Humidity and electrics

[RoyClark]

With humidity levels of 45% to 55% recommended for our acoustic guitars.
How will Taylor expression system be effected by these high moisture levels ?

This company ( https://www.sorbentsystems.com/hic.html ) deals with moisture controls and states - For example if all of the dots are deep blue on a card which is a 10%- 60% card than you can be assured that the humidity in that container is below 10%. This is very important for some products and household items because as long as the humidity is below 40%, basic corrosion (rust) will not occur. Neither will mildew or mold in clothing or paper products. Finally, all sophisticated electronics: video cameras, computers, SLR cameras, sophisticated instruments etc. enjoy a much longer and more reliable life if they are maintained at a very low relative humidity. For example, at the bottom of this page are cards that were developed specifically for the electronics (computer chips) industry. These companies require that the humidity in their shipping packages be below 10% and as of the guidelines established in the fall of 1999 are striving to maintain humidity below 5%.

[619TF]

That recommendation relates to the wood, not the electronics.

[RoyClark]

Originally Posted by 619TF

That recommendation relates to the wood, not the electronics.

I am asking what effect the 45% to 50% humidity will have on the electrics, Will it eventually corrode the electronics ?

[Red_Label]

Originally Posted by RoyClark

I am asking what effect the 45% to 50% humidity will have on the electrics, Will it eventually corrode the electronics ?

Not in the short-medium term. Countless music stores and homes where musical instruments are stored are humidified, to no real detriment to the electronics. Chronic over-humidification certainly does cause corrosion and tarnishment of electronics. That generally happens more in the south and coastal regions, where humidity levels often average 50-100%. But 45-50% shouldn't be that destructive to modern electronics over the long haul. Older electronics were made from more volatile and non-coated components, so some of those may reflect the humidity more over time. But most acoustic guitars that have on-board preamps are more modern in design, with coated printed circuit boards, made from less volatile materials.

[ManyMartinMan]

I've lived on the east coast (high humidity) west coast (today L.A. is around 42%). I keep my instruments at 50(ish)% humidity. Guitars exist in every climate in the world and many have electronics. I've never seen one effected by humidity - in the case or out. Nothing to worry about.

[AZLiberty]

Originally Posted by 619TF

That recommendation relates to the wood, not the electronics.

I'm one of the head test engineers in an electronics factory. When humidity drops below 30% or above 70 we shut down that part of the factory.

Too high humidity and we get current leakage and can't test.
Too low humidity and you get static electricity and boom, damaged and destroyed product.

[RoyClark]

Thanks for that guys, I didn't know if I was preserving one at the expense of the other.

[jazzguy]

Nothing to worry about