|
 Some of these posts are very old and might contain outdated information. You may wish to search for newer posts instead.
|
 scrname
Stranger
Registered: 03/09/05
Posts: 196
Last seen: 3 years, 9 months
|
 best way to measure humidity? 
#3916752 - 03/14/05 02:54 PM (19 years, 1 month ago) |
|
|
I wanted to know what would be the most acurate tool to measue the humidity in a terarium. I heard that the store bought electronic ones are not that accurate.
|
 Olgualion
Shaman-In-Training
Registered: 11/13/01
Posts: 1,253
Loc: Currently Earth...
|
 Re: best way to measure humidity? [Re: scrname]
#3916883 - 03/14/05 03:31 PM (19 years, 1 month ago) |
|
|
eyes work rather well. I havent ownde a hygrometer since I first started, and it never worked anyway.
If you see condensation, you are fine for the pinning stage. If you don't see condensation, you are probably fine for the fruiting stage... 
--------------------
Study the past...
See the future...
|
sludge
blunt rapter
Registered: 02/23/05
Posts: 707
Loc: somewhere in usa
Last seen: 18 years, 9 months
|
Re: best way to measure humidity? [Re: Olgualion]
#3916904 - 03/14/05 03:36 PM (19 years, 1 month ago) |
|
|
Quote:
Olgualion said:
eyes work rather well. I havent ownde a hygrometer since I first started, and it never worked anyway.
If you see condensation, you are fine for the pinning stage. If you don't see condensation, you are probably fine for the fruiting stage...
whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaattttttttttttttt
--------------------
Down in a hole and I don't know if I can be saved
See my heart I decorate it like a grave
You don't understand who they
Thought I was supposed to be
Look at me now a man 
Who won't let himself be
|
MushroomFriend
I smell a conspiracy!
Registered: 10/12/04
Posts: 4,055
Loc: The Druid Peak Pack.
Last seen: 1 month, 9 days
|
Re: best way to measure humidity? [Re: scrname]
#3916931 - 03/14/05 03:43 PM (19 years, 1 month ago) |
|
|
I agree partwise with the shaman in training
Most meters arent accurate, the mushrooms are the best indicators!
use your eyes, split caps is too dry, bacterial blotch too wet
fuzzy growth at stems? RH is high, mycelium on caps as well
condensation isnt always a good indicator, cause when teh terrarium is warmer then teh air surrounding it, it will always condensate inside.
you will learn quick to use your eyes as a trustwo
--------------------
|
cyberthreat
Stranger
Registered: 03/06/05
Posts: 676
Last seen: 7 years, 10 months
|
|
I AGREE LET THE MUSHIE TELL
|
Olgualion
Shaman-In-Training
Registered: 11/13/01
Posts: 1,253
Loc: Currently Earth...
|
|
couldn't have said it beter myself! 
--------------------
Study the past...
See the future...
|
MushroomFriend
I smell a conspiracy!
Registered: 10/12/04
Posts: 4,055
Loc: The Druid Peak Pack.
Last seen: 1 month, 9 days
|
Re: best way to measure humidity? [Re: scrname]
#3917148 - 03/14/05 04:34 PM (19 years, 1 month ago) |
|
|
hehe, thats rather obvious! 
--------------------
|
lIllIIIllIlIIlIlIIllIllIIl
Stranger
Registered: 12/16/04
Posts: 11,123
Loc: Texas
|
|
Quote:
MushroomFriend said:
Most meters arent accurate, the mushrooms are the best indicators!
You can calibrate any hygrometer using plain table salt. This is how hygrometers are sometimes calibrated in a lab, and also gives a measure of accuracy.
|
Holydiver
Stranger
Registered: 03/19/01
Posts: 5,156
Loc: The midnight sea
|
|
That doesn't mean 95% of the hygrometers you buy out there aren't complete junk.
p.s. they are.
--------------------
To find a place to live between the negatives and positives.
|
MushroomFriend
I smell a conspiracy!
Registered: 10/12/04
Posts: 4,055
Loc: The Druid Peak Pack.
Last seen: 1 month, 9 days
|
Re: best way to measure humidity? [Re: scrname]
#3919674 - 03/15/05 03:25 AM (19 years, 1 month ago) |
|
|
maybe, still I dont use my hygrometer anymore, and really I dont miss it!
--------------------
|
shrooma
Did you hear therumour?
Registered: 05/21/02
Posts: 499
Loc: Near the exit of the entr...
Last seen: 15 years, 5 months
|
|
i just bought a hygrometer/thermometer for $30 AUD (inc postage) for my grow kit (like 2 hours ago). Did i do something stupid? It wouldn't hurt to put it in there right? right guys?!? 
--------------------
"[More than] half the people in federal prison are there for drug offences. We're arresting half a million people a year for possessing marijuana. We're locking up kids sometimes for life for their first drug offence. We have no room in our prisons for rapists and child molesters and murderers cause we're filling them up with these non violent drug offenders." - Steven Duke, Yale Law School on 'Hooked: Illegal Drugs and How They Got That Way'
-
|
bixo
Dremel Addict
Registered: 02/14/05
Posts: 388
Loc: The Autobahn
Last seen: 11 years, 16 days
|
Re: best way to measure humidity? [Re: shrooma]  1
#3919884 - 03/15/05 05:57 AM (19 years, 1 month ago) |
|
|
Well, It will probably at least let you know what the humidity isnt at.
|
gsmith
reformed lurker
Registered: 12/07/04
Posts: 204
Last seen: 18 years, 4 months
|
Re: best way to measure humidity? [Re: bixo]
#3920072 - 03/15/05 07:37 AM (19 years, 1 month ago) |
|
|
There are two main tools used in measuring humidity: The Hygrometer and the Sling Psychrometer.
The Hygrometer comes in two main flavors: dial and digital. The dial meter type hygrometers generally use a ?cellulose? sponge type sensor for humidity. As the moisture increases, the sponge expands and the lever mechanism moves the indicating needle. These units range from about $20 to $175, with accuracies in the +/- 3% range between 55-75%RH (at best). They are very innacurate above 80%RH. I had one that wouldn't even go past 80 when dunked in water. the response time is also very slow.
The digital hygrometers generally use either a capacitance or resistance sensor for humidity. As the humidity increases, the circuit resistance or capacitance changes and the electronics interpret this change to a digital display reading. These units range from $40 to $300. Their accuracies are generally in the +/- 2% to 3% range. Accuracies in the +/- 0.1% range are available but carry a higher price. (A good digi hygrometer is the Western Digital Caliber III Hygrometer. It's about $30, claims +/- 1% accuracy and is available at cigar shops)
Although sling psychrometers are more accurate, they are impractical for use in our field. There are two bulb thermometers. One is wet (has a wick which is moistened with water from the air), the other is dry. As air passes over the two thermometers, two different temperatures are generated - the wet and dry bulb readings. Using a table, the humidity can be calculated. This is normally a human powered device, being that you swing it around in the air for a few minutes. Again... not practical for mushroom growing.
All in all, the digital hygrometer is actually the best way to go if you want a general reading of humidity in your terrarium. Do not buy a Radio Shack weather station model, because they are innacurate above 80%. Look for hygrometers used in humidors. They tend to be the most accurate for the price. Also, most gauges will give you an accuracy range... like +/- .1% from 55-75% RH, but over 75% they are +/- 3%. Response time also increases in the higher ranges.
I would also recommend giving your gauge a break every once in a while. Just take it out and put it somewhere relatively neutral. Check it's accuracy with the salt method described in the FAQ every once in a while too...
--------------------
------
this is a signature
|
scatmanrav
Brainy Smurf
Registered: 05/08/04
Posts: 11,483
Loc: 
Last seen: 11 years, 3 months
|
Re: best way to measure humidity? [Re: gsmith]
#3920187 - 03/15/05 08:31 AM (19 years, 1 month ago) |
|
|
You can get non slig psychrometers actually and are very acurate and great for our feild. I have had a tought time finding them but I've seen them before, Hyphae has/had one or a few in fact...
Hygrometers are easy and cheap though...Digis are nice off ebay, get one that reads up to 99% and dont leave it in your chamber or the humidity will kill it over time.
A hygrometer is nice if your going for more perfection. Cubies are very forgiving though and you can just eyeball it. Condensation does not eual humidity though! Condensation has to do with temperature fluctuations.. Something like Pans though really really want that 85% humidity though, tough to guage that accuratly.
|
MushroomFriend
I smell a conspiracy!
Registered: 10/12/04
Posts: 4,055
Loc: The Druid Peak Pack.
Last seen: 1 month, 9 days
|
Re: best way to measure humidity? [Re: scrname]
#3920287 - 03/15/05 09:19 AM (19 years, 1 month ago) |
|
|
Stupid no, or yes, but I think everyone starts with a hygrometer.
Very soon I found out that the mushrooms and terrarium tell me enough, and better then the hygrometer.
Split caps say it is too dry, hygrometer said RH =100%. I still have it but more to measure the temp. And outside the terrarium.
MF
--------------------
|
scatmanrav
Brainy Smurf
Registered: 05/08/04
Posts: 11,483
Loc:
Last seen: 11 years, 3 months
|
|
I forgot to mention, I had good luck with a cheap one off ebay called Caliber II (roman numeral TWO). It died after 3 months or so of nonstop 99-100%, but worked great until then and works kinda now that its out of the humidity...if you dont leave them in there they last though..
I also havnt gotten a new one since...you can KINDA tell...I will be getting on when these Pans are ready to fruit though...cubies like it anyway you give them though..
|
shrooma
Did you hear therumour?
Registered: 05/21/02
Posts: 499
Loc: Near the exit of the entr...
Last seen: 15 years, 5 months
|
Re: best way to measure humidity? [Re: scatmanrav]
#3922578 - 03/15/05 07:27 PM (19 years, 1 month ago) |
|
|
Well the thermo/hygrometer i got off ebay was a digital. I was thinking of sticking the digital display to the lid of my (transparent) fruiting chamber so i can read it without removing the lid. Should I see how it calibrated with the salt technique as soon as i get it?
--------------------
"[More than] half the people in federal prison are there for drug offences. We're arresting half a million people a year for possessing marijuana. We're locking up kids sometimes for life for their first drug offence. We have no room in our prisons for rapists and child molesters and murderers cause we're filling them up with these non violent drug offenders." - Steven Duke, Yale Law School on 'Hooked: Illegal Drugs and How They Got That Way'
-
|
dog
straw dog
Registered: 06/20/02
Posts: 2,790
Loc: Route 66
|
Re: best way to measure humidity? [Re: scrname]
#3923000 - 03/15/05 08:48 PM (19 years, 1 month ago) |
|
|
I bought a digital thermometer/hygrometer from Wal-Mart a few years back. Accurate and still works like a charm. I guess I got lucky.
--------------------
Fascism (fash'izem) n. A governmental system marked by a centralized dictatorship, stringent socioeconomic controls, and often belligerent nationalism. see also: the Bush Administration.
|
|
Threaded
Previous
Index
Next
Buy Bali Kratom Powder 
All-In-One Bags That Don't Suck 
CBD Concentrates 
North Spore Mushroom Grow Kits & Cultivation Supplies 
Substrate Mix 
Buy Kratom Extract 
Bulk Cannabis Seeds
Edit 
Reply 
Anonymous
Shtoops
MushroomFriend
Funger
1 2 all )
ZippoZ