Age old question--decent hygrometer

[dinoa2]

Ok I bought a Hygroset II hygrometer from local B & M about 10 months ago. Salt tested and it was right on, didnt need any adjustment. It worked great as far as I can tell. It uses one of those flat watch batteries. Just recently, looked in and it was dead, not reading anything. Battery compartment is on back, pressed on it and it started working again. Well, it went dead again later. took battery and replaced it with new one and worked a while and now stopped--nothing, no display. It has prongs in the compartment for your contacts but tried to make sure it is fitting right but just wont make any display.

So my question__ has anyone used one of these before??

Second question_------ any suggestions for a good decent hygrometer without breaking the bank????????

[Demuths1770]

http://www.cigarbid.com/Auction/Lot/2003774/Hygro-Set-Adjustable-Digital-Hygrometer/

i have had this one for about a year now and no problems at all with it

[Zeede]

I know some guys found an inexpensive one from WalMart or some such. I paid $30 for my Xikar digital hygrometer and have been satisfied with it.

[Demuths1770]

http://www.walmart.com/ip/AcuRite-Digital-Humidity-and-Temperature-Monitor/16888914

[Mister Moo]

To answer your second question I am aware of nothing better, more reliable, more accurate or less expensive that a thumb/index squeeze illustrated, brilliantly below, by Steve Griff..

https://www.stevegriff.com/images/cigars/reviews/2012/09/10/01-bolivar-coronas-junior.jpg

[Indyhp]

Caliber 4R. I own two of them. One I had to adjust 1%, the other was spot-on out of the box. Both have been running for just over a year.

[OldSkoolTarHeel]

I have the Xikar ones as well.

One word of unasked for advice though, I wouldn't salt test whatever you get next. Whatever media method you use, beads or boveda, etc. I would throw the hygrometer in a ziploc with that instead of the salt. The salt test, if done correctly, gives out about 75% humidity, if I remember correctly. That's great if you keep your humidor at 75%, but I sure hope you don't.

You should calibrate your hygrometer as close to the rH you're looking for because the further you get from your calibration point, the further off your reading will be. As in, if you calibrate at 75%, but are looking to keep 62% your measurement at 62% could be WAY off the actual.

This all makes sense in my head, but sometimes I don't articulate my point very well. If anybody has any questions, let me know.

[dinoa2]

I onlymentioned the salt test to say I was satisfied with the hygro being seemingly accurate. The salt test , by some quirk of nature or whatever, is supposed to produce 75% Rh so you can gauge your hyrgo by that and know if it is reading high or low. I use boveda packs and probably could toss one in a plastic bag with the hygro to see how it reads cause boveda says their packs will read what they say when in a plastic environment. Now that you mention that, I might just use a new boveda pack to test any new hygros. But back to my pesky hygro, fiddled with the battery and back cover last night and it started working again.

[dinoa2]

Dan, by the way, I agree with the thumb/index squeeze test and the "how do they smoke" test but you know, some of us are just so OCD that we gotta have that hygro working also

[BryGuySC]

Caliber 4R. I own two of them. One I had to adjust 1%, the other was spot-on out of the box. Both have been running for just over a year.

I second this. Great hygrometers.

[Mister Moo]

...but you know, some of us are just so OCD that we gotta have that hygro working also

I understand. Why, I still calibrate my fingers twice annually with salt.

[Mister Moo]

OK - Moment of truth. I used all different kinds of hygrometers until I found out a thermometer and fingers were easier and just as accurate.