Incubator Temps

[cadwallader]

Hey,
i have set up my incubator and the temps are moving between 30.3 and 31.8. is this too much fluctuation? im using a het cord and dimming thermostat in a foam box ? all help will be great cheers

 

[Scleropages]

That's a bit of a jump , shouldn't kill any eggs but stable is better.
Mine last year had a spike to 34 for a day and when as low as 29 and everything still hatched out ok.

Have you got a 12v fan? that would help keep the temp stable.

 

[GeckoJosh]

Also adding some water bottles or similar will help stabilise the temps

 

[cadwallader]

Havent got one yet but my girl hasn't had pre lay yet so i have time to play with. what the easiest way to get a fan and install it? computer shop?
Cheers Luke

 

[RSPcrazy]

That's fine. When you have eggs in there, just make sure to adjust the temps so it doesn't fluctuate over the highest recommended temp for that species. eg. If the eggs highest recommended temp is 32 and your incubator fluctuates by 1 degree then the highest you want to set your incubator at 31 or bellow.

 

[Scleropages]

Havent got one yet but my girl hasn't had pre lay yet so i have time to play with. what the easiest way to get a fan and install it? computer shop?
Cheers Luke

you can get cheap 12V fans from dicksmiths , just need a transformer

 

[leamos]

Having the same problem, installed the 25W heat cord and pulse thermostat today and let it run for a few hours and currently max is 30.7 and min 28.8, aiming for 29.5ish. I've added two bottles of water to help and we'll check it in a few hours to see where its at

The easiest way to setup a fan, is to get a second hand 12V computer fan and an old mobile phone charger and wire it up, but shouldn't be required for a small foam box incubator but wouldn't hurt

With water bottles added my temps are now fluctuating 29.3 to 29.9 so the water bottles definately helped

 

[pythonmum]

I have my eggs over water. About 2 liters of water keeps the temps within 0.1 degrees the whole time, even when you open the door to look, etc. The water is a great stabiliser.

 

[the_brad]

Put a inch of sand in the bottom then the heat cord then another inch of sand, will help stabilize the temps, do u have the tub suspended on mesh so the air circulates around it? That will also make a big difference

 

[cadwallader]

ill add some pics tomorrow, but my one is the same as this one http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/diy-zone-5392/broccoli-foam-box-lncubator-165229/ it is raised 40mm of the bottom by mesh. heat cord goes around all sides and bottom.
Cheers

 

[leamos]

quick update on my incubator temps, with the water bottles over the heatcord, temps are sitting between 29.5 and 29.6 considering the pulse thermostat is accurate to / variance of +/-0.2 i'm happy enough with those temps

 

[cadwallader]

Wow so it went from changing like 3 degrees, too 0.1? might do that tomorrow

 

[leamos]

pulse thermostats always swing abit when they are turned on, but yeah atleast 2 deg to 0.2 - 0.1 deg difference in 24hrs with the water bottles added, just make sure you check the bottles are really water tight, cordinal bottles leak slowly even when tighted right up (my incubator had a few mill of water in it, thank god heatcord is waterproof), 1L milk bottles seem to work great but. I'm still testing everything atm as my eggs are still a few weeks off at least. I'm planning on having 4 or 5 1L milk bottles (square sided brand) across the bottom with a sheet of 'egg crate' (another trip to bunnings) sitting on them

 

[spongebob]

You can get 12v fans from Jaycar. Use an old phone charger (apparently the average household has about 6 old ones!). The phone charger will be a lower voltage which scales the fan back a bit that OK because you dont want a cyclone.

 

[Bez84]

Buy Dick Smith Regulated AC Adaptor 4.5V - 12V DC 2.5A | Read Reviews | Dick Smith Online Shopping

I have a tiny computer fan wired to this.....
Works great higher the voltage selected faster the fan goes, only need it just moving the air so i select a lower voltage..
Water bottles also help temps..
Also if you deside to search the house for old power packs make sure the amp is not to high on the packs other wise they will burn out the fans..