FireFighter 227
New Member
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2009
- Messages
- 82
After doing the salt test twice and getting somewhat different results, I decided to do it again for a full 24 hours. For this test, I used 1/2 cup salt and 1/4 cup water and mixed them into a coffee cup. I used the coffee cup method over the capfull, as it is my understanding a capfull can dry out too much within 24 hours, yielding inaccurate results. Given that the RH in my area is currently hovering around 10%, I figured it was a good idea. I placed the coffee cup and hygrometer into a gallon ziplock bag. There was water left at the top, so I used a paper towel to soak it up. There is only a very very thin layer of water at the top.
Temperature inside the bag remained a constant 69-71 degrees.
Since I work 24 hour shifts, I figured this would be a good time to do the test. I took readings over the next 24 hours, missing about 6 hours of data for sleep. I wasnt able to take readings every 30 minutes due to calls.
0min 46
45min 63
1hr 65
2hr 67
3hr30min 69
4hr 69
5hr 70
5hr15min 72
5hr30min 73
6hr 73
6hr30min 74
7hr30min 74
12hr 76
13hr15min 74
14hr 72
14hr30mn 71
15hr 70
15hr30min 70
16hr 70
16hr30min 71
17hr 72
17hr30min 73
18hr 74
24hr 74
25hr 73
Again, since it seems to be fluctuating between 70 and 74, I figured an average was called for. I don't feel comfortable just taking a number and going with it. If I took a reading at 4 hours like the write up suggested, I'd be at 69%. If I took it at 12 hours like another suggested, I'd be at 76 and 74% for 24 hours like a lot of people suggest...that is quite a variation, imo. What do you think? To get the average, I used the data after 4 hours, as thats where it seems to start to stabilize.
72.2% is the average using 20 readings from 4 to 25 hours.
I havent been able to find any posts or legit data that suggests a given time to take a valid reading. I have read from as little as 4 hours all the way to 24. I wish this was more of an exact science, but I suppose it will have to do. Let me ask, would you do it the same way, or simply take the reading after 24 hours?
Temperature inside the bag remained a constant 69-71 degrees.
Since I work 24 hour shifts, I figured this would be a good time to do the test. I took readings over the next 24 hours, missing about 6 hours of data for sleep. I wasnt able to take readings every 30 minutes due to calls.
0min 46
45min 63
1hr 65
2hr 67
3hr30min 69
4hr 69
5hr 70
5hr15min 72
5hr30min 73
6hr 73
6hr30min 74
7hr30min 74
12hr 76
13hr15min 74
14hr 72
14hr30mn 71
15hr 70
15hr30min 70
16hr 70
16hr30min 71
17hr 72
17hr30min 73
18hr 74
24hr 74
25hr 73
Again, since it seems to be fluctuating between 70 and 74, I figured an average was called for. I don't feel comfortable just taking a number and going with it. If I took a reading at 4 hours like the write up suggested, I'd be at 69%. If I took it at 12 hours like another suggested, I'd be at 76 and 74% for 24 hours like a lot of people suggest...that is quite a variation, imo. What do you think? To get the average, I used the data after 4 hours, as thats where it seems to start to stabilize.
72.2% is the average using 20 readings from 4 to 25 hours.
I havent been able to find any posts or legit data that suggests a given time to take a valid reading. I have read from as little as 4 hours all the way to 24. I wish this was more of an exact science, but I suppose it will have to do. Let me ask, would you do it the same way, or simply take the reading after 24 hours?
