Incubator temp spikes

Hello all,


Ive just set up a new incubator made from a wine cooler. Im using 3 ft of 11" flexwatt tape, taped to the back... I have it all hooked up to a Helix. I have the probe hanging in the middle of the incubator. There are no water bottles or computer fan. (I ordered a computer fan from ebay, Im just waiting for it to arrive).

At first my incubator was running fine. The temp was preset to 88 with very little fluctuation. Today its 103 (about a week later from when I first started it). I have turned it off, let it cool down, then turned it back on and it still goes to 103.the indicator on the front shows that there is no power to the flex watt tape, but the flex watt is hot. There is also no other heat source going into this incubator (ex. lights, fan, etc). I'm wondering if maybe: A) my new helix is defective, or B) 3ft of flex watt is to much.

Btw. The wine cooler is magic chef 50 bottle with a air tight seal, freon and mechanics removed, and is about 18x18x36 (give or take)

P.S. Im not expecting eggs anytime soon, I just want to this up and running without too much fluctuation.

Thanks
Alan

bump for some good brainstorming lol

Ive had the same problem with my helix, its probobly defective. I sent mine back and had it repaired FOR FREE, i just pay shipping. Jeff from helix is a great guy to deal with so just email or call him heres his website
http://www.helixcontrols.com/

Quote:

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Originally Posted by reptidude1

Ive had the same problem with my helix, its probobly defective. I sent mine back and had it repaired FOR FREE, i just pay shipping. Jeff from helix is a great guy to deal with so just email or call him heres his website
http://www.helixcontrols.com/

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Thanks, Im going to give them a call tomorrow and see what they say. I just wanted to do a little research first before calling

Curious why the probe is in the middle in the air?

I understand that's not the issue here, just that I've never heard of hanging it :confused:

I taped my probe under the flexwatt in the back of my mini fridge, what's the advantage of hanging it?

The amount of flexwatt shouldn't matter(unless there is too little), only the setting of the t-stat.

I used 2 feet in a 4 cubic foot mini fridge, worked awesome.

you hang it because you want the ambient air temp to get to 89, not just the heat tape, if the heat tape is only at lets say 89 it would be wayy to cold

NP, once again jeff is a great guy to deal wit, i doubt you will have any problems with him