Digital, Is it REALLY better?

onestrangeone

Ok before everybody tells me what a dumb*** I am, I am not advocating for or against. I currently own 11 digital and 1 analog hygrometers (mostly xikar) and I know that most people completely rely on them, so do I. I use one of the Boveda Kit's to calibrate. The analog I have was factory equip when the Humi was purchased in 98 I didn't have a clue did not even know what humidity I was supposed to maintain and quickly gave up. Nine months ago I was reintroduced to the Leaf properly and my journey began. I dusted off the old Humi, acquired a new one and shortly after was given another one both with digital, the old analog was 1% off. Three months ago I re-calibrated and found variations from 1% to 3% off with all the digitalis, the analog is still 1% off. I have read several post that seem to suggest that it is somewhat common for the digitalis to be off this much or more after a similar time frame. I know they can be reset. My analog cannot the only thing I have done was to abuse it, It has survived a couple of very rough moves and still is only 1% off after 15 years. So is digital Really Better? I know there are people on here who have been at this a long time, What do you think?

Rain

In one word? Yes.The fact that you have an analog that works after that long is, quite honestly, the exception and not the rule.

The_Kid

I use both,, I have never purchased a boveda calibration kit.. I use salt and water. Some analogs can be adjusted, there is a turn screw in the back where one can adjust the needle (not all have this) a majority of the analogs that come with humi's are out of cal and can not be adjusted,,These get tossed . I like the digitals cause most can be adjusted. I also like the digitals because they show the temp as well. this is very important to me,, most beetle issues arise due to high temps. I dont freeze my cigars, I probably store them cooler than most others do especially in the winter months. So yes analogs can be as accurate as digitals in measuring humidity and I have no concerns using them, but they are limited.

curtpick

Being a instrumentation guy yes. But only for one reason. The old Analog meters uses springs that work against each other called bi metals.
That in and of itself create resistance and inaccuracies.
These two different metals work against each other when the "humidity" or dew point changes.
Now imagine this! So do the meat thermometers ! Your outdoor analog thermometers also !
So the coil relaxes or contracts and moves the needle as the "humidity" changes. Very inaccurate. Up to to +/-20%. This can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.
Even the "hi accuracy" bi mets I sell are no better than +/-3%.
. Now take the digital, or should I say most digital.
They take into account heat and dew point.
Run an algorithm and WA LA !
You have a meter that is around +/-1%.

Steve2010

Considering the amount I've spent on cigars over the years, the price of the two digitals in my 500 ct is a small price to pay for peace of mind.

The_Kid

Steve and Curtpic bring up excellent points,, In my larger coolidors I have two hygro's one analog and one digital, for that extra piece of mind, The excellent point that Curtpic brings up is logrithmic.. meaning if a hygro is + 2 out of call at 60 rh,, it doesnt mean it will be +2 out of cal at 70 it may be +4 or 0 or +7,, you get the idea, one should experiment and evalutae. The analogs that i use are in step with my digitals.

curtpick

The Kid:

Steve and Curtpic bring up excellent points,, In my larger coolidors I have two hygro's one analog and one digital, for that extra piece of mind, The excellent point that Curtpic brings up is logrithmic.. meaning if a hygro is + 2 out of call at 60 rh,, it doesnt mean it will be +2 out of cal at 70 it may be +4 or 0 or +7,, you get the idea, one should experiment and evalutae. The analogs that i use are in step with my digitals.

Makes perfect sense since the Analog is not temperature compensated.

Cigary

I use both and after much careful study the Digital is probably the best even though I have 4 analog hygros that are right on the money. "Analog hygros do need an occasional tune-up. These delicate instruments can be thrown off in terms of accuracy relatively easily. They will also lose some of their accuracy over time. Tune-ups can keep your analog device working properly, but that will require an additional charge from a specialist unless you choose to do the work yourself.".......this according to experts.

rwheelwright

I have many digitals. In one humidor I have to of the same brand; both Prometheus. One says 71% the other says 67%. Which one is right? Who knows... In a different humidor I have a Caliber IV (or is it II) and a humi care. The humi care says it is 63% and the Caliber 70 - 71%.

Now let's take a look at my Monolith. The built in says 73%. The Caliber on the top shelf says 69%. The Caliber on the bottom shelf says 85%. I switched the calibers and same thing happened. So, I can conclude that there is much more humid air at the bottom since it is a bigger cabinet. What I don't get is why the built in and top shelf one are that different. Sometimes it will even say 84-85% and the top says 69%. So, I open the door and let some of the humidity out while I have a de-humi running in the house. Also, I keep my temps colder to offset issues with beetles. Anything that I haven't frozen that is in that humi has been stored at 41F for extended periods of time including about 2 weeks and then gradually brought up in temp to the 62F I keep it at now.

webmost

Easier to read the dial.

Swivel so 65 is at the top. Throw open the door. Pointing straight up? Okay, good to go, shut the door. Whereas the digital, I gotta squint at it to make out black numbers on a grey background. Got a digi in there to check it against now and then. Got a screw on the back to adjust it.

We tend to find elaborate solutions to non problems.

AVJim

curtpick:

Being a instrumentation guy yes. But only for one reason. The old Analog meters uses springs that work against each other called bi metals.
That in and of itself create resistance and inaccuracies.
These two different metals work against each other when the "humidity" or dew point changes.
Now imagine this! So do the meat thermometers ! Your outdoor analog thermometers also !
So the coil relaxes or contracts and moves the needle as the "humidity" changes. Very inaccurate. Up to to +/-20%. This can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.
Even the "hi accuracy" bi mets I sell are no better than +/-3%.
. Now take the digital, or should I say most digital.
They take into account heat and dew point.
Run an algorithm and WA LA !
You have a meter that is around +/-1%.

Curt...you geek!!! Thanks for the information! I use both (mostly because humis come with the analog generally) and calibrate them every 3 months minimum. Both the analog and digital are generally off a tick at that point. The Boveda "kit" works really well for calibration.

webmost

As the oxpecker bird said to the rhinoceros: What's a tick or two between friends?

So your analog says 69 and your digital says 70. Is it rocket surgery? Does it matter? Long as they're in the same neighborhood, what's the big deal?

Had a beemer rider over here one time changing his oil. When he went to put his oil drain plug back in, he asked to borrow my torque wrench and wondered what the drain plug torque specs are. I refused. BMW means Be More Worried.

Are we likewise worrying for the sake of worry here? Even head bolts, a few inch pounds here or there is not the end of the world.

Vision

I would say that it may not be the end of the world... just the onset of mold and beatles... If youre off 4 at 62 (66) and 5 or 6 at 70 (75 or 76).... BAD. I check mine all the time to make sure I am keeping 400-500 sticks safe. If you have a handful of sticks in a 30 count it still effects how they perform while smoking.... I guess the long and short is no matter how many you have its safe to say any accurate Hygro would be a great idea.

KingoftheCove

I have several digitals and two analogs............... one junker analog, but one older French made one that has consistently, for three years and 6 or 7 tests, come in at -3 (72) on the salt test.
I trust that thing more than my digitals!
(yeah.......I just jinxed it.......it will be broken by the end of the weeknd)

lonniekt1966

I have a xicar rectangle with the calibration button and decided to recalibrate it after reading online that these have a glitch in the circuit keeping it from holding a 75% calibration. Found out mine is off 5%.

I decided to calibrate my other 2 round digital and one analog. To my surprise the two digitals were off anywhere from 3-5% and the analog was spot on 75%.

Rectangle will always be off 5% but the other 2 being off????

I'm starting to think the analogs aren't given near enough credit.

And before anyone asks, YES I calibrated each of them for 36hrs with salt about 2mos ago.

dr_frankenstein56

So what is the suggested PM schedule for either? I keep a digital in my fancy pants box and analogs in my travel and crappers box.

Lee.mcglynn

IMO this all comes down to how much You trust your humidifier. I trust mine enough to know that it will hold steady at what I need it too. I use my hygroscopic really just for temp and I always keep a lower temp then 70

lonniekt1966

Lee.mcglynn:

IMO this all comes down to how much You trust your humidifier. I trust mine enough to know that it will hold steady at what I need it too. I use my hygroscopic really just for temp and I always keep a lower temp then 70

That makes perfect sense. Never really thought of it like that.

curtpick

Try at least every 3 months. They may or may not have changed. But repeatability is a good thing in instrumentation. Your at least getting a good idea how your meter is performing. These things arent high end meters by any means. Those cost thousands. Best to check often. Most wont show up until low batteries and if there isnt enough voltage excitement to the sensor its worthless to you. And none I know of have a visual power indicator.