I've had fantastic results from my Xikar's/Madeline's . They're both the same unit, sold in different packaging. I you look, the Madeline has Xikar written in the fine print on the back of the box.
I had a lot of problems with cheap (yet still $20) hygrometers shifting several point within a single month. I decided to use 2 hygrometers, side by side in my humidor, to see if my humidity was really bouncing erratically, or if my original hygrometer was just shifting. I would start with a 2 point difference between the 2 units. Within a month, it changed to an 8 point difference between the two. Upon salt testing, BOTH units had shifted. One reading higher, and the other one lower.
For peace of mind, I decided that it would be better to buy two adjustable units, then re-calibrate the instant that they didn't read the same. I have 2 of the Xikar units (one purchased as a Madeline). Both are mounted in the lid, next to each other. I calibrated them together, placing them in the salt test for 8 hours, then pushing the calibrate button. I left the units in the salt test for an additional day to see how accurate the calibration was. Both units still displayed 75% the next day.
Both units still read the exact same temp and rH, almost every time I open my humidor. On the rare occasion that they do not match, they are within 1 degree and/or 1% from one another. I have gone several months since calibrating, and they still read the same. Re-testing with the salt test always reads in the 74-76% range, with both units giving identical readings. Not bad...that's a 1% tolerance for a unit rated at +/- 2%.
The big thing to remember with the Xikar is to REMOVE AND RE-INSERT THE BATTERY BEFORE CALIBRATION. They're pretty clear about that in the instructions. If you skipped that step, then all bets are off. The moment that the two units start to differ significantly, I will be exchanging them under the lifetime warranty.
eep: and sleep better at night!!
