Temp. setting in Octogon Eco 20 question

[CorgiHouse]

I also took the plunge and bought myself a Brinsea Octogon Eco 20, which I received yesterday - yeah! I set it up last night and got it running (empty). It got up to temp really quickly (wow!!) but the temp seems to be holding steady around 98.5 instead of 99.5 like it's 'supposed' to. I do find the glass thermometer extremely hard to read and it's not exact like a digital, so I put my digital thermo in there as well and it's sitting on the egg rails. The glass thermo looks like it's right between the 98 & 99, and the digital is reading at 98.5 too.

So I'm guessing I need to adjust the temp in this, but my understanding was that since it was factory preset to the perfect temp, do I leave it alone and assume the temp it is at is correct? Or do I adjust it? How many people have had to adjust their temp setting in their new Brnsea's?

 

[leahthor]

You can adjust it. On the top of the cover you will see the temp adjust cover. Remove the screw and look inside, there is a red toggle that you turn with a small screwdriver (I used the one for my glasses). Just turn in TINY increments though.

 

[Darling Farms]

We have found that with our Brinsea's that the temps run a bit low until the eggs go in... then after a bit it levels out that extra degree.

 

[Baralak]

I find the same as well.. I like to adjust it before eggs so that it right under right at the hash mark before 100 degrees. I set my eggs, then give it time for the eggs to come to incubation temp ( about 2-3 hours) and re-adjust. Once you get it set you shouldn't have to mess with it at all. I find that the glass thermometer in the Brinsea is good, but I like to set mine so that the temp is just under the 100 degree mark.

 

[funnybirds]

Quote:
Hey did you have water in the wells yet?

 

[ParadisePoultry]

I have the Brinsea Octo that has the digital readout. The first time I used it, I foolishly assumed that the temp was going to be accurate. My first hatch in it was over 200.00 worth of shipped eggs. Everything developed nicely, but on day 21 nothing hatched. I eventually got 8 to hatch late. Took the temp in the bator with my Brinsea Spot check thermometer. I stuck the probe through the vent hole. The bator read 99.5, but the actual temp was 98.0. Lesson learned. No matter how expensive your bator, never assume it's temp is accurate until you chek it with a really good thermometer. I have to run my Brinsea between 100.5 and 101.5 when I incubate. That gives me a Spot check temp of 99.5. Go figure

 

[funnybirds]

Yes, I did have to adjust my factory set temperature setting up a tiny bit as well; the Brinsea Eco 20 factory setting ran at exactly 99 degrees when I unpacked and set it up. It could have changed/moved a bit during shipping.
I also noticed when you add water to the wells the temp will range for a bit then settle down.

I notice in mine it takes about an hour and a half or so. So now, when I set it up to run before putting any eggs in, I have it run for two or three days with water in the wells, and a fully open vent to monitor humidity and temperature variances. Once it appears that all is stable, I set my eggs and then sit on my hands. (Which is tough!)

Usually I am right back up to steady and even within hours without messing with anything. I had to learn to resist the urge to adjust a previously good setting and not freak out because eggs take a while to come up to temperature. I think I can thank the good folks at BYC for learning me on that one!

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

Mine is holding steady out of the box the glass thermometer reads 100.5, and my digital one I put in is the same, although I know that one is 1 degree off. (So I guess it would be 101.5) Doesn't make any sense to me.

I think I will end up having to lower it just a touch.

 

[rarely bored]

I have always had issues with reading glass thermometers, so I placed a digital in there too. My brand new Oct 20 has needed a few turns on the screw to help the temp, but I'm pleased with how quickly the unit responds so I don't have to mess with it all day!

Because of the locations of the thermometers I do expect the glass thermometer to read a little bit higher than my digital that is low, on the eggs. Heat does rise.