Perhaps now, very few people remember those times when in incubators for breeding domestic poultry the required temperature was maintained by means of a simple regulation of the opening of ventilation gaps. Although with constant monitoring, this method was quite effective, it required continuous attention from the person. Therefore, when the first thermoregulator for the incubator appeared, it was like a quiet revolution. It was possible not to worry that the temperature would "swim", which freed from routine tasks.
Purpose of the device
The thermostat for the incubator is based on the principle of feedback, in which one of the controlled quantities indirectly affects the other. With the artificial removal of birds, one of the most important tasks is maintaining the temperature within the established limits. Even minor deviations affect the percentage of hatched livestock. The thermostat for the incubator just fulfills this function. It controls the operation of the heating elements in such a way that the temperature is maintained unchanged, regardless of the changes in the heating of the ambient air. Every poultry farmer must learn how to use a thermostat for an incubator. The scheme of its connection is very simple: the load-source of heat (lamps, heating elements) is connected to the output wires of the device; For others, power is supplied; And a thermal sensor is connected to the third terminal, from which the device reads the temperature values (usually placed at the egg laying level).
Principle of operation
Consider how the thermostat works for the incubator. After the device is turned on, a power supply to the heating element (for example, an incandescent lamp) is fed through its circuit. As the cover of the house is closed, a gradual increase in temperature begins. Its value is transferred to the device from a temperature sensor located in the incubator housing. In the thermoregulator, the possibility is realized in one way or another (depending on the version) to set the heating limit. When the temperature reaches this threshold, the unit will temporarily turn off the lamps or reduce the intensity of their glow. After cooling down a few degrees (delta), the power to the lamps will again be applied. The person's task is reduced only to setting the upper limit, and the rest will be done by automation. Thus, it does not matter what temperature outside the incubator: if it is low, the lamps will heat the masonry more intensively, and if high, then they will often turn off. The result is the same: the temperature inside the incubator is maintained within the established limits. The feedback in this scheme is that the more the air is heated, the less the lamps heat, and vice versa.
Digital thermostat for incubator
Depending on the features of the internal circuit, there are analogue and digital thermostats. The former are cheaper, however, because of the low-current electromechanical relays used in them, they have a shorter service life. In addition, analog regulators generally control the temperature by switching on / off the heating element. In digital, the relay is replaced by a non-contact semiconductor controlled key, which not only provides a higher temperature maintenance accuracy, but also allows heating control by limiting the voltage applied to the heat source. The limit can be set by turning the knob of the variable resistor or by pressing the buttons. It is recommended to use digital solutions.