Got my Digital Hygrometer

[misterbulgarin]

Finally got my lil digi hygrometer thankfully seeing as my analogue one doesnt work.

Ive turned it on and ive put it in my humi and its reading 66%, is that alright? Can they read perfect humidity straight out the box like that, or should I do the salt test first.

Thoughts?

[ACMCC]

It's probably not far out - but a salt test is always a good idea, is it a adjustable one? (hydroset or xikar)...

[daverave999]

If you salt test it, you'll KNOW if it's right! ;)

[HabanoSy]

SALT TEST please Mb

No point messing, get it done... lol!!!

Cheers, HabanoSy

[ACMCC]

LOL... ziplock bag or small tupperware container, bottle cap full of salt, 3/4 drops or water to moisten (not wet!) seal the bag/box and in 7/8 hrs it should read 75% - if it's not adjustable... cut a small bit of a post-it note stick it on the front in the corner and write on whether it + or - out etc....:smoke:

I've posted a simple abc method so any new members will know also...

[misterbulgarin]

http://i30.tinypic.com/348gihc.jpg

Few drops of water, salt, hygro and a lock-n-lock. Leave it for 6 hours ish?

[ACMCC]

LOL...Yep that will do the job..:smoke:

[misterbulgarin]

Its worked its way upto 75% so far :p

[Simon-JG-hr]

Method also here (http://www.ukcigarforums.com/ukcfwiki/index.php/Preparing_Your_Humidor#Step_2) and here (http://www.ukcigarforums.com/ukcfwiki/index.php/Salt_Test) in the Wiki. Conflicting by one percent, but, hey ho...
:smoke:

[misterbulgarin]

it's readying 78% atm. will it level out or just keep going up :eek:

[misterbulgarin]

lol yeah I bookmarked that the other day ready for when i got it ;)

[Simon-JG-hr]

Is it still going up? Or has it levelled off now?

[Deano]

To be honest I think most are usually very accurate. 66% is a good humidity to have your humi at, but as always, aim for 68%-72%.

[misterbulgarin]

79% atm, hour since i last checkd. too much dampness on the salt.

How does this test actually work, whats the science behind it?

[Simon-JG-hr]

You ask too many questions... they'll send someone round if you're not careful...

:laugh:

[misterbulgarin]

who, where does he come from, why is he here, what cigars will he like so I can give him one, where will he take me, will it be robusto in a loin cloth

[skyhigh]

behave yourself MrB , i ain't had my tea yet :fear:.

[Big Al]

I had no idea there was a test for a digital hygrometer. I do now. I've got doubts about both my hygrometers in both humidors. Must test. I don't trust the analogue ones at all.

[Cohiba Fan]

Well I set up my nuew humidor 2 days ago with both the anolog hygro (which was included) and the digital one.

Currently my anolog reads: 71%
The Digital reads: 75% and 75 deg F

I suspect the digital is giving a true reading but I haven't done the test.

I gave the inner walls of the humi a couple of wipes down with a damp cloth initially, which may be the reason for the slightly higher than average reading on the digital at the moment?

[misterbulgarin]

The hygro has leveld ot at 79% in the box. So that means mine is 4% out?

[Simon-JG-hr]

Yep (3-4% ish), just assume that the 'true' relative humidity is about 4% less than the reading. So, if the hygrometer is reading 66% in your humi, that should really be about 62-63%.

[daverave999]

Method also here (http://www.ukcigarforums.com/ukcfwiki/index.php/Preparing_Your_Humidor#Step_2) and here (http://www.ukcigarforums.com/ukcfwiki/index.php/Salt_Test) in the Wiki. Conflicting by one percent, but, hey ho...
:smoke:
Just for clarification :eek::

at 2°C = 75%
at 10°C = 76.3/76.9%
at 15°C = 77.5%
at 20°C = 75.8/76.5/78.3%
at 25°C = 75/75.5/76.5%
at 30°C = 75.1/75.5/75.9%

Where there is more than one figure, it's because the literature conflicts. Taken from 'The Control of Humidity by Saturated Salt Solutions' by F. E. M. O'Brien. PM me for a copy.

75 or 76; if your cigars smoke how you like them it doesn't matter. :D

[EDIT] I prefer mine 65-67 area.

[Simon-JG-hr]

One percent's not really that much when people can't even agree where in a 20 percentage point range they should store their cigars. Like Dave I subscribe to the 65-68% way of thinking.

[Stogiedog]

Yep, I like my smokes to sit in the humi between 66% - 69% anything more than that I believe makes the cigars to moist and hard to smoke, being a bit drier makes them drawwell with loads of smoke...........lovely.

Cohiba fan do not over do the wiping down of the humidor with damp cloths mate. Certainly do not put your expensive smokes in the humi untill you have settled on a steady RH in the humi, keep the cigars in a temporary humi mate at the correct RH.
:smoke:

[misterbulgarin]

I reccon the smokes will be alright now, I always keep my eagle eye on my humi so if anything goes wrong ill be able to see now with the digi hygro. Gd stuff!

[Cohiba Fan]

Yep, I like my smokes to sit in the humi between 66% - 69% anything more than that I believe makes the cigars to moist and hard to smoke, being a bit drier makes them drawwell with loads of smoke...........lovely.

Cohiba fan do not over do the wiping down of the humidor with damp cloths mate. Certainly do not put your expensive smokes in the humi untill you have settled on a steady RH in the humi, keep the cigars in a temporary humi mate at the correct RH.
:smoke:

I'm worried now...

Humi has been set up for about 5 days and cigars in there for 3 days. Humidity is static at 75% and it's three-quarters full with cigars.

I don't have another humi...

Surely 75% isn't going to do any harm?

I only gave the inner walls a light wipe down - they weren't wet when I loaded it.

Any thoughts?

[HabanoSy]

You need to be careful mate, because if your cigars suck in to much moisture to quickly they will swell and split the wrapper - and you DON'T want that...!!!

Cheers, HabanoSy

[Cohiba Fan]

The cigars at the top of the humi seem to be more squashy now (but spring right up again) - that's a good thing right?

Just about to fire one up now.

[HabanoSy]

Yes you certainly want your cigars to have a certain amount of 'spring' to them...

Good idea, get one smoked and see how it draws...!?!

Cheers, HabanoSy

[Cohiba Fan]

Yes you certainly want your cigars to have a certain amount of 'spring' to them...

Good idea, get one smoked and see how it draws...!?!

Cheers, HabanoSy

No problem with the draw on that Cohiba last night. I will keep monitoring the situation!

How often should one rotate the cigars in a humidor? Is this neccesary in a humidor without a tray? I have about 40 sticks in their (no tray).

[misterbulgarin]

RH dropped 64 or so. (temp 22c)

I topped it up with a few drops of (Deionized) water and its topped it up to 66% (22c) or so. To increase the % should I add even more water? My Hygro is 5% out so thats getting kinda low. Troubles is, I dont want to saturate the humidfier too much incase of any negative effects. Ill try topping it up slowly

[TJCoro]

No problem with the draw on that Cohiba last night. I will keep monitoring the situation!

How often should one rotate the cigars in a humidor? Is this neccesary in a humidor without a tray? I have about 40 sticks in their (no tray).

:nerd: Tray or no tray, I'm not convinced that it's necessry to rotate you stogies, expecially if you have a quality humidor that maintains an even and constant humidity level. However, if your humi doesn't perform well or the humidity level tends to vary throughout your rig, as some cheaper desk-top static units do, then I suggest you get a better humidor rather then spend your time turning your weenies.:41:

:shocked: BJ

[gt3911]

I didnt have much luck with getting the consistency I wanted from the salt test. Whenever I shop somewhere that stocks the Boveda Humidty packs I add one. I change the battery and verify calibration to the humidty pack every 6 montsh - ish.