Touchy thermostat question.

[Delmar]

The screw on my water heater thermostat is kind of touchy. It took me a couple of days to get it dialed in "pretty good", between 100 and 98. So I went ahead and set my eggs. The temp went down for a bit, as I expected, while I put the eggs in. Then when it leveled off it leveled off at between 98 and 97. I am afraid that if I mess with it a small turn of the screw will have it shooting up to 105 again. I'm sort of thinking I should roll the dice and leave it alone. Does that sound right?

 

[pete55]

I would leave it alone for 24 hours then review. the temperature can often fluctuate a little when the eggs go in. Better to avoid high spikes which can prove lethal.

Good Luck

 

[3forfree]

I'm using a water bed thermostat, and after putting the eggs in the temps dropped, and only rose to 98, I fought with it for 2 days until it started to stay at 100 + or - a few .10's. Today is day 5, monday I will candle to see what's going on, and hopefully, will continue. Good luck with your hatch.

 

[galanie]

Quote:
I agree. If you do end up kicking it up just a hair it will likely spike to 103 then settle back down closer to 100. The trick it is to leave it alone 24 hours between adjustments. But it's scary, I know, to witness it with your eggs in there. If you leave it alone and it stays that low you will still have a hatch they would just hatch later.

 

[Delmar]

Quote:
Would it not be hazardous to leave at 103 for 24 hours? I think I am going to stick with my plan to leave it alone, unless the temp starts to dip further ( which I don't believe is likely. Thanks for letting me know that the hatch might take longer.

 

[galanie]

Yes, it would. But it won't stay that high for that long, most likely. I'm with you though, just leave it where it is. You'll have a delayed hatch rather than risk no hatch. In my experience, once I've let it run a couple days and gotten stable, just where I want it, it goes crazy once the eggs go in. At this point, RESIST the urge to adjust it. It will come back to where it should be if you leave it alone from the beginning without dangerous spikes. It takes the eggs some time for the internal temp to come up, so the high temp you see on the thermometer at first only reflects the air temp for a short time, not the internal egg temp.

 

[snazzyboots]

I'm having the same issues. I put the eggs in then it was really low 93 the next day. I turned it up just a tiny bit and it went to 103 then I turned it down a very small amount and it went to 91 this is driving me crazy. I can't get it right. Are my eggs doomed??

 

[Cynthia12]

Quote:
I posted on your other thread.
Did your eggs sit under the 103 for long? That would be a worry, but if it was only for a short time, you may be ok. You never know. Just don't that happen again, ya hear?!!

 

[snazzyboots]

thanks. it wasn't for long because i am obsessively checking it. i'm just worried about the drastic differences. i have no problem leaving it alone once it is right i just can't seem to get there. i appreciate all the advice

 

[galanie]

At this point, adjusting it is like oversteering and braking hard when your car is sliding out of control. You want to get it down/up/right/left NOW but the effort you will expend will overdo things. Just tap the brake lightly and quit whipping that wheel around.