I Hate Hygrometers

[Dr. Stogie Fresh]

One thing I've found with digital hygros is to avoid salt testing them. The salt-laden air often causes the digital electronics to go whacky.

Regardless, as others have said, there ain't no such thing as absolute accuracy with hygrometers, digital or otherwise.

Doc

[Totemic]

The only reliable hygro I have: The el cheapo from Pet Smart designed for reptile cases. According to the Boveda (sp?), it's spot on. And measured against 2 lbs of Heartfelt beads, it's right at 65%. I was so impressed, I got three more (only one of them was -1% and another was DOA, which I returned).

The adjustable hygros I got from CI: worse than worthless. Initial calibration showed them (I got 3) to be +/- 12%. After adjustment, they were +/- 4%. After putting them into my humidor, they are between them +/- 6% (yeah, their range went higher when I went from 75% humidity of the Boveda to 65% of my humidor).

I've been using those as paper weights.

[macster]

I recently read an archived post on the BOTL web site that stated and discussed the fact that there has been in the recent past a manufacturing glich in the production of the actual chip used in many hygros in response to temperature. If I recall correctly they were mostly citing the adjustable Hygrosets.

It seems according to the post (from Ron a BOTL moderator) that at temps 68*F and above the hygros (peviously calibrated) will read accurately. However, as soon as the temp drops to 67*F or below the defective chips in these particular hygros jump up 5 points consistently.

Don't know if anyone else has come across this info. Something to consider(?)

[mario]

I did the salt test on 2 hygrometers(west calibor&madaline) in the same tupperware and after about 15hrs the readings were: (1st)81% and (2nd) 74%. So 1st is -6% and 2nd is +1% thats ok i took a picture to alaways remember it.
I use 1pound of hertfield 70%beads, spread out in a footlocker humidor,
Now the problem is looking inside my humidor the 1st hygrometer reads 79% and 2nd 67%, so thats: 73% & 68%.

Which is the correct RH level????

[Jimbo14]

I just finished about 65 hours of salt testing on my hygrometer <---- I hate hygrometers, they are not consistant. Even after 48 hours the humidity would rise as the tempreture would which is not really meant to happen? I think the best thing is to buy a brand of humidification device such as heartfelt that you really really trust and if the cigars smoke well then all is good.

All this about x-meters and calibration makes me wonder how accurate other meters are. Speedometer, tachometer, thermometer, manometer ect...