rick12string
Caught in the Crossfire
Ive seen some threads and posts with people having humidity problems and this may be one possible answer.
Info discovered on some digital hygrometers.
I have a round Madelaine digital in a Boveda test kit as Im writing this and have found out that when the temperature fluctuates between 67 and 68 degrees F, the humidity reading jumps 5% RH. At 68 degrees it reads 73% RH but when the temp drops to 67 degrees the RH reading jumps to 78%. If the temp goes up to 68 the RH drops right back to 73%. I found this previously with another digital hygro brand also. I got the exact same results. I stumbled across this by accident because I just happened to be looking at the readings right when it changed from 68 to 67 degrees. If the temp in the room hadnt gotten that low or I did the test in the summer, I never would have caught this. I contacted the retailer of one of the hygros who in turn contacted the importer who contacted the manufacturer which you probably guessed is in China. It seems to be a problem with the chip and a lot of these digitals are made by the same manufacturer for different brands. From what Ive been told, they are working on a new chip to eliminate this problem.
Point being;
When you check the calibration of your digital, be aware of the temp when checking the RH reading. If youre at 67 degrees F or lower and the RH seems high, try just turning on a desk lamp above the test kit. You dont need to put it real close to the kit. The radiant heat from the light shinning on it will raise the temp of the black hygro in a minute or two without heating up the bag rapidly which could effect the actual RH in the test kit (but not by that much if at all). If your temp is 68 or higher, put the kit in the frig for a minute or two to bring the temp down to 67 or below. Then take it out and watch it rise with the ambient temp, focusing on that 67-68 degree change. If the RH reading jumps you have an explanation for why your humidity jumps around in your humi if the ambient temp gets down around that range where you keep your humidor.
This is not however the case for all digitals. I found that the WD Cal III doesnt have this problem and Im sure others are probably fine as well.
Hope this helps some folks.
Info discovered on some digital hygrometers.
I have a round Madelaine digital in a Boveda test kit as Im writing this and have found out that when the temperature fluctuates between 67 and 68 degrees F, the humidity reading jumps 5% RH. At 68 degrees it reads 73% RH but when the temp drops to 67 degrees the RH reading jumps to 78%. If the temp goes up to 68 the RH drops right back to 73%. I found this previously with another digital hygro brand also. I got the exact same results. I stumbled across this by accident because I just happened to be looking at the readings right when it changed from 68 to 67 degrees. If the temp in the room hadnt gotten that low or I did the test in the summer, I never would have caught this. I contacted the retailer of one of the hygros who in turn contacted the importer who contacted the manufacturer which you probably guessed is in China. It seems to be a problem with the chip and a lot of these digitals are made by the same manufacturer for different brands. From what Ive been told, they are working on a new chip to eliminate this problem.
Point being;
When you check the calibration of your digital, be aware of the temp when checking the RH reading. If youre at 67 degrees F or lower and the RH seems high, try just turning on a desk lamp above the test kit. You dont need to put it real close to the kit. The radiant heat from the light shinning on it will raise the temp of the black hygro in a minute or two without heating up the bag rapidly which could effect the actual RH in the test kit (but not by that much if at all). If your temp is 68 or higher, put the kit in the frig for a minute or two to bring the temp down to 67 or below. Then take it out and watch it rise with the ambient temp, focusing on that 67-68 degree change. If the RH reading jumps you have an explanation for why your humidity jumps around in your humi if the ambient temp gets down around that range where you keep your humidor.
This is not however the case for all digitals. I found that the WD Cal III doesnt have this problem and Im sure others are probably fine as well.
Hope this helps some folks.
