Salt test question

[Swissy]

Ok... after getting the 2 radio shack wireless hygrometers, I did the salt test on them. looks like there is a difference! Before I panic, a question...

everything I read on the test says put a cap full of salt, with water enough to make a 'slurry' mixture into a ziplock.. yada yada yada. Now, is this exact? What happens if my mix is a little too much water, or salt... will it affect the readings? I have three readings, after sitting over 12 hours -

74% (cheap little digital)
69% (main radio shack reading)
70% (radio shack remote sensor)

I assme the 74% is closest to accurate, but i didn't use a 'capful' of salt as I could not find a cap to fill, so I used a lid with a tablespoon of salt and added what I thought was the right amount of water. Could this test be skewed as a result, or should I trust the crappy little digital reading and mark the radio shack readings as 5% off accurate?

 

[KayakinBoy]

You know what, I'm also questioning this test. I ran the test on my digital and analog and they were both 5 off, and now they don't read the same at all. I used an air tight enviroment and the cap was full of salt and just enough water to make it damp. trying to get it dead at 70 is getting a little old lol.

 

[Allofus123]

You know what, I'm also questioning this test.

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You can't question science. The salt test when done properly will produce a 75% enviroment period.

There are several common problems most people encounter doing the salt test. Not leaving it alone long enough to stabilize. Not mixing the salt and water properly. Not having it in a sealed enviroment. Some people have more than one problem working against them at the same time so identifying whats being done wrong can be difficult.

For those that don't feel they have done it correctly and would rather spend a few dollars and be done with it go buy a humi-bag at your local cigar store. The Fuente bags are dead on at 70%. Stick your hygro's in the bag and leave them alone for 24 hours.

 

[Swissy]

You know what, I'm also questioning this test.

[snapback]177737[/snapback]​

You can't question science. The salt test when done properly will produce a 75% enviroment period.

There are several common problems most people encounter doing the salt test. Not leaving it alone long enough to stabilize. Not mixing the salt and water properly. Not having it in a sealed enviroment. Some people have more than one problem working against them at the same time so identifying whats being done wrong can be difficult.

For those that don't feel they have done it correctly and would rather spend a few dollars and be done with it go buy a humi-bag at your local cigar store. The Fuente bags are dead on at 70%. Stick your hygro's in the bag and leave them alone for 24 hours.

[snapback]177771[/snapback]​

Damn... I just got back from my store and saw the bags there. Even talked of getting one! Nuts...

You say not properly done, and mixing the salt. The directions I read were to just put a few drops of water onto the salt- nothing about mixing. Possibly my problem, or since I have one (rather cheap) reading at 74% can I assume the radio shack readings are just off by 5?

 

[puffnstuff]

69% (main radio shack reading)
70% (radio shack remote sensor)

I'm confused by this. if your remote sensor is set to, say, "channel 1" (which you do under the battery lid), and your main unit is set to "channel 1" then it should be the same exact reading.
unless I don't have them figured out completely, I thought the main unit doesn't take readings for itself, it just displays the readings that the sensors get.

 

[naiou175]

69% (main radio shack reading)
70% (radio shack remote sensor)

I'm confused by this. if your remote sensor is set to, say, "channel 1" (which you do under the battery lid), and your main unit is set to "channel 1" then it should be the same exact reading.
unless I don't have them figured out completely, I thought the main unit doesn't take readings for itself, it just displays the readings that the sensors get.

[snapback]177795[/snapback]​

Actually not quite right the main unit does take its own reading you push the in button and it gives you the reading of where it is sitting for example my remote sensor channel one is in my humi at 60% :angry2: and the main unit reflects that but when I push the in button it says my house is at a dry 25%

 

[puffnstuff]

69% (main radio shack reading)
70% (radio shack remote sensor)

I'm confused by this. if your remote sensor is set to, say, "channel 1" (which you do under the battery lid), and your main unit is set to "channel 1" then it should be the same exact reading.
unless I don't have them figured out completely, I thought the main unit doesn't take readings for itself, it just displays the readings that the sensors get.

[snapback]177795[/snapback]​

Actually not quite right the main unit does take its own reading you push the in button and it gives you the reading of where it is sitting for example my remote sensor channel one is in my humi at 60% :angry2: and the main unit reflects that but when I push the in button it says my house is at a dry 25%

[snapback]177797[/snapback]​

aha!
guess I'll actually have to read the instructions. :whistling:

 

[BkCloud114]

I never get the same reading with my Digital Hygrometers....

I did a salt test about 3 weeks ago and found that my wireless Oregon Scientific (basically same as Radio Shack) was off (lower) by about 4%.

I did the same salt test today and now it says it is 7% (lower) off.... :angry:

I don't know what to do anymore, I got 1/2 lb of 65% beads in a 54 Qt cooler. I probably will worry if the reading drops below 55%.... other than that I will probably leave it alone....

For those that don't feel they have done it correctly and would rather spend a few dollars and be done with it go buy a humi-bag at your local cigar store. The Fuente bags are dead on at 70%. Stick your hygro's in the bag and leave them alone for 24 hours.

I'll probably try the bags as the final test and leave it at that.

 

[Swissy]

I'm just going to note the differences (so far 5% RH) and just let the reading say 60% instead of 65%. No big deal I guess, as long as I remember this! I'm going to get one of those label makers and put notice on the coolidor door about it so I don't forget!

Plus I have my cheap little readout that seems to be only 1% off. not bad!

 

[Pyre]

Yep, use those humi-paks to test with. You can get the smallest size for under $5. I found that my $20 radio shack hygro was 1% low, and my $40 diamond crown hygro was 4% low.

 

[KayakinBoy]

I'm currently using three humi-paks in my 100 count humidor only.

And as for my test, it was in a air tight enviroment, I didn't open it for OVER 24 HOURS, and I could see it the whole time. The digital and analog didn't read the same before the test, but they did at the 24 hour mark. Also, currently reading 61 on my digital and 67 on my analog. I think I might throw the digi and analog in air tight case and run the test again. And they both read 5 under at the end of the test. what now? ???

 

[KayakinBoy]

And how many humi paks come in the small bag?

 

[Rob_k]

Where might one acquire these humi-bags? i have a digi (linky: digital hygrometer)that says one thing, and an analog that says something else. i also did the salt test and at that time, both read the same, so i am bewildered here as well.

 

[bfreebern]

KB - 1 humipak per bag.

Rob - you can ususally get them from your local B&M. If not, check here:

El Fumador

Scroll down past all the cigars and you'll see them. I'm sure there are lots of places online you can get them.

 

[Rob_k]

Thanks Brandon, appreciated!

KB - 1 humipak per bag.

Rob - you can ususally get them from your local B&M. If not, check here:

El Fumador

Scroll down past all the cigars and you'll see them. I'm sure there are lots of places online you can get them.

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[KayakinBoy]

Thanks Brudda