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PostPosted: Mon Jan 22, 2018 10:15 pm 
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Do you need a description of how to do the test?

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PostPosted: Mon Jan 22, 2018 10:19 pm 
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What I read in some random site last night:

1) Put a small amount of the potassium carbonate in a small container. The site showed a lid to a 20 oz bottle half way full.

2) Put a small amount of water in the cap. Just enough to wet it.

3) Put the cap and the hygrometer in a gallon ziplock overnight.

If the hygrometer shows 45% humidity then it is accurate. If not, calibrate accordingly.

Is that how you test?


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PostPosted: Mon Jan 22, 2018 10:40 pm 
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Basically, yes. From what I read from a few different sources though, the RH for equilibration with potassium carbonate is at 43%.

I use a transparent tupperware type container (about 5" w x 9" l x 2" h) with a lid with a gasket and put the salt in a small ceramic dish (appropriated from the kitchen). You also need to use distilled water since salts in tap water could throw off the measurement. I let it sit closed for 24 hours. The amount of potassium carbonate you describe sounds similar to what I use in my tupperware container.

The way I do it is based on this post on the Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum (first post): http://www.anzlf.com/viewtopic.php?t=6123

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PostPosted: Mon Jan 22, 2018 11:16 pm 
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Perfect. Thanks!


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PostPosted: Tue Jan 23, 2018 8:57 am 
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Mechanical hygrometers can easily be knocked out of calibration — can’t imagine Amazon shipping being delicate. Calibrate ALL hygrometers with K2CO3 on arrival and repeat annually. Photo shows a couple of my digital humidor hygrometers and the sensor for my wood-room humidity control system in a sealed plastic box with a dish of K2CO3, dampened with distilled water. They stay there overnight for adjustment the next day. (Humidity controller manages a humidifier and a dehumidifier on separate channels).
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These users thanked the author Tim Mullin for the post: bcombs510 (Tue Jan 23, 2018 10:50 am)
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 25, 2018 8:43 pm 
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Testing is underway with the replacement from Amazon. Interestingly the RH spiked right away. I’m guessing it takes a while to stabilize and will come back down to the expected 43%?

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These users thanked the author bcombs510 for the post: Bryan Bear (Fri Jan 26, 2018 8:54 am)
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 25, 2018 8:52 pm 
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That replacement is looking much better right off the bat. Yes, it takes a while to equilibrate in there. Overnight at least depending on the starting RH value.

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PostPosted: Fri Jan 26, 2018 4:45 pm 
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J De Rocher wrote:
That replacement is looking much better right off the bat. Yes, it takes a while to equilibrate in there. Overnight at least depending on the starting RH value.


Here it is after about 19 hours. The salt was rock hard when I opened the lid. Is that expected or did I not add enough distilled water to the mix?

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PostPosted: Fri Jan 26, 2018 5:21 pm 
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Probably not enough water. The potassium carbonate should still look wet and not be a hard rock.

I looked it up and found that a "saturated solution" of potassium carbonate can be made with a ratio of 1 ml of water per 2.2 grams of potassium carbonate. That's what you want to aim for. I'm guessing there's leeway around that ratio since none of the methods I've read call for exact measurements. You just don't want to add so much water that there is free standing water in the salts.

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PostPosted: Fri Jan 26, 2018 7:38 pm 
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J De Rocher wrote:
Probably not enough water. The potassium carbonate should still look wet and not be a hard rock.

I looked it up and found that a "saturated solution" of potassium carbonate can be made with a ratio of 1 ml of water per 2.2 grams of potassium carbonate. That's what you want to aim for. I'm guessing there's leeway around that ratio since none of the methods I've read call for exact measurements. You just don't want to add so much water that there is free standing water in the salts.


Thanks, Jay. I’ll give it a try again tonight.

Brad


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PostPosted: Sat Jan 27, 2018 7:52 pm 
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43, 43, 44, and 44.... Looks like the new digitals are dead on and the old digital and new mechanical are +1.

I think we are good to go! Appreciate the help, Jay!


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These users thanked the author bcombs510 for the post (total 2): J De Rocher (Sun Jan 28, 2018 2:15 am) • Bryan Bear (Sat Jan 27, 2018 7:59 pm)
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