Choosing a Hygrometer

10-12-2009, 10:29 AM

I am looking to buy a digital hygrometer today on Amazon and am not sure on which one I want. I have heard some good things about the Caliber III, but haven't seen much info on other hygrometers. What do you guys like/ recommend? Can you provide some additional info on the Caliber III or why you recommend one over the other. I want to place the order today because the analog one that came with my Humidor is just not doing the trick. thanks in advance!

NCRadioMan · 10-12-2009, 10:39 AM

Caliber III is a good one. I use 5 of them and have for years and only one is off and it's just off 2%. I like them because they are slim. Xikar also makes a good one you can calibrate.

10-12-2009, 10:40 AM

Is the Xikar one a specific model? Do you have a link? Also, for the Caliber III, do I have to calibrate it?

NCRadioMan · 10-12-2009, 10:42 AM

Xikar only makes one. You cannot calibrate the Caliber III.

http://www.cigarmony.com/digitalhygrometers.aspx

md4958 · 10-12-2009, 10:43 AM

Check out Marks prices before you buy... he is a member here and a great BOTL
http://www.cigarmony.com/digitalhygrometers.aspx

ir13 · 10-12-2009, 10:54 AM

This is the one i run in all 5 of my humidors

http://www.cigarmony.com/hygrosetiic...ctangular.aspx

I calibrate them once every six months and i havent had any problems.

md4958 · 10-12-2009, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ir13

This is the one i run in all 5 of my humidors

http://www.cigarmony.com/hygrosetiic...ctangular.aspx

I calibrate them once every six months and i havent had any problems.

CigarNut · 10-12-2009, 11:05 AM

It's probably overkill but I use an Oregon Scientific Thermometer and Humidity Sensor (Oregon Scientific) in my humidors. They broadcast to my weather station monitor so I can check the temp and RH remotely for each of my humidors.

I started doing this because initially I was logging (tracking) the information to make sure my humidor was maintaining RH before and immediately after I started using it.

10-12-2009, 11:23 AM

Does the Xikar fit in the spot of my current analog hygrometer? This is assuming all analog hygrometers are the same size.

NCRadioMan · 10-12-2009, 11:27 AM

All are not the same size and you can place the hygro anywhere.

McSmokey · 10-12-2009, 11:35 AM

I use the Xikar in my humidor and the Caliber III in my Coolerdor... yes the Xikar is supposed to fit in most Puck spaces on humidors and calibrating the xikar with the salt test both of these hygros stay within 1% of each other and the temp right on the money

SLO_Smoke · 10-12-2009, 12:42 PM

+1 for Xikar

I use 12 of them.
Replace the batteries, clean the contacts, and recalibrate every 8-10 months (all at the same time - makes it easier to keep track of maintenance dates).
All show +/- 1% of each other.
Because of the RH in the humidor (64%) I use DeOxIt electronoic contact cleaner/de-oxifier on the battery contacts.
- Without it my battery contacts were showing oxidation in less than 1 year.
- Contact oxidation will affect accuracy.

bobarian · 10-12-2009, 12:50 PM

I use a $5-6 one from WalMart. Big numbers. Accurate enough. I would guess that 99% of the hygrometers out there are based on the same chip.

As long as you calibrate and adjust your readings to compensate for any variance you will be fine.

jwfish81 · 10-12-2009, 07:57 PM

If I am asking this question in the wrong category, I apologize.

I always here talk of recalibrating your digital hygrometer, but do analog/dial hygrometers need this too, or are they always set? I have a cheap one I bought before I got my humi, but have been keeping it in there to compare it with the one that is built in to the humi. The built in one usually stays around 70 or so, but the other one always reads around 60-65. When I had it in my tupperdor, it would stay around 68-70. Can an analog be reset, or not?

md4958 · 10-12-2009, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwfish81

If I am asking this question in the wrong category, I apologize.

I always here talk of recalibrating your digital hygrometer, but do analog/dial hygrometers need this too, or are they always set? I have a cheap one I bought before I got my humi, but have been keeping it in there to compare it with the one that is built in to the humi. The built in one usually stays around 70 or so, but the other one always reads around 60-65. When I had it in my tupperdor, it would stay around 68-70. Can an analog be reset, or not?

There may be a small screw on the back side of the analog that can be tightened or loosened to adjust the correct reading. Not all of them have this though

jwfish81 · 10-12-2009, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by md4958

There may be a small screw on the back side of the analog that can be tightened or loosened to adjust the correct reading. Not all of them have this though

Thanks! I never knew this, and will have to check them both!

10-12-2009, 10:29 AM	#1
Ic3man08 Guest Posts: n/a	Choosing a Hygrometer I am looking to buy a digital hygrometer today on Amazon and am not sure on which one I want. I have heard some good things about the Caliber III, but haven't seen much info on other hygrometers. What do you guys like/ recommend? Can you provide some additional info on the Caliber III or why you recommend one over the other. I want to place the order today because the analog one that came with my Humidor is just not doing the trick. thanks in advance!

10-12-2009, 10:39 AM	#2
NCRadioMan Chutney Lovebusciut Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Chutney Location: On the shores of Loch Shiel Posts: 4,277 Trading: (66)	Re: Choosing a Hygrometer Caliber III is a good one. I use 5 of them and have for years and only one is off and it's just off 2%. I like them because they are slim. Xikar also makes a good one you can calibrate. __________________ The path to loyalty is trust.

10-12-2009, 10:40 AM	#3
Ic3man08 Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Choosing a Hygrometer Is the Xikar one a specific model? Do you have a link? Also, for the Caliber III, do I have to calibrate it?

10-12-2009, 10:42 AM	#4
NCRadioMan Chutney Lovebusciut Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Chutney Location: On the shores of Loch Shiel Posts: 4,277 Trading: (66)	Re: Choosing a Hygrometer Xikar only makes one. You cannot calibrate the Caliber III. http://www.cigarmony.com/digitalhygrometers.aspx __________________ The path to loyalty is trust.

10-12-2009, 10:43 AM	#5
md4958 Captain Cannoli Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Moe Location: Suffield, CT Posts: 5,712 Trading: (62)	Re: Choosing a Hygrometer Check out Marks prices before you buy... he is a member here and a great BOTL http://www.cigarmony.com/digitalhygrometers.aspx __________________ "One fart can foul the air for everyone" - Esteemed philosopher "If avoiding the nasty $hit is being a snob, them I am guilty as charged."- Same esteemed philosopher.

10-12-2009, 10:54 AM	#6
ir13 PSHC - T1nyH@ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: South Carolina Posts: 1,440 Trading: (44)	Re: Choosing a Hygrometer This is the one i run in all 5 of my humidors http://www.cigarmony.com/hygrosetiic...ctangular.aspx I calibrate them once every six months and i havent had any problems. __________________

10-12-2009, 11:05 AM	#8
CigarNut Fck Cancer! Join Date: Jan 2009 First Name: Michael Location: Clermont, Florida Posts: 18,042 Trading: (111*)	Re: Choosing a Hygrometer It's probably overkill but I use an Oregon Scientific Thermometer and Humidity Sensor (Oregon Scientific) in my humidors. They broadcast to my weather station monitor so I can check the temp and RH remotely for each of my humidors. I started doing this because initially I was logging (tracking) the information to make sure my humidor was maintaining RH before and immediately after I started using it.

10-12-2009, 11:23 AM	#9
Ic3man08 Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Choosing a Hygrometer Does the Xikar fit in the spot of my current analog hygrometer? This is assuming all analog hygrometers are the same size.

10-12-2009, 11:27 AM	#10
NCRadioMan Chutney Lovebusciut Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Chutney Location: On the shores of Loch Shiel Posts: 4,277 Trading: (66)	Re: Choosing a Hygrometer All are not the same size and you can place the hygro anywhere. __________________ The path to loyalty is trust.

10-12-2009, 11:35 AM	#11
McSmokey Feeling at Home Join Date: Aug 2009 First Name: Justin Location: Tuscaloosa, AL Posts: 948 Trading: (30)	Re: Choosing a Hygrometer I use the Xikar in my humidor and the Caliber III in my Coolerdor... yes the Xikar is supposed to fit in most Puck spaces on humidors and calibrating the xikar with the salt test both of these hygros stay within 1% of each other and the temp right on the money

10-12-2009, 12:42 PM	#12
SLO_Smoke Burnt my fingers again! Join Date: Mar 2009 First Name: Michael Location: SinCity Posts: 234 Trading: (27)	Re: Choosing a Hygrometer +1 for Xikar I use 12 of them. Replace the batteries, clean the contacts, and recalibrate every 8-10 months (all at the same time - makes it easier to keep track of maintenance dates). All show +/- 1% of each other. Because of the RH in the humidor (64%) I use DeOxIt electronoic contact cleaner/de-oxifier on the battery contacts. - Without it my battery contacts were showing oxidation in less than 1 year. - Contact oxidation will affect accuracy.

10-12-2009, 12:50 PM	#13
bobarian Cranky Habanophile Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Wine Country Posts: 8,869 Trading: (51)	Re: Choosing a Hygrometer I use a $5-6 one from WalMart. Big numbers. Accurate enough. I would guess that 99% of the hygrometers out there are based on the same chip. As long as you calibrate and adjust your readings to compensate for any variance you will be fine.

10-12-2009, 07:57 PM	#14
jwfish81 Just wandering Join Date: Aug 2009 First Name: Justin Location: The Ozarks Posts: 97 Trading: (1)	Re: Choosing a Hygrometer If I am asking this question in the wrong category, I apologize. I always here talk of recalibrating your digital hygrometer, but do analog/dial hygrometers need this too, or are they always set? I have a cheap one I bought before I got my humi, but have been keeping it in there to compare it with the one that is built in to the humi. The built in one usually stays around 70 or so, but the other one always reads around 60-65. When I had it in my tupperdor, it would stay around 68-70. Can an analog be reset, or not? __________________ Enjoying the outdoors and a good cigar!