Pulled out 6 digital hygrometers that had been sitting idle. Replaced the batteries & let them sit for 12 hours indoors on my desk. One thing I have to say for them is they were all within a degree or two on the temp's. The Rh readings were another thing:

1. 50%
2. 56%
3. 52%
4. 70%
5. 27%
6. 28%

Ok so now I'm going to test them but does anyone have a suggested model that gives you peace of mind?
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No... and I feel your pain. Hygros can drive me crazy. I really try to ignore them but it is hard.
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These days I pretty much go by eyeball & touch.
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Yep... In my Vino that I smoke out of I pretty much just go by how they are smoking. I worry a little more about the one I use for aging, but luckily that one seems to stay much more stable.

Tomorrow that all changes, I hope, as I am supposed to be getting a HUGE cabinet humi with temp and humidity control.
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Do you have any idea of the actual RH (e.g., were any of the hygros close)?

Are these hygros that can be adjusted?
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Not really PJ. Just the regular digital models going for about $20 each. Other than replacing the batteries, it will be interesting to see what your salt test bring forth...



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I try not to pay a whole lot of attention to mine anymore. Have 1.5 pounds of Shilala beads in my vino and as long as it's fairly the same I don't fool with it.:-)
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John, I think your eyeball and touch method is probably best, but to answer your question I've had the best luck with Western Caliber III hygros. I had several at one time that all read within 1% of each other.

Don't your Aristocrats have built in hygros?
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I barely even look at mine anymore. Trust the beads and how the sticks are smoking, seems to be much more accurate than hygro readings. :-)
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I went through about 15+ hygrometers first starting out back in August, I decided the Boveda bag test is 100% easier than the salt test, then mark the hygros once you figure out how far they are off and your done

Bart
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Went through this myself just recently.

Bought 2 Xikars and a boveeda calibration pack. One is dead on, the other is about 1/2% RH off.

Working fine now :-) .. I could never get an accurate salt test. The boveeda packs are the way to go.

The new Xikars beat the pants off of what I had before.
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I just use Shilala's beads and keep an eye on the sticks, seems to be working out just fine.:-)
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I have 2 Xikars that give me good readings. 1 is spot on, the other is 1% off. I use to have the cheapo Wal-Mart specials and the one was 11% off, the other was 9% off.
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I like the HygroSet II's as you can calibrate them and they are not too expensive. I use the Boveda 65% packs to calibrate mine. So far so good.

The other thing you need to remember to do is replace the batteries periodically. Don't wait for the battery to die -- and potentially corrode -- just replace them once a year.
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I just tried the salt test for the first time, having previously used Boveda packs. Prior to the salt test, my hygros were reading around 65% (the normal RH for the beads I use). After the salt calibration, my 3 hygros all read 71%-72% in my cooler. I think it's the salt calibration, not higher relative humidity. And I was hoping I had found an almost free way to calibrate.
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I use these - change the batteries every 6 months - look at em every 3 months hehe - once you get things stabilized/balanced in your cooler, cabinet, Vino it pretty much maintains itself..at least that has been my experience.
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The thing with the salt test is that you need to use a specific amount of salt with a smaller (specific) amount of distilled water. If you have too much or too little water, or impurities in the water (tap water) then the RH will be off a little.

Boveda packs are easier...
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Easier.. and that I was sure it was accurate. There was no worry.
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The only one I've owned that doesn't seem to have any episodes is an Oregon Scientific. It's older and I got it Radio Shack. The closest current product I could find like it is here or here. It's not real clear from the web site whether these now require remote sensors but the first link looks almost exactly like the one I have (the logo is more current) and it has a built in sensor
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I have two Oregon Scientific units myself and I love them. The also transmit to my base station so I can monitor them any time. They are great except for the cost...
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