NEWB Humi! Xikar Products HELP!

[MurphysLaw]

Did you pull the battery out of the Xikar hygrometer before re-calibrating?

[n0Odle]

Originally Posted by MurphysLaw

Did you pull the battery out of the Xikar hygrometer before re-calibrating?

The battery was already disconnected from the unit (it had a little white tag you have to pull for the battery to touch the metal to power the unit)

I assumed I needed to calibrated But with what I read on line and from what the older gentleman at Club humidor told me, Since it's digital.. it doesnt need to be calibrated out of the box..

I guess I'll calibrate the Digital Hygrometer this weekend..

Now for the Xikar humidifer
From their site

Crystal Humidifiers
Our crystal humidifiers perfectly maintain the specified number of cigars at 70% Humidity. To use, simply charge with our PG Solution.

Watch the crystals... when they shrink to about half their original size, re-charge them with XIKAR's PG Solution.
Never let your humidifier go dry again!
Features
Slow, steady release of constant humidity of 70%
Clear polycarbonate cases house crystal gel saturating 450 times their weight with XIKAR PG solution!
Magnet attachment system holds the unit firmly under the lid of your humidor.
Crystal 50 maintains up to 50 cigars in a volume of 500 cubic inches at 70%
Crystal 100 maintains up to 100 cigars in a volume of 850 cubic inches at 70% Crystal 250 maintains up to 250 cigars in a volume of 1250 cubic inches at 70%
For different temperatures and extended storage, it may be advisable to recharge the humidification unit as needed, but this will depend on number of cigars, humidity, and temperature and cigar freshness.

XIKAR humidifiers are a two-way system, meaning they 1) emit and 2) absorb moisture to maintain 70% relative humidity. Varying humidity levels in a humidor - too much or too little - can destroy cigars quickly, so consistency is most important in preserving and protecting your expensive cigars. All XIKAR humidifiers employ the use of crystals that can absorb 400x their volume (size) of PG solution. When dry, the crystals look like salt grains. When PG solution is added, the crystals saturate and grow to completely fill the humidifier casing. Thus, you can pack a greater volume of solution in your smaller XIKAR humidifier than you can with older, larger foam units (which are also only one-way systems). Use the extra space in your humidor for more cigars!

So the next question would be... This humidifer won't absorb humidity to maintain 70%?

[T.G]

Originally Posted by n0Odle

So the next question would be... This humidifer won't absorb humidity to maintain 70%?

My experience with the gel humidifiers is that they will absorb moisture out of the air, but they aren't very quick about it, nor do they do a very good job at it.

Honestly, I'd return it if you still can. Then get beads. Either HCM beads from CigarNut (HCMbeads.com) or HF beads from heartfelt (heartfelt.com). They work off different principles, you can search around the site to see the descriptions and users reports on one versus the other.

Pick the humidity you want, most seem to prefer 65% rather than 70% though.

[NCRadioMan]

Originally Posted by n0Odle

So the next question would be... This humidifer won't absorb humidity to maintain 70%?

No, you will always be over 70% with that large humidification unit. If you use the Crystal 50, then maybe. And the myth that is "70%", is way too wet anyway imo.

Crystal 50 maintains up to 50 cigars in a volume of 500 cubic inches at 70%
Crystal 100 maintains up to 100 cigars in a volume of 850 cubic inches at 70% Crystal 250 maintains up to 250 cigars in a volume of 1250 cubic inches at 70%

Again, if you use something that covers 1250 cu. in. in only 500 cu. in. you have too much. The Xikar Cyrstals do work well, if you apply them correctly.