Testing incubator ... Question

I put some water in to test humidity for lockdown and with just a bowl of water it was 32% and I know my meter is off and I need to add a few points to that number. I didn't push the humidity in the incubator cuz... I scored a free plywood trunk and will now will have a separate hatcher soon
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staggered hatches in my future now! So I have 18 days to get that to hold humidity and temps..

I think I will keep the bowl of water in to keep the humidity in a safer range. I am not going to stress over it. I may turn off the dehumidifier in the room since it is not as humid here as it was and the a/c is running some (78 degrees). If it gets over 40% I will take the water out.

Setting eggs tomorrow and I will def. use the link.... Thanks!
 
It is stable. I set 57 eggs today! I will have to wait till tomorrow to double check temps again. Start the hatcher tomorrow.... I will update as I go....
 
It never varied from the 99-99.9. We will see what happens with eggs in it. The humidity was a 57 when I started it up and had dropped to 50 with no water. I will double check that tomorrow too an add water if it is too low.
 
OK now that the eggs are in the temp on the lower tray is between 99-100 (probe) the top tray is 98.6-99.3. I put a cheap outdoor type on top and it show right at 100. Should I make some adjustments or just go with it? More heat sinks? Humidity was at about 30% if it is not higher tomorrow i will add some water.
 
Quote:
Been thinking.

More heat sinks will not change the overall temp; just slow temp changes, or provide heat for a while if heat source fails.

Was the 98.6-99.3 taken using the same thermometer as the lower tray??? Can you create open spaces on the lower try to allow more flow of hot air up ward?

If that doesn't work, try swapping the trays every 3-4 days. Like cookie sheets in an oven.
 
Quote:
Been thinking.

More heat sinks will not change the overall temp; just slow temp changes, or provide heat for a while if heat source fails.

Was the 98.6-99.3 taken using the same thermometer as the lower tray??? Can you create open spaces on the lower try to allow more flow of hot air up ward?

If that doesn't work, try swapping the trays every 3-4 days. Like cookie sheets in an oven.

The trays are hardware cloth and the egg cartons holding the eggs have holes in the bottom. and there should be plenty of air circulating around. I did think I should swap the eggs every few days. The top tray has more eggs maybe I should just evenly distribute them with the same amount of empty egg carton spaces. Now that is sounding good same mass same empty space... duhhhhhhhh I need to make removable trays... I see modifications when this is done.

Thanks!! If you don't think that will help let me know. Tomorrow I will rearrange them to make it even.
 
Making the top and bottom even with the same number of eggs is not important if you are rotating the cartons top to bottom every 3 days.

I found egg cartons without tops to be very unstable and will bend very easily with the potential to have eggs fall out. I kept 3/4 inch lip on BOTH long sides to increase stability.

Perhaps a little space between the cartons.

The other consideration is increasing fan speed to move the air more. Just a reminder, no wind directly on the eggs.

You had good temps before setting the eggs; the eggs are interfering with air flow.


LESS CHANCE OF BREAKAGE IF TEMPS ON TOP RACK CAN BE INCREASED A BIT MORE.
 
Took a look at the pictures and had a couple ideas.

Definely another fan--this could back fire and cause more air loss thru any cracks. But I know you worked hard to remove the leaks, so this may not be a problem.

THe plexi glass window is a big source of heat loss; perhaps lay an insulating material ontop of itand remove it briefly while you look to check on things.

In the future you could move the racks closer together.

As with all changes, make the change and then monitor closely to see the effect. SOmetimes the result is surprising. Some changes need a longer time to see the full effect.

Small changes drove me bonkers--I kept a notebook, very helpful to remember what I had done EXACTLY.
 

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