Which thermometer to trust?

[macdoogle]

I just set up my new Hovabator still air incubator. The instructions say to callibrate the thermometer that comes with it with one you trust. I have a disk thermometer as well as a humidity checker in there and then a 'person' thermometer hanging from one of the vents. The disk reads 95 deg. the person one reads 104 deg or higher and the Hova one is at a perfect 99.5. So. which one should I trust?

 

[sonjab314]

Which one do you trust? If you are using a still air, you want your temp up at 101.5. I would trust the medical grade one more than likely, if the batteries are not dead. Here is a way to test with the medical one. They have trouble measuring air temps. Set a bowl of water in your bator and let it set until it is that same temp as the inside of your bator. Then stick the medical thermometer in the water (just the same amount that you would put in your mouth) and let it read. I've done this many times trying to mix temperature perfect parrot formula and it works like a charm.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Just use the medical thermometer as it was intended an see if it reads what you expect. if it does then trust it to calibrate the others.

http://cmfarm.us/ThermometerCalibration.html

 

[macdoogle]

Thanks. Does it matter that the medical thermometer is 3 inches up from the metal grate while the others are flat on it? I screwed up my last hatch with a home made bator when the temp was all over the place and this time I wan't to get it right.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Yes, it matters especally in a still air.

All need to be at the level of the top of the egg.

 

[sonjab314]

The temp is supposed to be taken on top of the eggs.