testing hygrometer

[mateo]

My digital hydrometer has been in the salt test for 12 hours and is reading 67%. I replaced the battery as well. Could it be this far off? SHould I let it sit for a while longer? Last time I tested it a couple years ago it was reading about 72%.

 

[DirtyDave]

I'd say let it sit for 24 hours. Good luck.

 

[mateo]

I'd say let it sit for 24 hours. Good luck.

does it matter what kind of salt used? I used lite salt but when I put the hygrometer in my humidor tonight it read exactly 70% which is exactly what the beads are supposed to keep.

 

[Boomer52]

I'd say let it sit for 24 hours. Good luck.

does it matter what kind of salt used? I used lite salt but when I put the hygrometer in my humidor tonight it read exactly 70% which is exactly what the beads are supposed to keep.

Yes it does matter what kind of salt is used. Lite salt is usually a mixture of sodium chloride and potasium chloride. It will not produce a RH of 75%. Different salts product different RH's.

This may help: Salt

 

[suprchunk]

I usually set mine in for at least 18 hours with regular table salt. Then press the calibrate button. The ones I have are usually in the right range anyway, so far at least.

Do you have a hygrometer that can be calibrated or are you using one that you can't calibrate and just using the math method?

 

[mateo]

well this time I used sea salt out of a grinder, and am just realizing this may be unsatisfactory? The reading was 4 points low after 24 hours. I am headed out tomorrow to buy some regular table salt. Also, I have been seasoning the humidor for a few days and I took the dish of water out a couple days ago. The reading was at 65% or that is at least what my hygrometer told me thus far, for a couple days and then it dropped a few points. I re wet the beads and a day later the humidity is 5 points low again. I just put the dish of distilled water back in and am assuming the humidor just isn't ready. I started the seasoning process about 5 days ago but I recall it only taking a day or two last time. Could my beads from Heartfelt have gone bad? They sat in a humidor for a couple years seeing no use.

Thanks for reading my own hijacked thread.