Calibrating digital thermometer/hygrometer

[BuckNBark Farm]

Hi- this is probably a silly question, but do I need to calibrate a digital thermometer/hygrometer? Do I use the "baggie of salt" method that I use the non-digitals?

Mine is this one.... I just hope I can trust the numbers-. I had another brand that I got from a friend used. It was off by about 10 degrees and humidity percent- and I lost the whole group.

Thanks! Pam UPDATE- I found my answer! I do.

 

[BuckNBark Farm]

Hi- this is probably a silly question, but do I need to calibrate a digital thermometer/hygrometer? Do I use the "baggie of salt" method that I use the non-digitals?

Mine is this one.... I just hope I can trust the numbers-. I had another brand that I got from a friend used. It was off by about 10 degrees and humidity percent- and I lost the whole group.

Thanks! Pam

Never mind! Thanks- I found my answer. I do.

 

[Daedalus62]

Hi Pam,

Never heard of the bag of salt hygrometer calibration method... Just googled it and it seems easy enough... Thanks for the tip!!

Two questions:

1 - How reliable is this calibration method?

2 - I just ordered that exact same thermometer/hygrometer you have... If you tested it already, how off was/is it?... Being digital, is there a way to calibrate it?...

Thanks for your feedback!

Cheers

Carlos

 

[BuckNBark Farm]

Hi Pam,

Never heard of the bag of salt hygrometer calibration method... Just googled it and it seems easy enough... Thanks for the tip!!

Two questions:

1 - How reliable is this calibration method?

2 - I just ordered that exact same thermometer/hygrometer you have... If you tested it already, how off was/is it?... Being digital, is there a way to calibrate it?...

Thanks for your feedback!

Cheers

CarlI

I've done it before (non- digital) and it worked! I might do the digital tonight and try it. I'll probably let it sit overnight. I'll let you know!

-Pam

 

[Daedalus62]

Thanks, Pam!!

BTW, I just saw (online) a photo of the guts of a similar thermometer/hygrometer (same maker, slightly different model), and there seems to be no adjusting screw... So, I guess no way to be able to calibrate those properly.

Thanks again for your feedback, Pam!

Cheers

Carlos

 

[BuckNBark Farm]

You're welcome! I think I'm going to go to bed early, before trying to do it. Haven't slept in last 2 nights. G'night! _Pam

 

[aart]

Here's what I did to 'calibrate' (you can't really calibrate but you can test and note differences).

The thing you want to do is check that any of thermometers and hygrometers are correct by testing them against a known criteria.
Comparing devices is useless unless you know how accurate any of them are.

I used a candy thermometer tested in boiling water and noted how far off 212 degrees it was...or whatever temp water boils at your altitude.
You can check your boiling temp at altitude here.
Then put the candy thermometer and 3 others in the incubator during the test run and compared them all, noting any differences.
I made a chart noting all temps and made notes about if this one reads this temp it is actually that temp.

Hygrometers can be tested by putting 1/2 cup salt and 1/4 cup water in a dish or jar and mixing it to a slurry.
Put the salt slurry jar and the hygrometer next to each other in a sealed plastic bag.
After 8-12 hours the hygrometer should read 75%...again note and differences and you're set.

 

[BuckNBark Farm]

Here's what I did to 'calibrate' (you can't really calibrate but you can test and note differences).

The thing you want to do is check that any of thermometers and hygrometers are correct by testing them against a known criteria.
Comparing devices is useless unless you know how accurate any of them are.

I used a candy thermometer tested in boiling water and noted how far off 212 degrees it was...or whatever temp water boils at your altitude.
You can check your boiling temp at altitude here.
Then put the candy thermometer and 3 others in the incubator during the test run and compared them all, noting any differences.
I made a chart noting all temps and made notes about if this one reads this temp it is actually that temp.

Hygrometers can be tested by putting 1/2 cup salt and 1/4 cup water in a dish or jar and mixing it to a slurry.
Put the salt slurry jar and the hygrometer next to each other in a sealed plastic bag.
After 8-12 hours the hygrometer should read 75%...again note and differences and you're set.

Thanks!

 

[Daedalus62]

Thanks for the input, aart... Most helpful!

Cheers