New? RH question

[spiffykyle]

The reason I ask is because I am still struggling to understand what is going on with my hygrometers. Someone suggested doing the salt test in a clear fliptop lucite airtight container. I got one of these at Walmart, and did a salt test with my new calibratable digital hygrometer. After it seemed to equalize at 68% humidity at 68 degrees temp. I always thought that the colder at container got the less humidity their would be. This I thought was why they do not recomend putting cigars in the fridge. I was wondering if the fact that being at 68 degrees temp was changing the RH reading. I will now try the Humidipak one-step calibration kit to see what that reads. I am just concerned that if it reads lets say 72% RH at 68 degrees temp, am I really getting true accuracy if I adjust the hygrometer to 75 % RH


Thanks Rich

You are thinking actual humidity, or absolute humidity, instead of Relative Humidity (RH). The RH basically dictates how much water can be released from and absorbed into the air. Which is why the RH adjusts with temperature. Your hygrometer reads RH and temp. In terms of how "hydrated" your cigars will get, 70% RH is the same at any temperature. So if your hygro reads 70% at 68° and 70% at 72°, then your humidification system is doing its job, and you have nothing to worry about. This is why beads are great since they can absorb extra humidity if the temp drops, and the re-release it back into the humidor when the temp comes back up.

To answer your question ahauler, your are kind of correct. The colder air doesn't need as much water to be "hydrated", which is why in a closed, sealed system, with a constant amount of water in the air, as the temp drops the RH increases. It needs less water to have the same RH as a system at a warmer temp.

spiffy

[Powderfinger]

First I want to thank you guys for responding to my questions, I really appreciate it. I just got off the phone with the guy from Heartfelt Industries, and he tells me the complete opposite. He tells me that as the temp. rises the humidity also rises, and as it lowers it drops. now I am really baffled! I have a Cigar Oasis and I am not sure that I can trust the internal hygrometer reading, and I am trying to obtain a true constant reading with my HygroSet II Digital Hygrometer to check it against it. Once I have that I can experiment with various RH levels to determine what RH is best for me. This is why I am persuing the Oasis rather than beads as I may find I like something in between the ranges offered by the beads.



Rich

[nhcigarfan]

I always thought as temp went down so did rh also. But I also gave up on trying to figuring it all out a while ago.

[heftysmokes]

But I also gave up on trying to figuring it all out a while ago.

I totally agree. I chucked the digital hygrometer about 6 months ago and rely on reading the beads and feeling the cigars. Less headache.

[spiffykyle]

OK class. Here's the somewhat technical explanation:

RH is the partial vapor pressure of the water in the air divided by the saturated vapor pressure at a given temperature. If the temperature increases so does the saturated vapor pressure, thus the RH decreases. linky

spiffy

[ashauler]

OK class. Here's the somewhat technical explanation:

RH is the partial vapor pressure of the water in the air divided by the saturated vapor pressure at a given temperature. If the temperature increases so does the saturated vapor pressure, thus the RH decreases. linky

spiffy

Too technical for me.....I read the wiki page you suggested and got a headache. I think I'll wait until I go on vacation.....then I'll stay at a Holiday Inn express and understand it perfectly the next day.

[nhcigarfan]

I think I'll keep ignoring it.

[bigwhiteash]

nice

so...... can i smoke a cigar now?

[ashauler]

Damn man, don't have a coronary........its not a life and death thing where exacting precision is required. I used to worry my ass of (as in a couple of months ago), but....I finally figured out it wasn't necessary.

[ashauler]

...dbl post.

[bigwhiteash]

enjoy your cigars, That's what they're for!

calibrate as best you can, and trust it, you will find much more enjoyment smoking cigars, than pulling your hair out being OCD over something like a ~3% shift in Rh.

I use an Oasis XLPlus in my cooler, and it reads about 3~4% higher than actual. It's a nice unit, but I'll never buy another one. Beads just too easy to use.

[Powderfinger]

Thanks for the sound advice. I have used precision equipment for brewing beer professionally, and it gripes me when you spend the money and the shit still dosn't work. I wish it wasn't 28 degrees outside, I need a Monticristo #2 Habano!



Cheers Rich

[Powderfinger]

The first Hygroset was in fact defective. I recieved a replacment unit and it calibrated very easily to 75% with the calibration kit. I did notice on the one that works, the calibration button has a much more positive clicking sensation. The defective one just turns without clicking. It is said that up to 1/3 of all new electronics on the shelves are defective.
I just wish I would stop getting the bad third.

Rich