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  #1  
Old 10-31-2017, 05:08 AM
Mike CT Mike CT is offline
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Default Hygrometer / psychrometer

Does anyone use a certain type of hygrometer for the case and/or room that you think is particularly accurate? It seems like if I have 3 different ones sitting next to each other I’ll 3 different temp/humidity readings.

Also, are psychrometers (digital or old school) a better bet for room levels?

Thanks,
Mike
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Old 10-31-2017, 05:41 AM
Howard Emerson Howard Emerson is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike CT View Post
Does anyone use a certain type of hygrometer for the case and/or room that you think is particularly accurate? It seems like if I have 3 different ones sitting next to each other I’ll 3 different temp/humidity readings.

Also, are psychrometers (digital or old school) a better bet for room levels?

Thanks,
Mike
Hi Mike,
I never keep my guitars in their cases except on the way to a gig and back.

In my atrium I keep them out and in a showcase. I have a battery operated psychrometer that is very accurate. I got 2 for less than this one shown here, so it's just a matter of putting in the right search criteria:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/INDUSTRIAL-...UAAOSwGotWlpLu

Regards,
Howard
http://howardemerson.com
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Old 10-31-2017, 06:06 AM
Puerto Player Puerto Player is offline
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Buy a somewhat decent one. I made the mistake of buying a digital Temp/Humidity from Harbor Freight. It only measured about half the humidity! Drove me nuts till I figured it out. I was struggling to get the humidity above 25% when it was actually 50% the entire time. So, don't go cheap.
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Old 10-31-2017, 06:32 AM
Mike CT Mike CT is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Puerto Player View Post
Buy a somewhat decent one. I made the mistake of buying a digital Temp/Humidity from Harbor Freight. It only measured about half the humidity! Drove me nuts till I figured it out. I was struggling to get the humidity above 25% when it was actually 50% the entire time. So, don't go cheap.


Any recommendations?
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Old 10-31-2017, 06:36 AM
Mike CT Mike CT is offline
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Default Hygrometer / psychrometer

Quote:
Originally Posted by Howard Emerson View Post
Hi Mike,

I never keep my guitars in their cases except on the way to a gig and back.



In my atrium I keep them out and in a showcase. I have a battery operated psychrometer that is very accurate. I got 2 for less than this one shown here, so it's just a matter of putting in the right search criteria:



https://www.ebay.com/itm/INDUSTRIAL-...UAAOSwGotWlpLu



Regards,

Howard

http://howardemerson.com


Is this something that runs all of the time or you just have it check the humidity every few days?

Are the digital ones just not as accurate?
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Last edited by Mike CT; 10-31-2017 at 06:59 AM.
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Old 10-31-2017, 06:38 AM
The Bard Rocks The Bard Rocks is offline
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Default accuracy

I'd take a sling psychrometer over a humidistat any day (watch out - don't use it too near to your guitars!). Then there is the wet bulb/dry bulb, also accurate. But they are less convenient. I use several inexpensive digital ones and it surprises me how close they are to each other. If one is way different than the others, I ignore it. Even my spring on a dial that was delivered to me from Hong Kong for $1 stays in the ballpark.

I start humidification when the average gets below 40%. If I am a percent or three too early or too late, it won't make that much difference.
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Old 10-31-2017, 06:46 AM
MikeBmusic MikeBmusic is offline
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I bought a cheap no-name Chinese hygrometer off ebay for $7. The temperature reading is not even close on it - I messaged the seller and got my money refunded. Then I bought a Caliber IV. The humidty % of it and the no-name are always within a few %. You really don't need to be more accurate.
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  #8  
Old 10-31-2017, 08:26 AM
Howard Emerson Howard Emerson is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike CT View Post
Is this something that runs all of the time or you just have it check the humidity every few days?

Are the digital ones just not as accurate?
Hi Mike,
I use it to calibrate my analog hair hygrometers.

I have a pair of Lufft Abbeon wall units. I have these units:

https://www.ambientweather.com/ababhtab176.html

https://www.ambientweather.com/ababhtab169.html

I don't really fuss about hyper accuracy of a hygrometer. The psychrometer does the 'blowing' by itself, and you can't get any more accurate than what it reads.

If my wall units are within 5% either way I'm good.

Regards,
Howard

Last edited by Howard Emerson; 10-31-2017 at 08:31 AM.
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  #9  
Old 10-31-2017, 08:42 AM
Howard Emerson Howard Emerson is offline
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Default Hygrometers explained

Here's a neat site:

http://www.explainthatstuff.com/hygrometers.html

HE
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  #10  
Old 10-31-2017, 06:34 PM
Mike CT Mike CT is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Howard Emerson View Post
Hi Mike,

I never keep my guitars in their cases except on the way to a gig and back.



In my atrium I keep them out and in a showcase. I have a battery operated psychrometer that is very accurate. I got 2 for less than this one shown here, so it's just a matter of putting in the right search criteria:



https://www.ebay.com/itm/INDUSTRIAL-...UAAOSwGotWlpLu



Regards,

Howard

http://howardemerson.com


I saw a bunch of other brands of the same unit at good prices, and a mercury version of the same brand at less than half the price used. I’d imagine this is something that someone can’t knock around and make it less useful or accurate so buying used should be safe right?
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  #11  
Old 11-01-2017, 01:54 PM
Howard Emerson Howard Emerson is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike CT View Post
I saw a bunch of other brands of the same unit at good prices, and a mercury version of the same brand at less than half the price used. I’d imagine this is something that someone can’t knock around and make it less useful or accurate so buying used should be safe right?
Hi Mike,
You're correct. They're almost always in fitted plastic cases, and as long as you don't crack the thermometer and you follow the directions & read the chart correctly, it should always be accurate.

HE
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