Help! All these hygrometers SUCK!

[patscigar]

Hi guys! I am having a hard time finding an accurate hygrometer. I have a xikar, madelline, and one other one I dont remember the name and they all give me different readings, I bought the calibration bag thing and found one that was close, I need another one thats accurate any suggestions would be great!

[piperman]

I have never found one that is accurate, just to a salt test every 6 months and -/+ the difference.

[Andy]

I know how you feel I also did the salt test also mine is about 5 % off so when it reads 80 its 75 not sure how to correct it I just make adjustments I recently bought one at walmart in the thermoter section it seems to be working picked it up for about $ 8.00 bucks

[patscigar]

Well, glad to hear I'm not alone in this situation! I thought I was just getting lucky! Its hard to believe all these little demons stink! Thanks for the info!

[Rubix^3]

I had the same problem when I started up. At one time, I had three hygros in a bag salt test and they all read differently. Eventually, I got them close, and I calibrated them.
Ultimately I settled on beads. They keep your humi at a steady %, both adding and absorbing moisture to the proper rh.
check out heartfeltindustries.com for good humi beads. I use 70% beads, but a lot of folks here use the 65%. Matter of preference. Either way, regardless of your hygro reading right, you can be rest assured your humi's rh is stable.

[bazookajoe]

I use Western Caliber III's and they're all within 1% RH of each other. I've only seen good reviews for them.






.

[royhubbs]

Originally Posted by bazookajoe

I use Western Caliber III's and they're all within 1% RH of each other. I've only seen good reviews for them.






.

Same one I have and I love it

[Gone Dave]

Originally Posted by Rubix^3

I had the same problem when I started up. At one time, I had three hygros in a bag salt test and they all read differently. Eventually, I got them close, and I calibrated them.
Ultimately I settled on beads. They keep your humi at a steady %, both adding and absorbing moisture to the proper rh.
check out heartfeltindustries.com for good humi beads. I use 70% beads, but a lot of folks here use the 65%. Matter of preference. Either way, regardless of your hygro reading right, you can be rest assured your humi's rh is stable.

I must agree, go with beads!!! and sleep better at night!! and Viper is the man for that

[MKR160]

I have the Diamond Crown Digital Hygro, and the Puck 65-100 for my desktop, and it seems to hold well at 60-65 most of the time.

[Cypress]

Take it to your B&M and calibrate it from their humi.

[smakudwn]

Originally Posted by Gone Dave

I must agree, go with beads!!! and sleep better at night!! and Viper is the man for that

Agreed. My hygrometer ussally reads within +2% of whatever my beads are rated at. Bought the hygrometer from Wal Mart and made some modifications to it and have no problem. When i glance at it and see its a bit low, i just know i have to put some water on my beads.

[mrreindeer]

I bought my 65% beads from Scott Shilala (shilala on here) and they work great and he's a great BOTL.

Analog hygro's completely suck. I then bought a slim stick digital hygro that worked fine. Then I got a Vino and wanted to be able to monitor the temp/RH from outside. So I got this thing with 3 satellite sensors that I can place them throughout the Vino and monitor them from outside without having to open the door. I love it and each pretty much read the same temp/RH so I figure I'm good.

WS-9023U-IT by La Crosse Technology - Tomorrow's Weather Today



After a year into this hobby of ours, I'm kinda okay if my temp & humidity is slightly off. I'm as OCD as the next guy but I've resolved myself to be okay with the slight fluctuations because our environment and that which is within the Vino aren't perfectly even...as long as I'm close and not obsessing over it, I'm good.

[e-man]

I've had fantastic results from my Xikar's/Madeline's . They're both the same unit, sold in different packaging. I you look, the Madeline has Xikar written in the fine print on the back of the box.

I had a lot of problems with cheap (yet still $20) hygrometers shifting several point within a single month. I decided to use 2 hygrometers, side by side in my humidor, to see if my humidity was really bouncing erratically, or if my original hygrometer was just shifting. I would start with a 2 point difference between the 2 units. Within a month, it changed to an 8 point difference between the two. Upon salt testing, BOTH units had shifted. One reading higher, and the other one lower.

For peace of mind, I decided that it would be better to buy two adjustable units, then re-calibrate the instant that they didn't read the same. I have 2 of the Xikar units (one purchased as a Madeline). Both are mounted in the lid, next to each other. I calibrated them together, placing them in the salt test for 8 hours, then pushing the calibrate button. I left the units in the salt test for an additional day to see how accurate the calibration was. Both units still displayed 75% the next day.

Both units still read the exact same temp and rH, almost every time I open my humidor. On the rare occasion that they do not match, they are within 1 degree and/or 1% from one another. I have gone several months since calibrating, and they still read the same. Re-testing with the salt test always reads in the 74-76% range, with both units giving identical readings. Not bad...that's a 1% tolerance for a unit rated at +/- 2%.

The big thing to remember with the Xikar is to REMOVE AND RE-INSERT THE BATTERY BEFORE CALIBRATION. They're pretty clear about that in the instructions. If you skipped that step, then all bets are off. The moment that the two units start to differ significantly, I will be exchanging them under the lifetime warranty.

[drake.c.w.]

Originally Posted by bazookajoe

I use Western Caliber III's and they're all within 1% RH of each other. I've only seen good reviews for them.

I second this. I've tried several and find the Caliber III to be the best in general.

[stfoley]

I just use the Little Havana Robusto sized hygrometers. They have all salt tested at the same variance for me (+4)...so I only have to remember one number with them all.

Plus they are so tiny, I can fit them in the smallest Humi without impacting humidifier placement.