Salt testing

[jeepthing]

I bought a Springfield digit humidity monitor at Walmart. Let it set on top of my Humi for a couple of days. Read Humidity was 55% and temp was 74. Temp was right on with my Furnace Thermostat temp. I had my doubts about the Humidity reading so I thought I would salt test it. My humi came with an analog gauge and has been reading right at 65% steadily. I put the digital and my analog in a tupperware container with the salt/water mixture ratio I found here. After 8 hours the digital is still at 55% and the analog is 70%. I thinking the digital is defective LOL. I did remove the battery from the digital before the test and it was 35% when I out it in the tupperware got to 55% and stopped. Opinions please and thanks.

[dj1340]

Leave it for at least 24 to 36 hrs.

That should give a better reading.

[Flux]

^^^ what he said. 24 hours minimum.

[jeepthing]

OK Its been just about 24 hours. The digital is at 58% and the analog is at 70%. I think the digital is messed up.

[ssutton219]

I have used a number of the Walmart meters with so-so luck. one was 10% off and another was 8% off. I just wrote that number on the meter and added it to it when I read it.


Good Luck.


I usually let them sit for 36hrs..they should be stable after 24 but I am lazy..LOL




Shawn

[pontiacbird]

return it and get another one, with that much of a variance, i'm sure the accuracy must be compromised in some way.

They should take it back no problem as long as you have receipt and box.

With my springfields, they do have some variances over time. I have to salt test them every so often, as the differences have, for me, varied from 5% +/- to no variance, but never more than that. I don't know how long the batteries last, but I guess you should change it every 3 months or so. Not a big deal as it's 1 AAA battery.

[jadeg001]

I would also return it. I got two from Wal-Mart a little while ago- one was perfect, the other its 15% off.

[Magicseven]

Originally Posted by jadeg001

I would also return it. I got two from Wal-Mart a little while ago- one was perfect, the other its 15% off.

lol Ouch!

The one I bought at Wal-MArt is 2% off, and I don't think i had enough water when I tested. So I think it's spot on.

[jeepthing]

Well Its now been 36 hours. Digital is still at 55% and analog is 68%. I may retry again

[e-man]

I had bad luck with the Wal-Mart special as well. Testing it and writing down the offset isn't necessarily accurate either. Mine was always off by a different amount every time I salt tested it. The real test of a unit is to buy TWO of them. In theory, they should always be off by the same amount from each other...give or take a point or two. If not, then they're just random number generators that have no bearing on the actual climate of your humidor.


Go get your money back and get something more reliable. I like the kind you can re-calibrate with a button push (madeline, xikar, etc). Others swear by the caliber III.