Problems keeping hygrometers calibrated

[SMOKE!]

Ok, I did the salt test twice with my analog and digital hygrometers. The first time they read a little high, so I did it again for 24 hours. The digital read 78 and the analog also read 78. The digital has always been 2 or 3 degrees high, but I thought the analog one was correct. I turned the analog one down by 3 degrees and put them both in my humidor. It has been a few days and now the digital reads 74 and the analog 68. I have a small desktop humidor with a tube of beads and a half full shot glass in it. I think the salt test ran 3 degrees to high and the analog was correct to begin with. That would put the humidor at 71% humidity. Anybody see any other possibilities?

 

[Shooter]

What beads do you have for starters.

Give it a few weeks at minimum.

During that that time smoke some cigars and quit worrying.

I often come home from a 4-5 day trip and mine reads 72-74. Oh well I leave for another 4-5 day trip and come home and it reads 63. It will change, but you have to kinda get a feeling where it averages. Mine always stays in the 63-67 range average with a few swings here and there.

Like I said chill out smoke a few and give it a few weeks. Also the fuller the humi the more stable it will eventually become.

 

[Dave]

For me, the ultimate test is to smoke one. It's nice to read the numbers, but like shooter said, just relax and have a smoke.

 

[denverdog]

What beads do you have for starters.

Give it a few weeks at minimum.

During that that time smoke some cigars and quit worrying.

I often come home from a 4-5 day trip and mine reads 72-74. Oh well I leave for another 4-5 day trip and come home and it reads 63. It will change, but you have to kinda get a feeling where it averages. Mine always stays in the 63-67 range average with a few swings here and there.

Like I said chill out smoke a few and give it a few weeks. Also the fuller the humi the more stable it will eventually become.

Like shooter said, as long as it is in the ballpark don't let it worry you. I have had the same issue with one of my desktops and finally decided to throw the hyrgo out the window since all of the sticks kept there were smoking like a champ. Good luck!

 

[BlindedByScience]

Some of the best advice I got while fighting my first humidor was - don't sweat it too much. Ask around what the "best" humidity is to store your cigars at, and you'll get numbers from 58 to 75% depending on who you ask. Point being, as long as you're in the ballpark, your sticks should smoke just fine. I like to run my storage coolers around 65-70% and my smoking humi between 60-65%. If they get more than a couple points above that for more than a day, I leave the lid open for an hour (RH in house < RH in humidors). If they get more than a point or two below that for more than a couple days, I'll wet the beads with some DI.

Honest truth is that I don't really know what kind of repeatability you can or should expect out of a $10-20.00 hygrometer. Relax, trust the beads, and enjoy a smoke....

Good Luck - B.B.S.

 

[cbauer210]

Keeping your humidity perfect can drive you nuts if you let it.....As long as you know you are close then dont worry so much.