salt calibration test questions/frustration

[bwhyte]

I am calibrating my hygrometer and doing so by the salt test method. I have some questions that hopefully someone can shed some light on for me.
When I do the salt test and the test is done with a temp between 73 and 76 degrees my hygrometer is 5% off. When the test is done with a temp between 69 and 72 degrees the hygrometer is 7 to 8% off, both after a min 8 hours.
Which rading should I use. My humidor sometimes gets as well as 74 but that not a lot. I want to make sure I add the right mount for the reading.
I appreciate your help.

Bill

 

[Giants85]

I've all but given up on my hygros at this point. I've done the salt test so many times and get various different readings every time (12 hours..24 hours...48 hours). I think I've narrowed down my 3 hygros to an approximate reading (+/- 2%). But, in the end I've learned to trust my beads and how my cigars are smoking to be the best judge of humidity.

As far as your results: I would wait a minimum of 12 hours (24 more may be better) before checking the hygros and use the reading at that point, regardless of temp. As long as the temp stays generally consistent throughout the test you should be fine.

If you still are having issues, perhaps you can look into the boveda calibration packs. I've heard good things about these.

 

[bwhyte]

Thanks! This last test was done for about 24 hours but I remember opening the container last night around 1030 just make sure the fit was tight. The humudity didn't fluctuate really at all yesterday throughout the day or even after I opened it before bed. Temp was pretty consistant the whole time sand the humudity was stable. I now feel pretty confident I have a correct reading. If I find it is wrong I almsy go with the new xikar digital hygrometer.
Thank you again for your help!

 

[Jwrussell]

Guys, the salt test is a make-shift way of doing things. It can be hit or miss and is open for errors on our end. Get yourself a Boveda calibration pack.

Giants hit it on the head on the time as well. You need to let this go for a while and temperature fluctuations will affect readings. RH will change depending on temperature given a sealed environment. For instance, let's say you have an environment that is currently at 70% RH with no humdiification system (no beads, salt, boveda etc to help keep the RH steady). If you change the temp in that environment the RH will increase or decrease based on which way you go. It's RELATIVE Humidity. That is why it is so important to be sure that you have something that is going to give you a specific RH and has the ability to adjust. Now, the Salt test method is meant to give you that adjustment factor with the salt/water paste, but again, it's not the most accurate of methods. A boveda pack will give you a rock solid RH of a very specific number given a sealed environment. Again, so long as you have a STEADY TEMP. If you take a reading now and the temp changes and you go back to check on it in an hour or two, it could very well read differently depending on the change. It takes all humidification devices a certain amount of time to react to these changes and stabilize the environment.

All that being said, using the Boveda, given 12+ hours of fairly steady temps you should get a good repeatable reading.

 

[Jwrussell]

I now feel pretty confident I have a correct reading. If I find it is wrong I almsy go with the new xikar digital hygrometer.
Thank you again for your help!

WOAH!:thinkidea

Are you trying to calibrate an analog (non-digital) hygrometer????


If so, I just found your problem. The reason you aren't getting consistent readings is because it's an analog hygrometer. Those things are good for nothing but decoration. Get yourself a digital ASAP, that analog will give you NOTHING but problems!

 

[dpricenator]

You need a digital and a calibration kit.

Go to cigarsolutions.com RonC is a sponsor here and sells a calibratable hygro with the calibration kit. ONe stop shop and you are supporting our sponsors.

 

[bwhyte]

I have 3 digital and an analog. I was talking about the digital. I have noticed that when I maintain a 73 to 75 temp my readings are 5% off. That was constant close to 24 hours later.
I may just get a a set like mentioned above and then I won't have to go through all this!
Again thanks everyone for your help

 

[dpricenator]

ONce you have the calibration kit, put it in a small tupperware, instead of the bag. Make sure you can read ALL of your hygros with out opening them. Then lable them, with how far off they are afer 24-48 hours. You can still use your old hygros, but now you will know how far off they are.

 

[veeref]

+1 on the 75% Boveda Calibration kit. You can even use their 70 or 65% packs, put it in tupperware or ziplock and calibrate your hygros off that.

I used to use the salt test and had your frustrations until I did the above.

 

[ItalianCustom]

I have a spare 65 boveda pack. I did the salt test with mine, might as well do the boveda pack this weekend to make sure. Not really that worried, beads have it holding strong