Pen hygrometer

[Rue]

I need to purchase a new hygrometer. The inexpensive round dial ones are inaccurate. I have 4 of different types (for different purposes) and they're either all broken and/or each give a different reading.

I don't really want one that sticks to the wall since I want to be able to move it around to test various areas in my 'baby' enclosure...and then later on in the permanent indoor enclosure and also to use in the outside pen to spot check.

Has anyone used a pen hygrometer? I can't seem to find much (any) useful feed back on them.

But if they're better I'll spend a bit more and get one. They seem the handiest.

 

[Careym13]

I've not used the pen style. Right now, I use the probe style made by Zoo Med. You put the probe wherever you want to read the humidity then run the wire out of the enclosure and you can put the display wherever you want.

 

[Rue]

Before I settle on anything...I wanted to take a look at some of the different types. Home Depot had a few on it's website and it is also on our way home. We stop there...ask where they are. The clerk looks them up and tells us they only carry one type. ..and you can only order it on line...and it's $90.

Really? We asked another clerk...and he showed us where they were ...Aisle 5.

Lol...well...after all that they didn't have the pen type for me to look at...so to make do until I find one I like I bought a $3 version. Hope it works.

 

[Markw84]

I like the wireless remote style. With our high humidity in our enclosures, the main unit can stay outside and the remote, more sealed, unit can go in the enclosure. I have had great luck with the acurite. Can place the unit anywhere, and I also tape one of the remotes to the inside top of the humid hide. It's only $20 on Amazon.






I also like the multi channel unit by Ambient Weather. You see four reading at once with three remote units to place around the enclosure / incubator, etc. It's $56 on Amazon, but you're getting four hygrometer and thermometer reading in one. You can add up to 5 additional remotes for about $12 ea. that you can scroll through on the main unit, but you can only see 3 remotes plus the base reading at one time. It will auto scroll through all 8 remotes every 5 seconds if you want that setting. It also stores min and max temp and humidity readings. It also has a calibration feature to adjust the accuracy if you check it and see it's off.



For those who don't know about it... you can accurately check your hygrometer's reading very easily with a salt test.

Put about 1-2 tablespoons of salt in a very small bowl and add enough water to make it the consistency of very wet sand. Put that, with your hygrometer laying on top of it, in a baggie and be sure to seal it tightly. Give it time to stabilize inside. Technically, they say give it up to 6 hours, but usually you will see it stabilize much quicker. It should read exactly 75%. So whatever you reading is, you can then adjust and calibrate, or it you unit does not have a calibration, you can note the adjustment you need to make to correct ( it it's reading 70% - you know you need to add 5% to it's reading.)

This is extremely accurate, and is checking very close to the range we normally are reading.

 

[Pearly]

I like the wireless remote style. With our high humidity in our enclosures, the main unit can stay outside and the remote, more sealed, unit can go in the enclosure. I have had great luck with the acurite. Can place the unit anywhere, and I also tape one of the remotes to the inside top of the humid hide. It's only $20 on Amazon.




View attachment 168422

I also like the multi channel unit by Ambient Weather. You see four reading at once with three remote units to place around the enclosure / incubator, etc. It's $56 on Amazon, but you're getting four hygrometer and thermometer reading in one. You can add up to 5 additional remotes for about $12 ea. that you can scroll through on the main unit, but you can only see 3 remotes plus the base reading at one time. It will auto scroll through all 8 remotes every 5 seconds if you want that setting. It also stores min and max temp and humidity readings. It also has a calibration feature to adjust the accuracy if you check it and see it's off.

View attachment 168423

For those who don't know about it... you can accurately check your hygrometer's reading very easily with a salt test.

Put about 1-2 tablespoons of salt in a very small bowl and add enough water to make it the consistency of very wet sand. Put that, with your hygrometer laying on top of it, in a baggie and be sure to seal it tightly. Give it time to stabilize inside. Technically, they say give it up to 6 hours, but usually you will see it stabilize much quicker. It should read exactly 75%. So whatever you reading is, you can then adjust and calibrate, or it you unit does not have a calibration, you can note the adjustment you need to make to correct ( it it's reading 70% - you know you need to add 5% to it's reading.)

This is extremely accurate, and is checking very close to the range we normally are reading.

Wow!!!!! I love it!!!! Learned some new science trick I can show my kids! Thank you Mark!

 

[Rue]

That looks very handy! Thank you!

And I didn't know about the calibration...also very handy! Thanks again!