thermometer trouble

[bufforp89]

I just fired up my new LG a few hours ago to get the temp perfect but Im running into trouble. I have 4 thermometers in it, the one that came with it, one that is simular to the one that came with it, and two digital ones of different sizes and brands that came from Walmart and display temp and humidity. They are all reading different temps. What one do I believe? Also one of the digital ones has a probe for indoor/outdoors and displays both temps and they are different as well even though the probe is in the incubator. Can anyone help me? This is my first hatch in like 5 years, I have hatched in an older LG before but had someone who was experienced walk me through it and set it up. Thanks

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Do you have a medical thermometer you can try?

 

[panner123]

First and most important, throw away the 2 small ones that came with the incubator. I would try a friend that hatches eggs and check thier therometer against yours. You can check it agianst a medical therometer as Rebel suggested. As a betting man I'm going with the one without the outside probe.

 

[Intheswamp]

Quote:
Ok, I'll take the one with the outside probe.

Seems when I was doing some (un)scientific research on these wallyworld thermometers the Acurite indoor/outdoor with a probe was the most accurate (the probe sensor itself being the most accurate).

Do like rebelcowboysnb said and grab a medical thermometer. Place a small glass with an inch or less of water in it and let it stay in the incubator for an hour or two (two being better) and take the water's temperature with the medical thermometer. Should point you to the more accurate household thermometer or at least show you how far off they are.

Ed

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

I you use water that way put it in a jar with a top so it does not evaporate an give a false cool reading.

 

[duckluck]

Get a Brinsea Spot Check thermometer, which is designed for incubating. I'd do my betting on them!

 

[muddstopper]

When using a accurite digital thermometer with probe, you will probably notice more temp fluctuation with the probe temp reading than with the main body of the thermometer. There are a couple of reason for this. One the sensor for the main body of the thermometer is located inside the thermometer caseing. Since the air doesnt circulate thru this caseing verywell, the temp reading will be slower to adjust to the proper temp. The sensor on the wire is more open and is also a different sensor than the one inside the main thermometer. With my accurite, the sensor on the wire will change temperature readings much faster than the main thermometer. Air movement will effect the reading of the sensor as well. Fast moveing air produces a cooler temperature reading. My suggestion is to take all of your thermometers and place side by side, including any probes or external sensors, and without any direct air current moveing across them. Give them time to stabilize to the current temp and then compare the readings. Any thermometers with probes that are off more than .2* between internal and external probe should not be used unless you note that temp difference and compensate for it. If your external probe is changeing temp reading at a much faster pace than the internal sensor while in the incubator, this is probably due to to much air flow across the sensor. Either move the sensor probe to another spot inside the incubator, or partialy block the air flow across the sensor. A piece of cardboard or other material can be placed between the sensor and the direction of air flow and will result in a more stable temperature reading. As the heating element turns on and off, you can expect a little overshoot and undershoot of the desire temp setting, but it is the adverage temp reading you need to be concerned about. Unless of course the undershoot and oveshoot has a range of several degrees.

 

[speckledhen]

Bill has some good suggestions. Another thing to realize is that household thermometers are not required to have pinpoint accuracy. I believe there is a regulation that says they must be within about 2 degrees or something like that. And they can change the more they are used. Had two AcuRites and one just completely quit-screen went out. Though the probe seems to give the most accurate reading compared to the body of the unit, as they were used more and more, the accuracy went down in both thermeter and hygrometer part. It's why I finally bought an actual incubator thermometer I've mentioned before, the digital Spot Check (also called Egg-Temp).

 

[bufforp89]

I got rid of the two smaller thermometers and have given it a few hours to come up to temp. The outside probe is reading 99.2 the inside is reading 100.2 and the other is reading 100.4 I turned up the bator a tiny bit and am going to give it a bit. I am going to go get a medical thermometer tomorrow. Thanks for the imput everyone! Im sure I will have eggs in soon.

 

[speckledhen]

Best of luck to you on the hatch!