Temperature

[confederatemule]

We have our first incubator. It is a Farm Innovator 4250.
The analog thermometer reads 2.5 degrees lower than the digital thermometer.
Should I raise the digital setting until the manual thermometer reads 99.5 degrees?
Should I try to come up with another analog thermometer of some sort to compare?

Thanks fer any help.
Mule

 

[SunHwaKwon]

What type of thermometer are you using? Food and medical are the most accurate. I use the cheap aquarium thermometers personally. Regardless, you will want to check it's accuracy (sometimes erroneously referred to on here as calibrating). Fill a glass with ice and add just enough water that the thermometer will be submerged (you don't want air temp). Ensure it reads 32 degrees. If it is off, remember that adjustment and take it into account when you are getting the reading in the incubator, and use that to guide what to set the incubator at.

 

[confederatemule]

I am using the thermometer provided by Farm Innovators with their incubator.
I'll get a food thermometer.

Mule

 

[Bluechick2u]

I just bought a hovabator styrofoam incubator, can't get the temp stabilized, it goes down to 95 degrees then turns on and goes to 100, then back down to 95, and the seller says thats normal and is ok, but isn't that too much of a temp swing?? (Sorry to hijack the thread)

 

[SunHwaKwon]

I am using the thermometer provided by Farm Innovators with their incubator.
I'll get a food thermometer.

Mule

The one that came with mine was way off and the digital controller is spot on.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

I just bought a hovabator styrofoam incubator, can't get the temp stabilized, it goes down to 95 degrees then turns on and goes to 100, then back down to 95, and the seller says thats normal and is ok, but isn't that too much of a temp swing?? (Sorry to hijack the thread)

It sounds like you have a lot of heat loss. What do you have it set at and is it still air or forced air? What is the temp in the room where you are keeping it? I recommend keeping it in a closet as the air temp tends to be more stable there, as well as away from windows and vents.

 

[Bluechick2u]

It sounds like you have a lot of heat loss. What do you have it set at and is it still air or forced air? What is the temp in the room where you are keeping it? I recommend keeping it in a closet as the air temp tends to be more stable there, as well as away from windows and vents.

It is in a room that's 79 degrees, the heater is only coming on after about 4 hours when the temp slowly goes down to 95, it is a forced air styrofoam incubator, set right next to my still air styrofoam incubators that hold a much more stable temp.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Hmmm. Do both have an automatic turner? Is the plastic window inserted and "locked in" properly? Do you have the plugs in or out of both incubators?

 

[Bluechick2u]

I am not currently using any auto turners, and the plastic windows are glued in, and the lid appears to be sealing well. I even left the vent plugs in, which I don't use when incubating eggs.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Since you are not using a turner, how often are you opening them to turn the eggs? Does it correspond with the times of the low temps?