new digital Hygrometer... calibration question

interpim

So... i purchased a new digital hygrometer, and it arrived in the mail today. I had planned on putting it through the salt test, but in the paperwork that came with it, it specifically says do not do the salt test, that it will void the warranty and that it was calibrated at the factory to be within 1% of the actual humidity. If anyone knows if this is pure BS or not let me know. It's a Caliber 3 hygrometer.

JSaint

I dont think you really need to salt test a digital hygrometer. They are usually pretty spot on.

j0z3r

JSaint:

I dont think you really need to salt test a digital hygrometer. They are usually pretty spot on.

Going with my own experience here, I have to say that's just not true. It may be close, but I've only had one out of five or six be within 1-3%.

Now, if you want to calibrate it without voiding the warranty, all you have to do is pick up a Boveda calibration kit, they work great and are easy breezy.

JSaint

j0z3r:

JSaint:

I dont think you really need to salt test a digital hygrometer. They are usually pretty spot on.

Going with my own experience here, I have to say that's just not true. It may be close, but I've only had one out of five or six be within 1-3%.

Now, if you want to calibrate it without voiding the warranty, all you have to do is pick up a Boveda calibration kit, they work great and are easy breezy.

well mines spot on =p.

interpim

The website I bought it from is even saying the Boveda kit will void the warranty

j0z3r

JSaint:

j0z3r:

JSaint:

I dont think you really need to salt test a digital hygrometer. They are usually pretty spot on.

Going with my own experience here, I have to say that's just not true. It may be close, but I've only had one out of five or six be within 1-3%.

Now, if you want to calibrate it without voiding the warranty, all you have to do is pick up a Boveda calibration kit, they work great and are easy breezy.

well mines spot on =p.

JSaint

interpim:

The website I bought it from is even saying the Boveda kit will void the warranty

That has to be bs then bro

j0z3r

interpim:

The website I bought it from is even saying the Boveda kit will void the warranty

I think they just don't want you to find out how inaccurate the thing is. I don't know what the deal is, but it sounds fishy. If it were me, I'd calibrate it and say screw the warranty.

vegassparky

I would rather loose a stupid warranty , than my cigars to being cheep. calibrate it, for peice of mind. forget the warranty.

interpim

well... I have an analog that is pretty spot on that is reading about the same as the digital hygrometer and the temperature is accurate as well... I'm using about 2x the amount of 65% beads recommended and I'm currently showing 71 degrees, 66%.

wwhwang

interpim:

well... I have an analog that is pretty spot on that is reading about the same as the digital hygrometer and the temperature is accurate as well... I'm using about 2x the amount of 65% beads recommended and I'm currently showing 71 degrees, 66%.

I'd still calibrate it, man. Any warranty that forbids calibrating is BS anyway.

vegassparky

interpim:

well... I have an analog that is pretty spot on that is reading about the same as the digital hygrometer and the temperature is accurate as well... I'm using about 2x the amount of 65% beads recommended and I'm currently showing 71 degrees, 66%.

sounds like your doing good

sumixam

how would they know you calibrated it using the salt test/boveda packs? I'm not saying, i'm just saying....

wwhwang

sumixam:

how would they know you calibrated it using the salt test/boveda packs? I'm not saying, i'm just saying....

True. There's no way to honestly say "HEY! You did the salt test!" unless you spilled the salt and water all over the hygrometers.

mrpillow

Well, how would you know it was off without testing it? I'm sure they'd ask what's wrong when you try to return it

j0z3r

wwhwang:

sumixam:

how would they know you calibrated it using the salt test/boveda packs? I'm not saying, i'm just saying....

True. There's no way to honestly say "HEY! You did the salt test!" unless you spilled the salt and water all over the hygrometers.

I suppose the salt test could potentially be corrosive to the metallic parts inside, that's the only way I can think of that they would be able to tell. And unless the Boveda packs operate the same way, I don't know how they would know if you were to use one. Sounds like a lot of BS to me.

jship079

My guss is that the warrenty is not worth the paper it is written on anyway.

AQUADGIO1200

I assume its an adjustable hygrometer? I have 3 digitals and all are spot on...within the manufacture's accuracy readings of 1/3+ - %.

interpim

No, it isn't adjustable... only buttons for seeing the high/low temp and humidity, and reset.

AQUADGIO1200

interpim:

No, it isn't adjustable... only buttons for seeing the high/low temp and humidity, and reset.

In that case...since it is not adjustable...just to the salt test and write down what % the unit is off by. 75% during salt test...and it reads 72....just remember to add 3% to the current reading and vise versa for above 75% reading during salt test.

SgtRick

Why are you worried about the warrenty on a 20 dollar item? Your cigars are worth more than that. Do the test and let us know the outcome.

Big T smokes

I did the salt test in my Caliber III... right on the money. As was the case with two of my friends who recommended this hygrometer to me. Very nice piece of equipment I plan on getting more of them.

SgtRick

See, dont you feel better? I have a couple of the Caliber III's and 2 more ordered. Best out there IMO.

MrMoke

mrpillow:

Well, how would you know it was off without testing it? I'm sure they'd ask what's wrong when you try to return it

Rather than do the salt test, I'll placed a recently calibrated hygo in the humi with the one I want to test. If you can do that you can state "it doesn't read the same as my calibrated reference hygrometer!"