HUMIDITY SENSOR

SELECTION GUIDE
Your Guide to Picking the Right
Humidity Sensor for your Application
 Humidity Sensor Selection Guide - 1

A humidity sensor – also known as a humidity meter or hygrometer – senses, measures, and reports the
humidity level in the air. Measuring and monitoring humidity is important for many different applications – food
production, manufacturing processes, storage, and climate control, just to name a few.

Elevated levels of humidity are directly associated with corrosion, mold, warping, and condensation, while low
humidity can cause shrinkage of certain materials and significant discomfort for people occupying a given area.
Selecting an appropriate humidity sensor is the first step to determining if your humidity levels are within
a suitable range for your application.

Available humidity sensors run the full range – from simple and affordable to complex and high-end. Some will
measure to several decimal places, while others will give you a simple general figure. The key to selecting the
right humidity sensor for your application is finding the balance between capability and cost.

Most importantly, humidity sensors look deceptively easy to understand. However, relative humidity can be tricky
to measure, as there can be measurement variations within a small area, and specifications from a manufacturer
can be unclear with regards to accuracy. The goal of the following information is to assist in understanding
common mistakes and give actionable advice when choosing a humidity sensor.

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 Humidity Sensor Selection Guide - 2

Understanding Relative Humidity

There are two main measurements of humidity – dew point temperature and relative humidity. Dew point
temperature is a measure of the absolute quantity of moisture in the air. Relative humidity is the ratio of
moisture in the air to the highest amount of moisture that can be held at that air temperature. The higher the
air temperature, the more moisture the air can hold. Because relative humidity is a ratio, the rH can be a similar
percentage at low temperature/low dew point and higher temperature/higher dew point. However the amount of
water content will be orders of magnitude higher at the higher temperature/higher dewpoint.

The dew point temperature is the temperature at which water begins to condense out of the air (forming dew).
The closer the dew point temperature is to the current air temperature, the higher the level of relative humidity.
A relative humidity of 100% means the dew point temperature is equal to the air temperature. If the temperature
increases but moisture levels stay constant, the dew point temperature remains the same while the relative
humidity decreases.

The choice between relative humidity sensors and dew point sensors will depend upon your application. Some
sensors display both measurements, and absolute humidity can be calculated from relative humidity and the
local temperature. An important fact to remember is that relative humidity is a function of dew point and air
temperature. Hence, variations in temperature will affect the measurement, and accuracy of the temperature
measurement is an important feature when comparing various relative humidity models.

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 Humidity Sensor Selection Guide - 3

Humidity Sensor Construction and Operation

There are two types of digital humidity sensors: capacitive and resistive.

• Capacitive
These humidity sensors use a small capacitor of two electrodes with a non-conductive film – usually
a hygroscopic dielectric polymer – between them. The non-conductive film absorbs moisture from the air,
which changes its electrical properties and causes the capacitor output voltage to change. Capacitive RH
sensors have linear operation across the entire humidity range, so they can accurately measure from
0% -100% relative humidity.

These output voltage changes can be measured directly, input into another system, or converted into
a digital readout to show the level of moisture in the air. The majority of humidity sensors in use are of
the capacitive type.

• Resistive
These humidity sensors also use a hygroscopic (moisture-absorbing) material. However the resistance
change in the material is measured rather than the capacitance. The output voltage has an inverse
exponential relationship to relative humidity. This makes it weak for measuring low (below 5% RH) values.
As with capacitive type sensors, the output voltage may be used as is or digitized.

Capacitive type sensors have better accuracy, stability, and repeatability. However, resistive sensors are lower
cost, and may be a good choice in applications where precision is less important.

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 Humidity Sensor Selection Guide - 4

Humidity Sensor Applications

Humidity sensors are found anywhere humidity must be kept
within certain levels for safety, function, environmental control,
or comfort. The following examples demonstrate the wide range
of uses demonstrated by humidity sensors.

Industrial/Research
Industrial and research applications have very demanding
requirements for humidity meters. High precision and accuracy
are generally required, and the sensor may need to operate
effectively over a wide range of temperatures. Common uses include:

• Industrial equipment manufacturing • Automotive paint booths

• Weather stations • Engines/motors

• Cleanroom processes • Cargo storage and transportation

• Process monitoring • Contract services

• Chemical manufacturing • Food/plant growing operations

Commercial
In the commercial sector, keeping humidity levels optimized for goods and consumers is important.
Humidity levels that are too high can cause corrosion, condensation, warpage, and spoilage of goods, while
humidity levels that are too low can dry out, shrink or crack products. Commercial humidity sensors can often
afford to be less precise than those in industrial applications, and are more likely to operate over a smaller
range of temperatures.

Humidity meters are used to measure and monitor humidity in a variety of commercial applications, such as:

• Climate control/HVAC • In-cabin climate control

• Dehumidifiers • Food service storage (pantry/refrigerators/

freezers)
• Commercial Building Automated Systems

• Museums • White goods

• Grocery • Weather stations

• Humidors • Greenhouses

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 Humidity Sensor Selection Guide - 5

Medical
Humidity is crucial to many biological processes, while low relative humidity is related to faster transmission of
airborne diseases. Hospitals and medical establishments routinely monitor humidity for these reasons. Accuracy
requirements are likely to be high, while the temperature range is generally closer to ambient temperatures and
far less demanding than industrial applications.

Humidity meters may be used in the healthcare sector to monitor:

• Incubators • Drug storage

• Sterilization equipment • Respirators and ventilators

• Patient monitoring • Environmental monitoring systems

• Pharmaecutical processing • Laboratory & cell culturing equipment

Consumer
Lastly, direct consumer applications for humidity sensors typically revolve around climate control in homes or
other commonly occupied areas. Humidity is closely related to comfort – high humidity feels clammy or sticky
and may exacerbate breathing problems, while low humidity can cause dry skin, itchy eyes, scratchy throat,
dry nasal passages, and other problems. The precision and operating range requirements for consumer
applications are typically the lowest.

Selecting a Humidity Sensor

The more information you have about your application, the easier it will be to select the right humidity sensor.
You should prepare answers to the following questions before approaching suppliers:

• What humidity range will I need to measure?

Some sensors are linear over the entire range, while others only cover smaller sections. If the humidity
range you must measure is small, you can most likely choose a more cost-effective humidity sensor.

• Will the humidity range be high enough for condensation to form?

Condensation forming may require water-repelling filters for the sensor.

• Will I be measuring very low humidity?

Low humidity (<15% RH) affects the accuracy of resistive type sensors

• What is the operating temperature range?

Consider the temperature extremes of your application. For example, a humidity sensor in a warehouse
will see a more constant temperature than one installed in an outdoor application.

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 Humidity Sensor Selection Guide - 6

• How is the sensor temperature effect compensated?

This information should be available on the sensor datasheet,
and should be noted in applications requiring high-precision
humidity measurement. In addition, if a customer is buying a
humidity sensor chip and incorporating it near other electronics,
it is prudent to consider placement of other components near the
humidity chip. Heat generating electronic components may affect
the temperature reading of the humidity sensor, hence affecting the
relative humidity reading.

• What level of accuracy is required?

A cleanroom or laboratory will have far more exacting accuracy
requirements, whereas a warehouse may simply require
maintenance within a wide percentage range. When accuracy is
a lower priority, a more cost-effective sensor can be selected.
Most importantly, what accuracy is required over a specific
temperature range?

If the application requires accurate relative humidity

measurement over a broad temperature range, be sure to
read product specifications carefully. Sensors can show
a very high accuracy at a specific temperature – say 1.8%
at 23°C. Yet, once the temperature changes by +/-15
degrees, the accuracy may drop off significantly. To achieve
a very high rH accuracy, the sensor needs a very high
temperature reading accuracy as well, on the order of less
than half of a degree Celsius.

• How is the humidity sensor calibrated? Can it be calibrated in-field?

Due to age, drift, and environmental factors, most sensors will eventually need to be recalibrated or
replaced. In-field calibration is essential for processes that run continuously.

• What package do I want?

Humidity meters are available as elements, sensors, and modules. Bare elements must be calibrated and
the signal output integrated into circuitry, sensors can be added to circuits easily while humidity modules
come fully packaged, often with a probe and display.

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 Humidity Sensor Selection Guide - 7

• Other important considerations

—— Are there temperature gradients, humidity gradients or both in my application? These are important
factors if you are getting different relative humidity readings when you do not expect it.

—— Can water vapor get trapped inside the humidity sensor package?

—— Reprogramming the sample rate of the sensors may cause the internal ASIC to generate more heat,
hence influencing the humidity measurement.

—— Storage – complete humidity modules/meters (not just a sensor chip) need to be stored properly
ideally in a sealed environment to prevent drift.

—— When testing samples, it is important that the reference instrument is also good. However, customers
will often put the sample humidity sensors on a table next to a reference probe – there could be
variations due to temperature or humidity gradients. Or the reference probe may have been stored
improperly or is not accurate enough to use as a comparison.

Selecting a Sensor Supplier

A good sensor is the ideal combination of value and capability for the required application. Getting this level of
optimization is challenging. Without some knowledge of both the sensor market and your particular application,
selecting humidity meters or other sensors may seem daunting.

A great sensor supplier will not rely on one-size-fits-all solutions. They will work closely with your team to find
the sensor that best meets your budget and performance requirements.

• Lead times
How do the lead times compare to your manufacturing processes? Can you get parts in time for
production?

• Location
Can you get delivery or consultation in other locations in your network if needed? Do they have multiple
office locations? Do you need the solutions supplied internationally?

• Second-source requirements
Is your required solution available from multiple manufacturers/distributors in the event a long-term
supply chain disruption occurs?

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 Humidity Sensor Selection Guide - 8

• Requirements vs. datasheets

Does the supplier offer solutions based on your
requirements? Or are they trying to overdesign
a solution and/or upsell you? Are the data sheets
specific enough for your application? If not, is the
supplier willing to share data and commit to an
accuracy for your application?

• Support
How much technical support is offered, and for how
long? Is there a warranty or other service guarantee
offered by the vendor?

• Price
How does the overall cost compare with other manufacturers, and what is included in this price? Rather
than focusing on the cost of a single component, also consider long-term consultations, service, and
other support that may be included in the price to get the best deal.

Learn More
At Servoflo, our team of expert engineers will work tirelessly to connect you with a solution that fits the exacting
requirements of your application. We help design engineers find the perfect measurement solutions early on so
that they can focus on the larger project at hand.

Do you have questions about selecting the right humidity meter or other measurement device for your
application? Please contact us and see how we can help with your project.

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About Servoflo
Servoflo Corporation is a provider of pressure sensors, mass flow sensors, environmental sensors, sensor
signal conditioning, and micropumps. For 30 years, our services have helped companies solve their sensing
measurement needs in a variety of applications including medical, industrial, HVAC, instrumentation and much
more. No one else can match our wide product line and customer expertise.

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