What is Relative Humidity?

Relative humidity is a term that indicates the amount of moisture in the air relative to the amount of moisture that has the potential to hold at a given temperature. For example, an RH of 50% means that the air contains 50% of the water vapour that it could potentially hold at a given temperature.

How does RH change in a case or enclosure?

The RH level can change constantly and drastically due to many factors. Some of these factors are:

• > the region of the world where the case or enclosure is located
• > seasonal weather changes
• > local weather changes
• > changes in temperature
• > proximity to moisture producing and humidity elevating sources, such as a lake or coastal environment. Rapid changes in RH can occur as small portable cases or enclosures are moved from indoors to outdoors.

Relative Humidity Conditions

The rate of corrosion in electronics and electronic components is increased dramatically when exposed to high relative humidity conditions. As the %RH approaches the 90-100% level, the equivalent of many months of corrosion (at a lower %RH condition) can occur in a short period of time. Conversely, electricity can cause anomalies and failures in electronics and electronic components under extremely dry conditions. Constantly fluctuating RH takes the worst of “too wet” and “too dry” conditions and multiplies them, adding its own adverse effects.

Ordinary desiccants and dehumidifiers won’t solve these problems

The goal of ordinary desiccants, such as silica gel, is to bring the relative humidity level to 0%. This is not a good solution since an extremely dry environment can be as destructive as an extremely wet or damp environment.

Additionally, ordinary desiccants have a very small capacity to absorb moisture (water vapour), even when exposed to very high humidity levels. Therefore, they are fully expended, or saturated, well before accomplishing their task.

Ordinary desiccants typically reduce the RH level to some low value temporarily and then expend their small capacity – and stop working! After they are spent, the RH bounces back to its original level and begins again to fluctuate. This means that the desiccant then needs to be replaced or regenerated.

No continuous and effective control of relative humidity

The bottom line with silica gel desiccants is that there is no continuous and effective control of relative humidity. Except for the short period of time that the desiccant is lowering the %RH before expending itself, the RH fluctuates based on ambient conditions.

Humidifiers won’t solve these problems.

At their best, ordinary humidifiers only work to convert an extremely dry environment to one of varying or fluctuating relative humidity. They work by wetting a sponge (or some other object) in an attempt to create a higher relative humidity environment.

Once the humidifier is placed into the dry environment, it attempts to raise the %RH to its own 100% level. In so doing, it dries out. At the point it dries, the %RH is then allowed to fluctuate, as before, based on ambient conditions.

The bottom line with both desiccants and humidifiers is that the RH is not “controlled.”

The Answer – Humidisorb

Ideally, the %RH would be maintained at a constant (or near constant) long-term %RH at approximately mid-range or mid-scale without the need for intervention from the user. This would eliminate “too wet”, “too dry”, and fluctuating %RH conditions.

That is exactly what Humidisorb accomplishes! When a Humidisorb packet is sized correctly for an enclosure, Humidisorb’s unique formulation works to maintain a near-constant %RH without the need for intervention from the user.

Humidisorb Moisture and Corrosion Control Packets provide the best protection against damage from relative humidity and corrosion for any enclosure or piece of equipment that is operating, in transit, or in storage.

FAQ’s

HOW MANY PACKETS DO I NEED FOR MY ENCLOSURE?

In order to know how many packets you need for your enclosure, you must first know your cubic volume. We make that easy for you! Use the packet calculator located on our Humidisorb or Humidisorb Plus X-Corrode product pages under the support materials section.

WHERE DO I INSTALL THE PACKETS IN THE ENCLOSURE?

Just open the sealed bags containing the packets of Humidisorb and introduce them into your enclosure.  It starts working immediately.  Ideally, the packets should be placed where air can circulate around them, but this is not critical for its humidity and ambient moisture controlling action to be effective.

WHEN I OPEN MY ENCLOSURE AND FEEL THE HUMIDISORB PACKET, IT FEELS HARD (OR SOFT OR PUTTY-LIKE)?

A change in the consistency, or “feel,” of the material inside of the Humidisorb packets is one of the more obvious signs that Humidisorb is working hard for you.  Depending on its saturation and where it is in the long-term average relative humidity cycle, its “feel” can change.  The range is from a granular consistency to a putty-like pliability to a feeling of being rather hard.  Humidisorb is a dynamic product which is working all the time.  Its consistency varies normally among these forms and descriptions.

Credit: geniefilters.com