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#1 11/07/2009 6:12 am
- Junkmanme
- Overrun With Chickens
- From: Near Gallup, New Mexico
- Registered: 03/11/2007
- Posts: 791
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"Calibrated" a digital hygrometer (WalMart Special)
Folks,
I purchased the 6 or 7 dollar Springfield thermometer/hygrometer (without probe) from Walmart a few days ago. At Noon yesterday, I put it in a Ziplock bag along with a coffee cup 1/2 full of damp salt. (after several hours it should read 75% IF it is "right-on".)
At 3 AM this morning, I took it out. It read 72%. So, it's about 3 percentage points LOW.
Is this "about right" for this type of instrument (particularly the Springfield brand)?
What have been your experiences when calibrating a hygrometer?
-Junkmanme- 
"You never know what it's gonna take.........but you can make money betting that it'll take a lot more than you expected!" ---Me
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#2 11/07/2009 6:17 am
- mstricer
- Chillin' With My Peeps
- From: Ohio
- Registered: 02/12/2009
- Posts: 380
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Re: "Calibrated" a digital hygrometer (WalMart Special)
I'm interested in that to. Mine is also from walmart without probe, I didn't know you could calibrate those.
8 Buff Orpington hens 4 Black Giant Jersey pullets snd 1 Roo "T" will stay. 6 Ameraucana chicks 1 Roo. 2 arucana chicks all of which are probally just EE. but thats okay. 4 Salmon Faverolle pullets and 1 Roo. 2 German Spitzhauben pullets 1 Roon 2 sussex 2silver laced and 2 gold laced wyandotte 2light brown legghorn all girls (is that too many)
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#3 11/07/2009 6:25 am
- Junkmanme
- Overrun With Chickens
- From: Near Gallup, New Mexico
- Registered: 03/11/2007
- Posts: 791
- View My BYC Page
Re: "Calibrated" a digital hygrometer (WalMart Special)
mstricer,
This "calibration" does not involve an "adjustment screw" or something similar..It merely tells you "how far off" the instrument "reads". Then, If you want 75% humidity, you know that is what you have when your instrument reads 72.
Clear as mud? 
-Junkmanme-
"You never know what it's gonna take.........but you can make money betting that it'll take a lot more than you expected!" ---Me
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#4 11/07/2009 7:03 am
- kathyinmo
- Nothing In Moderation
- From: Southwest Missouri
- Registered: 05/14/2009
- Posts: 1845
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Re: "Calibrated" a digital hygrometer (WalMart Special)
Yup. That's what I did. I have 4 of the same ones you mentioned. Each one was off ..
1%, 3%, 5%, 7%. I just took a permanent marker and wrote on it, under the humidity %..
ie -1, -3, -5.
In the brooder: Marans (blue, splash, black copper, and cuckoo), Jersey Giants (black, blue, splash), Silver Penciled Plymouth Rocks, Olive eggers, Lavender Orpington project chicks, and Heritage Delawares! chick census: 41 hatched Halloweenish, 13 JGs 9-21, 20 Marans 9-01, 13 silkies, 6 seramas, 30 hatchery hens (RIR, RSL, BSL, BO, EE, Polish)+ 4 roos.
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#5 11/07/2009 7:55 am
- magikchick
- Chicken Obsessed
- From: SW Florida
- Registered: 04/21/2007
- Posts: 1269
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Re: "Calibrated" a digital hygrometer (WalMart Special)
I have two of them I put in my incubator. They read pretty close to each other. I don't sweat humidity too much as long as I'm in the ballpark with it.
COCHINS-Standard in penciled partridge and buff. Bantam in barred, black and splash with frizzles. Lavender bantams in the Spring. SILKIES- blue, black and blue partridge. Showgrils just for fun. NPIP
~FEATHERFOOT FARM~
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#6 11/07/2009 8:00 am
- Fluffy-Butt-Farms
- Chillin' With My Peeps
- From: Central Florida
- Registered: 08/04/2009
- Posts: 247
Re: "Calibrated" a digital hygrometer (WalMart Special)
mine were always ok with the humidity, but they would work for a few days in there on temp, and then eventually just read 101.8....to which i knew if i saw 101.8 the temp had spiked over 103. i've given up on these and am ordering a spot check from brinsea...i just lost 32 eggs thanks to the walmart springfield model.
Mom to Jesse
, Tanner 
, and Brandi 
, and to BF 
My closet has become my brooder!!! Now, where to put the clothes?
Dec Swap... N. C. Florida http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=2991222#p2991222
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#7 11/07/2009 8:01 am
- Junkmanme
- Overrun With Chickens
- From: Near Gallup, New Mexico
- Registered: 03/11/2007
- Posts: 791
- View My BYC Page
Re: "Calibrated" a digital hygrometer (WalMart Special)
magikchick wrote:
I have two of them I put in my incubator. They read pretty close to each other. I don't sweat humidity too much as long as I'm in the ballpark with it.
That's sorta what I think. "In the Ballpark" should be good enough for humidity.
Temperature is more important. I'm planning to put a couple of thermometers in some "icy water" to see where they register. I've put 6 or seven thermometers in the incubator and not 2 read the same!
I could almost be as accurate just "laying my hand" on top of the incubator!
sheesh!
-Junkmanme-
Last edited by Junkmanme (11/07/2009 8:01 am)
"You never know what it's gonna take.........but you can make money betting that it'll take a lot more than you expected!" ---Me
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#8 11/07/2009 9:08 am
- jenjscott
- Golden Feather Member
- From: Southeast Arkansas
- Registered: 05/24/2008
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Re: "Calibrated" a digital hygrometer (WalMart Special)
Fluffy-Butt-Farms wrote:
mine were always ok with the humidity, but they would work for a few days in there on temp, and then eventually just read 101.8....to which i knew if i saw 101.8 the temp had spiked over 103. i've given up on these and am ordering a spot check from brinsea...i just lost 32 eggs thanks to the walmart springfield model.
Looks to me like you lost these thanks to your incubator. A good incubator shouldn't spike like that. That being said, I have over adjusted my incubator and spiked it myself to 104, but my walmart worked. The only trouble I have with mine is when I up my humidity if it goes too high the digital readout blanks out at about 90%.
Jen - Buckeyes, BTW Japs, Turkeys, and miscellaneous banties, I Got My Body Piercing License!!!!!!!
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#9 11/07/2009 8:28 pm
- Junkmanme
- Overrun With Chickens
- From: Near Gallup, New Mexico
- Registered: 03/11/2007
- Posts: 791
- View My BYC Page
Re: "Calibrated" a digital hygrometer (WalMart Special)
Just a short while ago (today), I ordered an Analog Hygrometer on Ebay. Cost was $5.00 with the shipping included. This Analog Hygrometer has an adjustment screw on the back so that it can be set accurately after doing the "calibration test". Also, I believe that it has a glass lens which won't tend to scratch like plastic lenses do.
It is the type of hygrometer commonly used in Cigar Humidors. I'll see how it compares to the digital that I just put through the "calibration test".
-Junkmanme-
"You never know what it's gonna take.........but you can make money betting that it'll take a lot more than you expected!" ---Me
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#10 11/07/2009 9:22 pm
- dragonchick
- Out Of The Brooder
- Registered: 09/30/2007
- Posts: 87
Re: "Calibrated" a digital hygrometer (WalMart Special)
Junkmanme wrote:
Just a short while ago (today), I ordered an Analog Hygrometer on Ebay. Cost was $5.00 with the shipping included. This Analog Hygrometer has an adjustment screw on the back so that it can be set accurately after doing the "calibration test". Also, I believe that it has a glass lens which won't tend to scratch like plastic lenses do.
It is the type of hygrometer commonly used in Cigar Humidors. I'll see how it compares to the digital that I just put through the "calibration test".
-Junkmanme-
How do you callibrate this type of hydrometer? I picked up one at a sale today for a quarter but it doesn't have any directions.
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