs but NOT blowing on the thermostat. Also, I had to duct tape a little plastic on the outside where the thermostat was so it wouldnt get drafty. Any draft on thermostat will cause havoc. I know it is not as easy as it seems.

Also did you calibrate your thermometers?

 

[sben451]

Maybe this picture will help. I did use the metal junction box and attached the water heater thermostat to the metal box. My fan is on the right (out of view in this picture) and it blows across the bulb and thermostat. My water wiggler temps are pretty steady--running 99 to 100.5 degrees. My eggs are on day 8 today.

 

[tiki244]

It just has 2 wires sticking out,,,attach in place of H2o one and it will work. Very easy

As far as Hum issues yes. I get the humidity where I want, the temp wher I want and then when I put the eggs in I do not touch thermostat for 24-48 hrs, because it will drop some, but will go back to normal once the eggs warm up. Also when I add water the temp will drop a bit, but I just keep my hands off and dont panic and it will come back up on its own.

Just dont get near any drafts.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Quote:
That will work....

The thermostat has to be set to come on at about 99 degrees. You use the thermostats flaw to your advantage. You wont it to heat up an kick off before the incubator has time to go up more than a degree. The thermostat will still kick back on at 99 degrees. Making a variation of 1 degree from 99 to 100 degrees. It makes for an incubator that takes forever to get up to temp from a cold start but is very stable once it does.

 

[Roo]

What rebelcowboysnb is telling you is correct. The closer to the heat source the better. Just experiment move things around. The fan must blow straight across the heat source (light bulb) onto the thermostat. It will work.

 

[Mrs MIA]

The air temperature will fluctuate... it's the temp in the egg that seems to matter more, which is why people use the water wigglers with the homemade incubators. The wafer may be better for holding the temps, but the HWH thermostats work too if you have it organized right in the bator. I've had 100% hatches in my homemades, so they DO work.

 

[Sachasmom]

We had the same problem.

I had the thermostat on the cooler wall, that was a 20 degree swing.

I moved the fan so it would blow across the light bulb, then I moved the thermostat across from that.

I ended up turning it around so the back was facing the bulb, I wired it to a piece of wire I can move to adjust it. I'm getting about 3 degrees now. I tried it with it on the wall across from it, that was 8 degrees, and facing the correct way, 5 degrees.

It looks very jerry rigged, but its working, and the eggs are finally in!

I'm hoping we have a decent enough hatch to pay for a wafer thermostat for the next batch.

 

[emvickrey]

I am having a problem with maitaining the humidity at 50%. Before I put eggs in the bator it was a perfect 99.5 degrees and 50% humidity. After I put the eggs in, which where fresh laid, the temp remainde the same and the humidity dropped to 37%. I changed the water container to the pan that came with the bator and it raised a tad bit to 43%. I was wondering if the weather has anyhtng to do with it. We have storms just north of us and the wind is very high. The bator is insied my home though. I'm going to try to send pictures.

Well, thep pictures didn't work.

 

[cici_p]

Wow, I just can't believe how many people were willing to help me with this last night when I was about to have a break down over it! Thank you!
Ok, this morning I took the thermostat out of the metal box, and put it about three inches away from the light bulb, with the fan blowing on both. I then Heated up the box with a blow dryer, just to give it a head start on heating up, and let it sit the whole day without even looking at it (this was easy because I was at work, otherwise I never would have had the will power). I have only watched it for one cycle now, but the results were. . .

Now kicking off at about 93.8 and kicking on at 92.8

Water wiggler seems to be stable at 93.4.

So now all I have to do is recalibrate my thermostat to a higher temp, right? and I should have a very stable incubator!

Thank you for all the help

One more question, though--how do I raise my humidity. I have a bowl of water in, but it is only at about 30% right now (I am in a very humid climate--that and, the hair dryer sucked out a lot of moisture.)

I will keep an eye on things and let everyone know how it turns out. The pic of my first hatch will be posted everywhere I promise!!!!!!!