Radio Shack Wireless Hygrometer

[bullitt]

http://www.radioshack.com/entry.jsp?...&entry=2117822

Ok so I picked one of these up yesterday. I'm waiting for my humi to season so I decide to salt test this in the mean time. I fill a water bottle cap with table salt, add some tap water (just to make it damp, not soaked) and left it there for about 16 hours or so. I come back and the thing is only reading 60%. Did I do something wrong or is this thing really 15% off? Also, with this you can check max readings and the max was 60% also so I know it didnt go up and then drop back down.

The thing is I know I didn't fill the cap with so much water that it came up over the salt, but when I got home today and checked it the water level was above the salt, I guess the salt dissolved some into the water?

My humi has an analog hygrometer in the front but I didn't expect to use it, wanted it more for decoration. Are there any digital wireless hygrometers that are extremely accurate?

[illuminatus]

Hmmm... sounds to me like you may have used a little too much water, as the salt should just be a paste, but I wouldn't know for sure, as I've never used the salt test. It's possible for yours to be 15% off, you could always swap it out at the local RS, but I'd suggest trying the salt test again, with less water. Everyone I've talked to is extremely happy with their RS wireless. Just my though, you should wait for some of the FOGs to chime in with their more expert opinions.

[PaulMac]

Originally Posted by illuminatus

Hmmm... sounds to me like you may have used a little too much water, as the salt should just be a paste, but I wouldn't know for sure, as I've never used the salt test. It's possible for yours to be 15% off, you could always swap it out at the local RS, but I'd suggest trying the salt test again, with less water. Everyone I've talked to is extremely happy with their RS wireless. Just my though, you should wait for some of the FOGs to chime in with their more expert opinions.

sounds like a little too much water to me
although one would think this would make it read high

[backwoods]

someone posted before.,...after you add water and stir, if you tip the cap and it runs out, there is too much water in the salt mixture. It should sit in the cap as a paste. Thats the rule I use.

[bullitt]

Thanks for the help again

I thought that maybe I would have used to much water but then wouldn't the reading be too high instead? I could be wrong but too much water would mean higher humidity? It makes sense in my head but I could very well be wrong. When I bought the unit yesterday it was the only one they had in stock. I'll probably have to go to a different radio shack that's outta my way.

I've been thinking about trying this one from Target. Oregon Scientific sounds like they would be more accurate than the Radio Shack brand but that's all I have to go on.

[bullitt]

Oh and also, I put it in two plastic ziploc baggies just to make sure I didn't have any leaks or anything.

Additionally, on careful inspection of the Oregon Scientific transmitter picture and the unit I have i think they are in fact the same but Radio Shack puts their name on it and sticks it with a different receiving station. I do however like the fact that the one from Target is $30 less and has a backlight.

I don't really need the weather forecast, especially since it says it been raining all day and its 75* and sunny here in Dallas.

[MikeZ]

Tough call on the accuracy question. My Radio Shack unit is very similar (but not exact model) to what you have. I've had excellent results with mine - and I run the base unit plus three remote sensors.

The description on the web link you provide doesn't state that the remote sensor picks up humidity. It only mentions temperature. Did you test the base unit or the remote sensor with the salt?

[bullitt]

I tested the remote sensor and it does display humidity on it as well as on the base station.

Also, I think all the remote sensors are the same so it wouldn't really matter which base unit you have compared to mine. Maybe I just got unlucky.

[Stogiefanatic182]

I love my rad shack one, cost me 20 bucks and it was only 3% off. I would re test yours at least once more. Try sticking it in a big tupperware container. I first stuck mine in a zip lock and got crap results then stuck it in a big tupperware bowl type thing and got a reading of 72%