Where to get a good reliable thermometer?

[geosheets]

I've had the best luck with the 1.99 aquarium thermometers from walmart... found in the pet supplies and they have a little suction cup on them. I don't trust any of the digital ones and have had them to be off by several degrees, especially as the batteries get weak.

 

[gumbii]

Quote:
this is what i plan to use...



although... a lot of us in the aquarium world don't use them because they do not last that long... they only work for about a year or so... so if i were you, i'd also change them after a year of operation...

 

[kstaven]

As important as a good thermometer is: Always remember to take the reading at the level of the egg rather than inches above or below. A lot of poultry people recommend the acu-rite.

Must say I found the digital thermometer in my Brinsea to be deadly accurate.

 

[mrsfarmchick1]

As important as a good thermometer is: Always remember to take the reading at the level of the egg rather than inches above or below. A lot of poultry people recommend the acu-rite.

Must say I found the digital thermometer in my Brinsea to be deadly accurate.

I plan on investing in a Brinsea this spring just for that reason.
Also, in the LG - I understand about taking the temp at egg level, but what about the "fake egg" reading (water weasel or something homemade). I put some gel in a baggie, wrapped it around 3 thermometers (the LG mercury one, a digital oral one, and the temp probe of a Zilla digital) - they all read different, but they are all lower than the air thermometer that is at egg level. Should I keep the 'internal temp' of the fake egg closest to 99.5 and let the air temp go much higher?​

 

[joyous]

Love my Brinsea spot check! mount it on the outside of your incubator and it has a wire with a sensing probe so that you can put it right at the eggs. Highly accurate and easy to use!

 

[mrsfarmchick1]

Love my Brinsea spot check! mount it on the outside of your incubator and it has a wire with a sensing probe so that you can put it right at the eggs. Highly accurate and easy to use!

I have heard of that before, so I just ordered one to add to my collection (hopefully it will be the most accurate and I can thin out the others - thanks for the advice).​

 

[Mahonri]

I didn't even read the other responses.

Go to the Brinsea site. Order the Brinsea Spot check.

$30. Worth every penny.

 

[Talihofarms]

Spot Check!................ By far the best $ spent. ..............................
I use to calibrate the liquid thermometers in the bators. Never had a reiable accurate digital from the box stores.






just my .02

 

[muddstopper]

I bought the Zillia and tried if for part of one hatch. I took it out and stomped it with my foot. The worst thermometer I have ever tried. The accurite's work well but where most people find problems with it has nothing to do with the thermometer itself. What happens is they place the unit inside the incubator where it is subject to humidity changes. The rise and fall of humidity levels can, will, and does effect the temperature readouts. Even tho you are dealing with low voltage electricity, water and electricity dont mix. As the mositure accumilates inside the Accurite and around the temperature senosor, it effects the voltage signals being relayed to the digital readout. Any variation in electricity will result in a different temperature reading than the thermometer is designed to display. To solve this, I use only the external sensor that comes mounted on the wire to place inside the cabinet. I remove it from its protected cover and coat with the rubber electrical liquid tape. I then place the wired sensor in the trays along with the eggs. I keep the actual Accurite unit outside the cabinet. I will use another meter placed inside the cabinet to measure humidity. Keep the batteries fresh and the Accurites are pretty dang accurate and dependable.

One other thing I tried and it worked verywell for a long time was to disassemble the Accurite and remove its internal sensors, including the humidity sensor, and place all three sensors on a wire. Doing this enabled me to place all three sensors, including the humdity sensor, inside the cabinet while keeping the actual meter outside the incubator itself. Doing this I was able to monitor temps in two locations inside the cabinet and the humidity with just one meter. To do this conversion, you need good eyesight, a steady hand and decent soldering skills. I lack all three so I had the conversion done for me. If you can thread a sewing needle, and have a small soldering iron, you can probably do the conversion yourself.

 

[Cowgirl71]

Quote:
Do you have a still air LG? If you do, then you're supposed to aim for 102F at the top of the eggs, so that it's about 99.5 inside the eggs.

If you have circulated air, then the temperature should be pretty consistent throughout the bator, so you should aim for 99.5F.

The Brinsea spot check looks very interesting as well!

Here's a question a little off subject, but related enough I'll try posting it here. I'm buying a used Genesis 1588 (upgrading from LG 9200

), and I'm curious just how accurate are Genesis incubators for temperature, seeing as GQF's thermometers are crap? And will the Genesis maintain temperature accuracy for a long time, or will it wear out quickly and need to be reset? I've heard nothing but good things about this incubator, but wanted to double check.