Troubleshooting homemade incubators

[TimG]

Chook-A-Holic: What did you use for a thermostat?

Patandchickens: Are you concerned that you are not getting fresh air into the incubator? Sounds like your incubator has become pretty airtight with all the insulating layers. And, that's not really desirable, is it?

ETA: I've used bricks for my thermal mass. You could also use rocks if you wanted to be more flexible regarding size.

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

Quote:
I used a wafer thermostat. It was only $9.00 more shipped and much easier than trying to rig a WH thermostat. You can see it in the 4th. pic, just under the top shelf on the left side toward the back.

 

[TimG]

Quote:
I used a wafer thermostat. It was only $9.00 more shipped and much easier than trying to rig a WH thermostat. You can see it in the 4th. pic, just under the top shelf on the left side toward the back.

How much was it?

Am I right that a wafer thermostat must be manually set and checked with an independent thermometer?

I've been using a thermostat intended for use in reptile tanks (less than $30, including shipping). I also have to manually adjust and check with a thermometer. It cycles through about a two degree range, which I think is actually OK since it is the air temperature, not the internal temperature of the egg, that is being measured. But, I am still thinking about switching to a wafer thermometer one my next go round with a homemade incubator.

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

Quote:
I used a wafer thermostat. It was only $9.00 more shipped and much easier than trying to rig a WH thermostat. You can see it in the 4th. pic, just under the top shelf on the left side toward the back.

How much was it?

$18.00 shipped. Got it from Amazon.com

Edit: Forgot to add>>> Instructions for setting it come with it. Basically you just increase the temp slowly until you reach you desired temp, then lock down the setscrew with the wing nut. You need an accurate thermometer when doing this.

 

[TimG]

I didn't see one at Amazon.com, but I did find this. Is that all there is to it? I for some reason thought they were more expensive.

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

Quote:
That's it. I just checked Amazon.com also and they are out of them right now.

 

[TimG]

Thanks. I was under the mistaken impression that wafer thermostats were more complicated and more expensive. I was thinking about buying a used incubator, but now I'm more likely to either modify the incubator I made or build another from scratch.

 

[patandchickens]

Wafer thermostats are great. Mine was only $30 complete assembly (canadian dollars, canadian source, plus shipping). An electronic thermostat would work even better but be like 2-3x the price.

Water actually makes better thermal mass than rocks or bricks. First, because it is easier to disinfect a jar o' water than a brick; and secondly because water has a higher specific heat than rock/brick and will therefore capture a slightly larger amount of heat per unit volume.

Quote:
Sorry, I should have said that of course I left gaps in the insulation where the ventilation holes are

They're lined up on opposite sides (near fan, and near thermostat) so it was pretty easy to do. There is no less ventilation than there was in my previous runs with this, and while I didn't have great hatches then I do not think air quality was to blame.


Pat