Xikar rectangular hygrometer (not happy)

[Zmilin]

Im building a wineador and have everything I need (except for shelves). I read and read but did not find this forum in any of my searches until Puff.com went offline but by then it was too late. I had already ordered a pair of Xikar rectangular hygrometers.
Got my cooler (New Air 180), got my 70% Heartfelt Beds, got my Hygros and a calibration kit and the only issue I have right now is that my Hygros are off in the calibration kit by 4 points and there is no calibration button on the new hygros.

WTF Xikar! The old ones had them why don't the new ones!?

Rant over, Ill return them and have already ordered a new pair from Boveda. They don't look as cool but they have a calibration button.

 

[JustinThyme]

The ones without calibration are not reliable at all and the ones that had the calibration button was a 50/50 crap shoot on whether they worked or not. They will send you replacements but it may take several to get ones that work.
Kenny Dolinger <kdolinger@xikar.com> is who you want to get in touch with. I bought two of the ones that calibrate and one worked, the other would go to 75% for about 8 seconds then drop to 68% making it even further off. That was a known bug. So he sent me one of the new ones that was off right out of the box and third time was a charm when he found some old stock and I got one wiht the calibrate button and it worked.

Personally the best digital hygros in my book belongs to CaliberIV. They can be calibrated at any RH as its not a reset to 75% but a +/- 6% instead.


Dont know if I can link pics but Ill try...old style in 75% boveda cal kit with new style. not even close!

 

[Hubby]

The new ones from Xikar are crap.... They are supposed to be perfect right out of the box and stay that way.. Yra right.. All the boards are filled with threrads about the new ones not working.. Its a shame to cause the look of them is awesome and the rest of there gear is superb... I ended up going a different route for mine, after a couple of exhanges just like JustinThyme....

 

[herfdog]

@JustinThyme - I got a bit confused reading your post, I was wondering when I posted that?? It seems we are using the same avatar! lol.


I somehow tought xikar would make good hygros. I still have to get a reliable one...

 

[jrtaster]

right up there with most lighters in terms of lack of long-term reliability and durability and resulting frustration are hygrometers.
when it came to accuracy right out of the box my cheap and oft-maligned analog unit was the most accurate.
next would come a calibre IV, boveda-tested/calibrated within 2% of 75. but it cost me nearly 50% more than the Xikar
The remaining 4 hygrometers are basically useless crapola, IMHO.

 

[Splatt]

Traded out the xikar hygro and lighter for Walmart hygro and lighter and never looked back. Much happier with the new "cheaper" items

 

[Hubby]

Traded out the xikar hygro and lighter for Walmart hygro and lighter and never looked back. Much happier with the new "cheaper" items

For my coolidors I use ones from Home Depot(probably the same ones from wally world).... $10 bucks.. And all have been spot on when I tested the calibration.. A little large, but I dont ever have to worry about them... WAAAYYYY cheaper also... Also gives me the temp inside the coolidors as a bonus and the lowest and highest of both...

 

[herfdog]

If I would be planning for hygros in the upcoming year, should I try cheapolas or go with pricier ones???

 

[Zmilin]

I think as long as you can calibrate them you're good. The Xikars can no longer be calibrated.

One is off by only 1% but it took it a couple days to show, my other one is off by 2-3% and showed after a few hours.