Ideal humidity level for drybox?

[DanielG]

Hi all,

Just got the Sony A300 last week. Now keeping the set in the free drybox. Just changed the silica gel last night and notice that the Hygrometer on the drybox cover drop from 75% to about 30% this morning. Is this normal or will this be too dry? Read somewhere that the ideal RH should be about 45%-55%. But since this is not the electrical type, how to control?

Any ideals appreciated.

[ortega]

can but it will take alot of effort

when it gets too dry just open the box a little
then close and monitor again

better to get a electrical one

[tabako]

Originally Posted by DanielG Hi all, Just got the Sony A300 last week. Now keeping the set in the free drybox. Just changed the silica gel last night and notice that the Hygrometer on the drybox cover drop from 75% to about 30% this morning. Is this normal or will this be too dry? Read somewhere that the ideal RH should be about 45%-55%. But since this is not the electrical type, how to control? Any ideals appreciated.

Where did u get the replacement silica har?

[B-setting]

Originally Posted by tabako Where did u get the replacement silica har?

most photo shops sell jars of silica gel, for between S$ 10 to S$ 12.

[ortega]

do you know that you can heat up the pink selica gel and turn it blue again

[B-setting]

yeah, i have heard of people frying the pink silica gel in the wok to get the absorbed moisture out. they said drying it in the sun would not work though. but i have not tried any of that.

[DanielG]

Got mine at CP for $5 a bottle of 500g. Probably can get it cheaper else where.

Not sure about frying the silica in a wok though... but I've microwaved them for about 1 min will turn it blue again.

[Shen siung]

Originally Posted by DanielG Got mine at CP for $5 a bottle of 500g. Probably can get it cheaper else where. Not sure about frying the silica in a wok though... but I've microwaved them for about 1 min will turn it blue again.

Any method of heat (to evaporate the water absorbed) will make the silica gel turn blue, however I don't think doing it in wok is a good idea, unless you got no use wok or wok no longer for preparing food...

[DanielG]

Back to the topic...

So 30% is too low? Then maybe i try to varies the amount of silica gel and see how it goes.... maybe new gel so super thirsty. Or maybe I wait a few days see if the RH will change or not.

[Octarine]

Not sure what is ideal for the dry box .. but the recommended humidity for photographic equipment is between 40 and 50%. More details can be found in the respective manuals

[Octarine]

Originally Posted by B-setting yeah, i have heard of people frying the pink silica gel in the wok to get the absorbed moisture out. they said drying it in the sun would not work though. but i have not tried any of that.

Nothing I would do. The blue colour of the gel is Cobalt Chloride.
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cobalt_chloride
Check the International Chemical Safety Card at the end, do you like to have toxic substances in your kitchen?

[B-setting]

Originally Posted by Octarine Nothing I would do. The blue colour of the gel is Cobalt Chloride. Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cobalt_chloride Check the International Chemical Safety Card at the end, do you like to have toxic substances in your kitchen?

thnks for the tips on safety. wah! those people who put it in their microwave ovens should also be careful!!!

[Yoricko]

My friend told me 40-55% is nice, he usually sets it lower like 30-45% because he uses the box often.

[ianwurn]

Honestly.... getting a small electrical dry cabinet is more economical in the long run. Up front cost is perhaps higher, but there's peace of mind. No need to keep pumping silica gel $$ too.

[chickenlittle21]

I got my silicia gel 500g for only $3.90

[Yoricko]

Originally Posted by ianwurn Honestly.... getting a small electrical dry cabinet is more economical in the long run. Up front cost is perhaps higher, but there's peace of mind. No need to keep pumping silica gel $$ too.

Some Silica Gels can be sun-tanned and re-used.

[ThoNguyen]

Originally Posted by chickenlittle21 I got my silicia gel 500g for only $3.90

yeah same> i bought in fairprice xtra in Jurong Point. About the humidity, you can try visit here
http://www.beyondphototips.com/2008/...ems-solutions/
good luck

[chickenlittle21]

Originally Posted by ThoNguyen yeah same> i bought in fairprice xtra in Jurong Point. About the humidity, you can try visit here http://www.beyondphototips.com/2008/...ems-solutions/ good luck

woohoo, i bought at there oso!

[aaxiz]

Actually in comparison, even in the long run, you wun spend much more on silicon gel...

Best gauge is to determine whether your dry box is enough for your storage. If its not big enough, then get a Dry Cabinet.

Therefore, determine whether you are going to get more lens / filters or so.

You can also determine whether you have other form of equipment like Video Camera , PNS camera that you can also store in your cabinet. Make full use of it.

Btw, previously I used a dry box. Humidity drop till 20%! Thus you need to adjust the amount slowly. A few days trial and error wont affect your equipment much.

[ThoNguyen]

i disagree with axxiz that silica gel cost more in the long run. i bought a box of 500g and used for already 2 weeks, i used about 1/4 of the box. when i finish using it, put all in a frying pan for like 10mins, it will be blue and there i go, another full box to use. it virtually cost nothing after u bought one box. dry cabinet is always a better choice as you have more $. myself is a student, a dry box 25$ and 4$ of silica gel is good for me