jsnake:

I bought that Springfield digital hygrometer at WalMart today and of course both digitals read differently after several hours in there. IDK what the heck is going on.

Have you calibrated them?

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Steve

IDK how I would do that since neither one allows for any adjustment. One is the Springfield one that everyone here seems to like. The other is a Fluckers that was used for egg incubation to breed reptiles so it is a better quality.

I am open to any suggestions. I need to make sure my humidor is right.

Just do the salt test and see what it reads out.

For instance, if, after the salt test it reads 70%, you'll know it is reading 5% low.

I don't know about incubating eggs, but as far as hygrometers go, unless you have an extremely high end one, they are made to be most accurate within a certain humidity range. This is why those made for cigars aren't that great for guitars, etc.

I figure you probably know how to do a salt test, but if you need any help just let me know and I'd be happy to help ya out :)

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Steve

Yeah I will set it up tonight. I need to double check them both. The humidifier that came with my little 20 count humidor looked like it had mold on it. I use distilled water so does anyone know what the deal is with that? I wiped it down before I refilled it but this has me a little worried.

How long ago did you wipe it down/fill it? If it is pretty recent, I'd doubt you would have mold so soon.

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Steve

Pretty new just 2 weeks ago. The humidifier had fuzzy stuff on it that wasn't there before so I assumed it was mold. Don't know what else it could be.

2 Weeks is enough time for mold to grow. Why not wipe the whole thing down with a bleach solution and let air out in the sun for a day or so then start from scratch. I know it is a pain in the ass, but I'd be afraid to put anything in something like you describe.

Shoot me a PM if you'd like to discuss it further and see if we can't get it all figured out for you.

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Steve

Well I did the salt test with the result of my Springfield being off by -10 and my Thermo Fluckers being off -2. I am kind of disappointed with how off the Springfield is.

It can be disapointing, but realistically, once you know what it is off it does give you an accurate reading. I use a Caiber III digital hygrometer. They are very inexpensive and mine reads just 1% low, which is basically on the money. So now that you know what your hygrometers are telling you, what is the RH in your humidor? Is it staying constant? What type of humidor are you running?

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Steve

I am at 69 to 70 RH in both. Temp is usually around 70-72 but here lately it is around 75. The temps read very accurately on them but the RH is off. I have a 150 count and 20 count. 150 had Humi-Care crystal gel and 20 count has the humidifier that came with it. My wife said this Fluckers Thermo Hygrometer was cheaper then the Springfield so I am gonna get another.

Cool. At that humidity you should be good to go. I don't know how much the Fluckers goes for, but the hygrometer I have runs about $15 on Amazon and is quite accurate and small.

Don't know much about your method of humidification. I use Heartfelt beads, which are, IMO, the easiest. But if you are maintaining that RH constantly you should be good to go.

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Steve

jsnake:

Well I did the salt test with the result of my Springfield being off by -10 and my Thermo Fluckers being off -2. I am kind of disappointed with how off the Springfield is.

Wow Jake...I'm actually surprised to hear that, despite how cheap these Springfields are. How long did you run the salt test for? I've had mine for about 3 months, and I'm re-salt-testing it right now just to be sure, but all indications are that it's been spot on since the get-go. I know a lot of the other guys who've picked em up have been pretty happy with them as well - biggest inaccuracy I've heard of before was 4%, and that was 1 guy.

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There are two kinds of people in this world that go around beardless — boys and women — and I am neither one.

I did it overnight for 8 hours. If my humidor is set up right it is reading right. I aim for 70RH and it is reading 60RH which equals 70RH based on the salt test being -10. The temp matches my thermo hygrometer and when I put that one in there it reads 68RH which also equals 70RH for it based on the salt test being -2. If I didn't have 2 to check against the other I would be concerned. I don't know if this is the same one but it says Springfield and is white with a funky kick stand on the back. I found it in the hardware department.

jsnake:

I did it overnight for 8 hours. If my humidor is set up right it is reading right. I aim for 70RH and it is reading 60RH which equals 70RH based on the salt test being -10. The temp matches my thermo hygrometer and when I put that one in there it reads 68RH which also equals 70RH for it based on the salt test being -2. If I didn't have 2 to check against the other I would be concerned. I don't know if this is the same one but it says Springfield and is white with a funky kick stand on the back. I found it in the hardware department.

How did you do the salt test? I first did the salt test with a zip lock and wet salt in a soda cap. I found that to be quite unreliable. Humidity would go up and down within the bag. I now use a tupperware with a shot glass half filled with salt and just enough water that it just start to pool slightly on the suface of the salt. I have 2 of the springfields. One is off -2rh and the other is off +6. My other digital is adjustable. (Humicare)

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I did 1 measured cup of distilled water and added salt until it was pasty. Placed it inside large freezer bag with both hygrometers. Left overnight for 8 hours. Prior to going to bed though I had checked it several times. They peaked after just 2 hours maybe and stayed the same until morning. there was no fluctuation. When I switch them in my humidors they both give me the same reading for temp and humidity given their - adjustment from the salt test. I feel confident in there readings since they will read the same in the same humidor i.e. thermo digital reads 69RH which equals 71RH. The Springfield will read 61RH which equals 71RH also.