Digital Hygrometer Gone Bad? (Is this even possible?)

[Uniputt]

I've had this one particular digital hygrometer for over a year now, and it seems to have "gone bad". When I first received it, I performed the salt test on it (it was right on at 75%). Then when a friend received his Little Havana hygrometer (he did the salt test as well, and his was right on at 75%) we put them both in the same humidor to compare.

While his took much longer to display the reading, mine quickly went to a lower reading (by about 3 percent).

Over the last few months, this particular digital hygrometer now consistently reads 54%-59%. Even right after I recharge the humidifier and place it next to it.

I placed another analog hygrometer (that I had previously calibrated) right next to the troubled digital one, and the analog read 70% while the digital read 57%.

I can't help but think that a relatively new digital hygrometer has gone bad. Is this possible? What causes it to happen?

[TypeO-]

It's made of cheap electronic components. Components go bad, bottom line.

[ShawnP]

To be honest with you anything could have happened to it.

At $20 just go out and get another

Out of curiousity what Hygro did you have?

[SeanGAR]

Sure they go bad.

There are different mechanisms by which they can measure humidity. I think most would be capacitive sensors, but I could be wrong. Some conducting polymer sensors are sensitive to and easily poisoned by amines (ammonia).

I'd retest it and if its bad buy a new one or mark the error on it so you will be remined that 57% might actually equal 70%.

http://www.jlcinternational.com/arti...r_elements.htm

http://content.honeywell.com/sensing...iditymoisture/

Oh .... you can also put it in a bag with a cup of isopropanol for an hour and see if that helps (kinda like a salt test except with the isopropanol. We use isopropanol to "clean" certain conducting polymer sensors.

[Uniputt]

Originally Posted by ShawnP

To be honest with you anything could have happened to it.

At $20 just go out and get another

Out of curiousity what Hygro did you have?

It was a Western Caliber II.

[joed]

have you tried to replace the battery - I did that with mine and that seemed to straighten it out.

[SeanGAR]

Originally Posted by joed

have you tried to replace the battery - I did that with mine and that seemed to straighten it out.

Smacks head in disgust ....

Hahahahahahaha. How that wasn't the first reply I'll never know. D'OH ... exactly .... first thing .... replace the battery.

[ShawnP]

Originally Posted by SeanGAR

Smacks head in disgust ....

Hahahahahahaha. How that wasn't the first reply I'll never know. D'OH ... exactly .... first thing .... replace the battery.

Hmmmmm LMAO



How did we all not think of that?

[Uniputt]

It's been my experience with digital hygrometers of ALMOST all types that when the battery gets low, the display fades a bit. The display (especially with the large numbers) actually uses more battery life than the circuitry for the moisture sensing components.

So I don't think it's the battery......

I'm just wonder if doing two salt tests (24 hours+ each) could have had a detrimental effect on the internal parts......

[Stogiefanatic182]

I would still say to try and replace the batteries before you go out and blow 20 bucks on a new one

[SeanGAR]

Originally Posted by Uniputt

It's been my experience with digital hygrometers of ALMOST all types that when the battery gets low, the display fades a bit. The display (especially with the large numbers) actually uses more battery life than the circuitry for the moisture sensing components.

So I don't think it's the battery......

I'm just wonder if doing two salt tests (24 hours+ each) could have had a detrimental effect on the internal parts......

If its what I think it is, it has a semiconductor that changes resistance in presence of different levels of humidity. There should be no affect of two salt tests since the humidity range should be from 10% up to over 90% ... why would it care?.

Now as I mentioned, some things have a way of permanently affecting sensors, amines and sulfur compouds primiarily, but I don't think you would have exposure to those unless you just bought a bundle of Thompsons. If the battery is bad, the voltage will be difference, hence the resistance on the semiconductor. So its always a good idea to switch the battery if the thing is acting up.

[joed]

I wish I had taken a picture -

This week - I put 6 different digital meters in a plastic bag and did the salt test. The 6 meters gave me reading betweem 48% and 80% - no two of them the same - one, which was only a couple of days old, read75%. I replace the batteries in teh 5 old ones - and within an hour - all 6 meters read 75% and within 0.1 degrees -

I think the battery may be your problem.

good luck

[SeanGAR]

Originally Posted by joed

I wish I had taken a picture -

This week - I put 6 different digital meters in a plastic bag and did the salt test. The 6 meters gave me reading betweem 48% and 80% - no two of them the same - one, which was only a couple of days old, read75%. I replace the batteries in teh 5 old ones - and within an hour - all 6 meters read 75% and within 0.1 degrees -

I think the battery may be your problem.

good luck

More on batteries ... if you have a choice, buy silver oxide not alkaline batteries as they have a more stable voltage output. In the old days we could buy mercury batteries which were ideal ... flat voltage output and die quickly once voltage starts going south.

[RumblePen]

Why don't you buy a couple of Fuentes from your local B&M and ask them if they can spare a humipak? Those maintain 69% and are a good way to test your hygrometer.

[Uniputt]

Originally Posted by RumblePen

Why don't you buy a couple of Fuentes from your local B&M and ask them if they can spare a humipak? Those maintain 69% and are a good way to test your hygrometer.

I've got humidipaks. I throw the ones I get inside the humidors. Testing the hygrometer is not the problem......a simple salt test is actually more accurate than using the humidpak.

The battery in this hygrometer is only about 10 weeks old. (I remember buying it in December whil the wife and I were Chrismas shopping...). The previous battery I had in the hygrometer lasted much, much, longer. I'm just a bit surprised that a brand new battery would crap out so quickly in such a low-voltage application. (I guesss anything is possible, though).

The last time this hygrometer needed a battery, the display faded, but it still read the correct humidity.

I suppose it won't hurt to replace the battery and see.