Draven88":3cqezsq0 said:Well my first thought is that while probes and herpstats are normally quite accurate that 1 degree F off would be a reasonable margin of error on each and if in opposite directions could be the cause.
I know you said you tried everything, so if I mention something already done I apologize but there wasn't examples given. First off I would try lowering the herpstat until you see a change on the probe (over time of course to avoid to drastic a change). Also location and ambient temps around the incubator can have some effect if it happens to be in sunlight and such but this should cause the herpstat to adjust accordingly.
Are you using heat tape as the heat source or something else? This is definitely a case of the more details you can provide he better advice that can be given.
Draven88":2a6q60wy said:In a traditional incubatror you would buy they are sealed so that is the correct way. And it is ideal that it would get to temerature and hold that heat so it only kicks on the heat tape minimally as needed. The fan to circulate the air is also good, the goal of that is even temperatures all over. For the fan though is it setup with a channel to draw air in from opposite where the fan is? By that i mean if its at the bottom blowing up it will be most effective if it gets its air from a channel that goes up the back or side that intakes the air at the top.
If you arent getting good circulation of air you could still end up with hot spots at the top. Since its in use right now you could fashion a channel out of cardboard tape for short term and as a guide for the future permanant one.
I do suspect that with the heat tape its getting to temp and turning off but where the tape is is hotter and continues to radiate heat. I would expect if left it would cool to the set temp turn on and repeat the cycle much like opening the door forces it to. Since you said it was a wine cooler i would bet yhe heat tape is on a metal surface, and that metal is getting over your set temp to heat the air. I would check that with a laser temp gun if you have it to see by how much.
What i have seen in many DIY incubators is to have the heat tape in the channel of air, and that makes the transfer of heat from the tape to the air more efficient. That means less heating time, but also less excess heat build up in thr metal the heat tape is attached on as its better transferred to the air which should help with that heat still radiating once the tape is off.
While vents will work to let heat out it will alsi cause that tape to be on far more and the closer to it the hotter it will be, so i would try making a channel.that firces the air to circukate over the tape first. That can be taken out but sealing up vents will leave you with less efgicient spots and possible problems.
I would be interested if you could post pictures to see if i could help you with a more specific design.
Argam1998":3b5ba9ko said:Can I just make the fan blow toward the back wall where the metals at ? Or put a cardboard on one side sideways so it kinda blows it towards down the metals ?
Claudiusx":24kpgtac said:I get what you are saying but it shouldn't matter too much. The thermostat is maintaining the ambient temp 2 degrees over what it's set at, so lowering the setpoint by 2 degrees should have the desired affect of bringing the ambient down the 2 degrees desired.
The heat tape will definitely heat up hotter than what it's set to, and then radiate heat even once it's turned off, but if it's been maintaining 2 degrees hotter, lowering it 2 degrees should also make it maintain 2 degrees less too.
Draven88":1w3gz47w said:Claudiusx":1w3gz47w said:I get what you are saying but it shouldn't matter too much. The thermostat is maintaining the ambient temp 2 degrees over what it's set at, so lowering the setpoint by 2 degrees should have the desired affect of bringing the ambient down the 2 degrees desired.
The heat tape will definitely heat up hotter than what it's set to, and then radiate heat even once it's turned off, but if it's been maintaining 2 degrees hotter, lowering it 2 degrees should also make it maintain 2 degrees less too.
Yes I do absolutely agree, and in my first reply did say try bring it down slowly. I have been going on the assumption that this was being tried first. Even if that works though I still personally would want good airflow to keep temps and humidity even throughout the incubator. It may be overkill, but if I'm building something like this it is what I would do to ensure the best match to the professional commercial units
Finally got some photos. I ended up taking the giant metal panel in the back out. Heat tape is only on plastic now. Also made a funnel for the airflow to go by the back wall. The first hour of running the incubator the temps were fine but after the third hour temps went back to 91. Was set at 84. Now I’ve tried lowering the temp on thermostat but nothing happens. Iam thinking my living room is just too warm and it just gets too hot in there. Maybe I need a few holes like a vent ? To let some air out but not so much where my thermostat is on all the time?? Sorry for the late reply :/
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Argam1998":1ht63e0c said:Draven88":1ht63e0c said:Claudiusx":1ht63e0c said:I get what you are saying but it shouldn't matter too much. The thermostat is maintaining the ambient temp 2 degrees over what it's set at, so lowering the setpoint by 2 degrees should have the desired affect of bringing the ambient down the 2 degrees desired.
The heat tape will definitely heat up hotter than what it's set to, and then radiate heat even once it's turned off, but if it's been maintaining 2 degrees hotter, lowering it 2 degrees should also make it maintain 2 degrees less too.
Yes I do absolutely agree, and in my first reply did say try bring it down slowly. I have been going on the assumption that this was being tried first. Even if that works though I still personally would want good airflow to keep temps and humidity even throughout the incubator. It may be overkill, but if I'm building something like this it is what I would do to ensure the best match to the professional commercial units
Finally got some photos. I ended up taking the giant metal panel in the back out. Heat tape is only on plastic now. Also made a funnel for the airflow to go by the back wall. The first hour of running the incubator the temps were fine but after the third hour temps went back to 91. Was set at 84. Now I’ve tried lowering the temp on thermostat but nothing happens. Iam thinking my living room is just too warm and it just gets too hot in there. Maybe I need a few holes like a vent ? To let some air out but not so much where my thermostat is on all the time?? Sorry for the late reply :/
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Draven88":1bt4hu5f said:I’ve tried cracking the door and my temps seems to keep stable. I think I have my incubator too air tight. Air is not circulating out.
Claudiusx":1bt4hu5f said:I get what you are saying but it shouldn't matter too much. The thermostat is maintaining the ambient temp 2 degrees over what it's set at, so lowering the setpoint by 2 degrees should have the desired affect of bringing the ambient down the 2 degrees desired.
The heat tape will definitely heat up hotter than what it's set to, and then radiate heat even once it's turned off, but if it's been maintaining 2 degrees hotter, lowering it 2 degrees should also make it maintain 2 degrees less too.
Yes I do absolutely agree, and in my first reply did say try bring it down slowly. I have been going on the assumption that this was being tried first. Even if that works though I still personally would want good airflow to keep temps and humidity even throughout the incubator. It may be overkill, but if I'm building something like this it is what I would do to ensure the best match to the professional commercial units.