How accurate is your hygrometer?

[bluenoser]

I came across a cheap digital hygrometer today at the local pet store in the aisle for terrariums and figured it was nice looking and cheap enough I'd give it a try for my wineador build. Got it home tossed it in 2 sandwich bags with a boveda 62 and figured I'd see how accurate it is. Going on about 4 hours now the thing is reading 68. It's been a damp rainy day so I'm hoping it comes down some after a little more time in the bag but thinking it might be out too much. It's a nice smaller one that would suction cup to the side and has temperature on it as well (though admittedly I'm not too familiar with Fahrenheit). I'm also going to pick up an adjustable silver framed analog one to build into a drawer, mainly for looks but being adjustable it might be functional. I'll be running %65 HF beads so once I get them there I'm not as concerned about monitoring but would still like the piece of mind to see what RH I'm at whenever without having to dig out the calculator.

So what do you consider "acceptable" when it comes to the accuracy of your hygrometers?

This is what I picked up package said it was within +/-5 so I wasn't expecting perfect, but hoping it comes down close to 62

http://i734.photobucket.com/albums/ww347/Gsxblaze/pPETNA-5210733_main_enh.jpg (http://s734.photobucket.com/user/Gsxblaze/media/pPETNA-5210733_main_enh.jpg.html)



So what do you consider "acceptable" when it comes to the accuracy of your hygrometers?

[jhedrick83]

I re-calibrate every time I change batteries. I usually get a boveda, throw the hygrometers in a ziplock with the boveda for 24-48 hours and then calibrate. I use a ton of HF beads so it's not super important, but I just like to make sure that I can keep an eye on it accurately.

[herman]

Mine is 3 low. Never bothered me but I haven't recalibrated since I bought it. Still running on original batts.

[Branzig]

I use Xikar hygros mainly.

I don't really calibrate them ever...I just kinda trust my kitty litter and go by the way the sticks look, feel, and smoke.

[allusred]

#1. Lower your expectations before reading this.

Some cigars are likely to better at a certain Humidity & Temp.
In a Humidor with a solid seal, of good construction properly seasoned, and that's a whole nother thing.
Cigars of the same brand, same crop,etc. should smoke extremely well...if they are any good to start with.
Get a mix, brands,years,wrappers,etc,etc all in that box and ?
Accuracy of the hygrometer...scientists may have ones that are extremely accurate, one would expect they do.
Those may be rather costly, maybe no more than the sticlker price of the top of the line Bentely automobile.
Would you need, really need one of those?
Most that are a bit affordable, for many Cigarbums will be accurate with in a certain + / - range.
Cigars, Cubans and others have smoked for some time.
Smoked just fine,even tho kept or stored at at least a bit outside the perfect range of Humidity and Temp.

Now, that didn't help one little bit, did it?

[dj1340]

Can't help but say you get what you pay for. Cheaper ones need re calibrating more often. At least
That has been my experience

[rodwha]

If a hygrometer is off by say 2% at 69% RH will that 2% difference be the same throughout the range or is it linear?

I have 65% RH Boveda packs but haven't opened them as they won't fit in the Tupperware. I'm still using my Drymistat with Xikar 70% solution, but I do have a sling psychrometer to read RH and temp from my A/C days. I've considered trying that to see how accurate it is indoors, but I'm not sure how it would relate to the solution kept in my fermentation chamber that is set at 64*.

[Sticky B]

All of my Caliber IV's have been accurate within 1% out of the box, I haven't re-calibrated or changed batteries yet - going on a year...

[Zeede]

I don't worry about it much with my Bovedas, honestly.

[StogieNinja]

I just replaced the batteries in the three Xikar Hygrometers in my NC wineador and tested them using a 75% Boveda pack. After sitting in the ziplock with the Boveda for 24 hours (I didn't bother to check before that), two were reading dead on, and the third was only off by 1%.

[El Whedo]

A few years back I was fanatical about my hydrometers.

Now they all have dead batteries, and I don't care. I use way more beads than I need, so I have no worries.

[bluenoser]

Well 24 hrs later it's reading 67 in with the 62 boveda and has been steady at that since late last night so I'm guessing that's where it's staying. A little disappointed that it's that far off but for what I paid I'll deal with it. besides I'm going to be running 65 HF beads so as long t it read's around 70 it'll tell me it's right. Besides from what I've heard with HF bead's there's little worry about hygrometer.

[Zeede]

Nope, as long as you do a visual check of the beads from time to time.

[DBragg]

Dr. Strangestick or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Boveda

3366

[cbr310]

Does walmart sell them or someplace I dont have to order to get 1 quick? no local b&m's

[six10]

Wanted to add that I just got some of the blue round Humi-care ones off cbid for a real reasonable price and they were all spot on matched against my just calibrated Hygro-set rectangular. I was pretty surprised.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm163/6ten/_1-1_zpslwdrpe7e.jpg (http://s296.photobucket.com/user/6ten/media/_1-1_zpslwdrpe7e.jpg.html)

[bluenoser]

Mine eventually settled down at %65 so it's only 3 percent high. I've ordered an adjustable analog from Cheaphumidors (with a box of chillin moose, didn't want it to have to travel alone... right?) I'm going to build into a drawer so I'll have that too, mostly for looks but also will help me learn when my HF beads need a recharge.

[Zeede]

Heartfelt beads turn clear when they need recharging. When most of the ones in the tube are clear, recharge them.

You don't really need a hygro for that.

They also suggest that you don't saturate all of the beads, so that if for some reason your RH spikes up the beads have the capacity to absorb the extra.

[DBragg]

Not to step on Zeede, but the HF beads are white when they are dry, opaque when they are hydrated, and clear-ish when overly saturated.

[Zeede]

Not to step on Zeede, but the HF beads are white when they are dry, opaque when they are hydrated, and clear-ish when overly saturated.

What he said :)

I don't use HF beads, obviously :D