Incubator Temp help please :)

[Fall guys]

Hi everyone, I recently purchased a new incubator wine fridge, and am currently testing out different methods for most accurate readings to make sure it's ready to have eggs inside it... and that's where the trouble begins.

I have made a mockup tub of vermiculite of water and 3 probes (1 thermostat temp probe + 2 different types of digital thermometers) on top of the vermiculite (where the eggs would be, and probe would go on top of eggs) all next to each other, so theoretically there shouldn't be much of a difference

they all give quite different readings I.e thermostat will go anywhere from 31.5 - 32.5 - 33.5, and the other thermometers will read something 1 or 2 degrees either lower or higher (1 will be lower, 1 higher, or both lower, both higher) rarely all 3 will line up, and then all split up within a few minutes XD and they are all *branded* names... like reptile zoo, reptile one, eco-tech

I am planning on getting a dimming or PP stat when one becomes available... at a reasonable price...

does anyone have tips on how to measure temp more accurately ? as far as I am aware a temp gun is going to read lower temps (or higher temps if I aim at the walls where heat cord is) and won't be going 24/7

I guess I'm not too sure how to know which reading to go off of etc

if anyone has super precise thermometers they recommend or something would be great

Thanks!

 

[Sdaji]

Almost any thermistor thermometer (the probe thermometers) will be extremely precise, but commonly they're not very accurate. Infrared thermometers are particularly inaccurate (but still very precise) which means they're not the best option for incubators, especially since they effectively recalibrate with every different type of material you measure (this is due to emissivity, which is a bit technical so I won't go into it unless you want a lengthy science lesson). Even the cheap electronic digital thermometers are very precise, and you can check for accuracy by putting several together. Most will be within about 0.5 - 1.0 degrees of each other, and if any are out, they'll be consistently out (say, if it's 2 degrees over it will maintain that 2 degree inaccuracy but still be as precise as the others), so you can still use them if you want to mark them as out or just remember it, basically manually calibrating them.

TLDR Basically, just get whatever probe thermometer you want, it'll definitely be precise, just check it for accuracy.

 

[Neil j]

I buy new thermometer every year I’m just paranoid. I don’t place any inside the tub just one the top and one at the bottom of incubator. 31.5 c
When the temp rise the aircon is turn on at 27-29c

 

[Shire pythons]

After witnessing drastic temp changes of eggs that were maternally incubated last season i dont personally think a constant perfect temp is as crucial as you may think. I measured temps between 26-35 degrees at different times with mum on and off the eggs and it was healthy clutch ..

 

[Fall guys]

After witnessing drastic temp changes of eggs that were maternally incubated last season i dont personally think a constant perfect temp is as crucial as you may think. I measured temps between 26-35 degrees at different times with mum on and off the eggs and it was healthy clutch ..

Hi, Yes i suppose i might be a bit paranoid, seeing posts like "my thermostat stopped working and temp spiked a couple degrees and killed most my clutch"

I will be making a 24hr (or try to ) list with all the thermometers readings

Everything stays a sudden temperature, it doesnt just drop a degree or 2 in a few seconds, it could take up to 10minutes, if it hasn't started to return the other direction

Thanks

 

[Neil j]

Do you have a little fan in the incubator mate.
If not could be the reason your seeing different temps

 

[Herpetology]

What is your heat cord wattage and how high/low are you testing the temps

 

[Fall guys]

Do you have a little fan in the incubator mate.
If not could be the reason your seeing different temps

i do its at the top, although i may get a new one since this one is really loud!
[doublepost=1562479779,1562479672][/doublepost]

I didn't quite get around to 24 hours as I had to sleep, but these were the results
[doublepost=1572252658][/doublepost]Hi everyone, just letting you know i managed to fix this using a mock tub and running the thermostat directly under tub (the cord was too big to run under the lid without lid popping off) and setting it .5c higher than i'd like inside the tub, and voila all the thermometers inside the tub are reading identical (within .1 or .2 due to one being slower to update!)

Thanks!