Hygrometers accuracy over time

[ha_banos]

As you many have seen recently I've ended up with lets say a few () hygrometers due to some consolidation work in the humidor department. Its not a big cabinet. 3 shelves, about 65cm total height.

Now I've ended up with like 5 hygrometers in one place they read different measures of RH. Top shelf is usually drier than bottom shelf. With 5 large 69% Boveda bags distributed across 3 shelves. And the hygrometers show from 64-68% (which is perhaps a bit dry with the +-3% variance I expect the hygrometers to have.)

I've tried ziplocking the hygrometers in a bag with a Boveda to test and even those results vary over time. Now the variance isnt massive but can be 4-5%. Over my time of storing cigars (since around 2004) ive not been anal about the RH, just dont want anything over 70%.

I know RH seems to very with temperature. And I'm about to embark on charting values over time a couple of times a day. Perhaps automate this...?

My question is do hygrometers vary over time? Do they need to be rechecked for calibration every year say?

What have you found?

I'll be tracking my control over a few weeks and posting here.

B.

[ha_banos]

Just zipped these up. You can see a previous measurement on the grey hygro from what must be a couple of years ago showing it reads +5%!

So let's see.....

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[dvickery]

When I worked (up to 2011) ... measuring devices had to be calibrated in the last 30 day’s to be considered accurate enough for sales ( in the oil industry) .

however ... I haven’t replaced batteries in any of my hygros in (at least) ten years ... I use the “if they are smoking good for me” rule of thumb .

so there you go ...
derrek

[dvickery]

Maybe ... to better answer your question .

the most expensive , most accurate hygrometer in the world ... is not reliable thirty days after its last calibration .

derrek

[ha_banos]

Ha. Nice to know. So there you have it.

As I've just put all my stock into one basket is why I'm revisiting this.

And I fully expect to not worry about it and everything will be fine .. as it has been for the past 14 odd years.

But I am a bit geeky about these things and monitoring is well.... part of what I do for a living. And Cigars are about a far away from IT as you can get!

But I'll keep the measuring and posting for a few weeks.

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[Johnny Thunder]

I have a fair few devices from ebay cheapies to a Caliber IV.
I was planning on going all Caliber IV but am shocked at how often it drifts off. Only by the odd % but needs
resetting on a regular basis. I have a couple of ebay cheap ones that were 1% and 2% out respectively, and
nearly three years later they are still exactly the same.

[PeeJay]

I have a fair few devices from ebay cheapies to a Caliber IV.
I was planning on going all Caliber IV but am shocked at how often it drifts off. Only by the odd % but needs
resetting on a regular basis. I have a couple of ebay cheap ones that were 1% and 2% out respectively, and
nearly three years later they are still exactly the same.

Same here, I regard them all as a rough guide and so long as they're in the acceptable zone then I'm happy

[ha_banos]

Meanwhile, the next day...

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[ha_banos]

Seems to have settled down. What I thought was +3 is actually showing +1 this time. The other +5 is still the same after a few years.

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[Pandyboy]

It's a poor time of year when it's cold.

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[ha_banos]

Let's check back in July



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[ha_banos]

Another snapshot

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[ha_banos]

I think safe to say stable now. Temperature effect evident. The +3 is now showing +1. The other is still +5.

In think the old +3 might have been tested with a crystal humidifier last time. So this is a more trusted reading.

And I'm pretty sure the +5 was the old salt test!

Time to switch hygros as I have so many to play with [emoji23]

B.

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[sheppsea]

To be honest I wouldn't worry too much about it - I spend a minute checking the humidity in my humidors every week to make sure they haven't completely dried out or anything, but as [MENTION=13402615]PeeJay[/MENTION] says, as long as its in the ball park I stopped obsessing about the perfect humidity a long time ago, much ado about nothing IMO

[ha_banos]

heh heh ok ok enough already I get it.