Reading moisture or humidity

[Bill Gaiche]

Does anyone use a meter to read the humidity inside there solar kiln. If so, do they give any info to you as to the drying process. If you have one, what kind do you have or recomend? If there is such, I would like to have a probe to enter from the outside to the inside with the meter on the outside. Thanks in advance. bg

[Andy White]

Bill,
I have just the thing for you. I am using a temperature/humidity sensor that hangs in the kiln. Get a cable long enough to reach outside the kiln. When you are ready to look at the data, plug the cable into your laptop, and download the data. I never have to open the kiln for this. I have a detailed writeup about it in my kiln build thread. The one I am using is the "minnow" sold by Senonics. I think this is what you are looking for. Google it and check out their site.    :P :P :P :P : : 8)   Andy

[GeneWengert-WoodDoc]

In the Virginia Tech design, I have seen probably over 50 kilns and not one used humidity readings to control the kiln.  Some did measure humidity, but it was more for curiosity.  Also, many sensors do not like 100% RH that occurs almost every night.  When NOT measuring humidity it is absolutely important to measure the wood MC daily to avoid drying too fast or too slow when above 20% MC.

[scsmith42]

I have a wireless indoor/outdoor thermometer and RH sensor system that I use in both of my kilns.  On the solar, the "indoor" part stays tucked up under the roof overhang where it is out of the weather and easy to read.  The "outdoor" sensor is installed inside the kiln about 5' high.  Works like a charm.

I use the same system as a backup to the Nyle controller in my L200 / Woodmizer 2000 DH kiln.  It's nice to be able to compare the Nyle to a separate readout.