I just got from bargainhumidors.com a desktop humi for my friend's birthday present, and two Western Caliber III Digital Hygrometers (one of which for myself). The manual for hygrometers says among other DON'Ts: Do not perform the salt test!
I understand that they don't want me to microwave it (like I was going to do that) or wrap in a wet towel (which I might have done if not warned). After all it's a little piece of electronics.
But why on the earth they don't allow the salt test? Would it damage the gauge, or they are just trying to minimize the number of returned products? Any opinions, please.

quote:

Originally posted by V.O.:
they are just trying to minimize the number of returned products?

That would be my guess.

I did the salt test on my new hygrometer.. and it said 72%. Shouldn't it say 75%? Should I now expect that this hygrometer is -3%?

My biuggest worry is that it says my main humi is at 56%! Stupid analog hygrometer giving me false comfort!

quote:

Originally posted by Doodface:
I did the salt test on my new hygrometer.. and it said 72%. Shouldn't it say 75%? Should I now expect that this hygrometer is -3%?

Yes, if you've done it right. And +/-3% is very normal, even pretty good if it's an analog one.

With my digital gauge, I'm still hesitant to do the test - would like to hear from more people. Is there really a good reason why should I not do the salt test on Western Caliber III Digital Hygrometers, as they warn in the manual?

Some EE needs Physics 101. When the salt test is performed, only distilled water is evaporated into the air, not salt. And besides, its going to live in a very high RH atmosphere all the time anyway. You have to test it. You'll find its 5-7% off. Order a Boveda One-Step Calibration Kit and check its cal. When I calibrated my hygrometers with salt using a 24-36 hours *in bag time*, I found they were reading two percent high when recalibrated with the Boveda kit. (BTW they were both 5% low when new.)

This message has been edited. Last edited by: SteveSur,

Thanks! Will give that a shot..

In most cases you can not calibrate a digital anyway, so why bother?

I have 2 digital hygrometers that are the exact same make/model. One is -2% and the other is +4%. I think that is generally the norm with digitals, +/- three or four percent. I just mark the difference on the back of the unit so I'm not guessing which one is which.

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Originally posted by Docbarry:
In most cases you can not calibrate a digital anyway, so why bother?

Well, it's true these ones can't be calibrated. But I want to know how much they're off (or are they)? At the end of the day I decide whether the humidity is good or not by touching, inspecting and smoking the cigars. But I need a reference point - e.g. I know that for one of my analog ones the right humidity is around 74-76% and under the salt test it shows 86-88%. I'd like to know the same info for these new digital ones without harming their electronics. That's all why I bother.

Use this its foolproof.
http://www.bovedapacks.com/product_detail.asp?id=5&Image7.x=24&Image7.y=15

quote:

Originally posted by SHEEPSHEAD BAY:
Use this its foolproof.
http://www.bovedapacks.com/product_detail.asp?id=5&Image7.x=24&Image7.y=15

Already mentioned above. Although mentioning it two or three times can't be all that bad either.

Do a search for something called the Boveda Hygrometer Calibration Kit.

quote:

Originally posted by SteveSur:

quote:

Originally posted by SHEEPSHEAD BAY:
Use this its foolproof.
http://www.bovedapacks.com/product_detail.asp?id=5&Image7.x=24&Image7.y=15

Already mentioned above. Although mentioning it two or three times can't be all that bad either.

quote:

Originally posted by SteveSur:
Do a search for something called the Boveda Hygrometer Calibration Kit.

lol.

quote:

Do a search for something called the Boveda Hygrometer Calibration Kit

Thanks for advice. I've seen that 100s of times on the net, so I need not do a search. Instead I did a search for a vendor who'd ship it affordably to the other side of the globe or at least just ship it.
If you ever find one - let me know, I'd appreciate that.

OK, figured it out without the salt test. It struck me once did my previous post about my analog hygro. Here is what I did:
An hour ago I removed all the cigars and humidifier from my plastic airtight "otherdor" for NCs. Put the two new digital gauges and the old analog (the one that is about +10 to 12% off by the salt test) in. Now the analog one reads 72%, and both digitals show exactly 60% with temp readings off from each other by 0.3 degrees. Apparently these digital things must be pretty damn accurate!

Oh and BTW:

quote:

only distilled water is evaporated into the air, not salt.

NOT EXACTLY TRUE. So in the meanwhile I talked to a PhD. He says some Na+ and Cl- ions do get away with H2O vapor (he also described a test with some ray-emission equipment that proves it). Over time, especially in a contained volume (like airtight bowl for salt test) their concentration actually may get high enough to start corrosion or other undesirable processes in delicate electronics. He thinks a couple of hours is nothing, but 24-36 hours maybe enough to start something nasty, though that certainly wouldn't ruin the electronics right away. So he thinks the manufacturer just tries to play safe because they promise 5 years of normal operation, and if you do many or very long salt tests, it may shorten the lifetime of the gauge. He also says maybe the tiny circuits or whatever are not protected well to reduce the cost.
I was like OK, there is always CO2 in air and with water it turns into acid and may get onto circuits - so why nothing happens? He says that's a very "weak" acid, while Cl- ions form HCl which is death to most metals. If you left buckets full of concentrated salt solution near your TV set all the time, in a small room with no windows and doors, be sure your set wouldn't serve half the time it is supposed to.

So leaving the science out I gathered this: basically the manufacturer plays safe to make sure the gadget works as long as they promise. Most likely doing the salt test once or twice shouldn't hurt it.

quote:

Originally posted by V.O.:

quote:

Do a search for something called the Boveda Hygrometer Calibration Kit

Thanks for advice. I've seen that 100s of times on the net, so I need not do a search. Instead I did a search for a vendor who'd ship it affordably to the other side of the globe or at least just ship it.
If you ever find one - let me know, I'd appreciate that.

where are you on the other side of the globe?

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where are you on the other side of the globe?

That's Armenia. No, not Romania. No sir, it's not Albania either. Spell it for you? OK-here we go... Oh, you don't ship there, huh? But why? You don't know... Of course you don't, you can't even find it on the map...
That's my usual conversation

quote:

Originally posted by Docbarry:
In most cases you can not calibrate a digital anyway, so why bother?

Doc,
wouldn't you want to know how much your hygrometer varies? I think many of us have at least a slight case of OCD and want to obsess over minutia.

quote:

Originally posted by Fat Weed Esq:

quote:

Originally posted by Docbarry:
In most cases you can not calibrate a digital anyway, so why bother?

Doc,
wouldn't you want to know how much your hygrometer varies? I think many of us have at least a slight case of OCD and want to obsess over minutia.

I use beads in my Cubador and a set and forget in my cabinet. I have digitals in both but I rarely even look at them. If the cigar feels good and smokes right it is just fine.

I purchased the same hygrometer earlier this year, I remember the instructions saying not to perform the salt test. I did the test anyway to satisfy my curiosity and and the results were dead on 75% after about eight hours.