Wet Bulb Hygrometer Wick (1 meter) – Complete Data Sheet
📦 Product information
Item code: 28 (HNB-K)
Italian name: Wet bulb humidity reading wick
English name: Wet Bulb Hygrometer Wick / Muslin Cloth
Material: Cotton muslin
Length: 1 meter (can be cut to size)
Compatibility: FIEM HNB wet bulb hygrometer + Fiem thermohygrometer
⚠️ CRITICAL COMPONENT - MANDATORY FREQUENT MAINTENANCE:
The muslin sock is the heart of the wet-bulb hygrometer's measurement system. A dirty, dry, or crusted sock makes humidity readings COMPLETELY UNRELIABLE , compromising the entire incubation.
Replace at each new incubation cycle!
🔍 What is the wick and why is it essential?
The wick (or muslin stocking) is the cotton fabric that wraps the thermometer bulb in a wet-bulb hygrometer. Its function is:
- Absorb water from the tank through capillarity
- Keep the thermometer bulb constantly moist
- Allow evaporation which cools the bulb
- Allow measurement of relative humidity
Principle: Water evaporates from the damp sock → the bulb cools → the temperature difference indicates humidity. If the sock malfunctions, the entire system is compromised.
⚠️ WHY FREQUENT REPLACEMENT IS ESSENTIAL
What happens with an old/dirty sock:
- Limescale Deposits: Tap water leaves behind minerals that clog fibers.
- Organic contamination: Algae, bacteria, mold grow in moist tissue
- Loss of capillary action: Cotton no longer absorbs water properly
- Incorrect readings: The hygrometer reads 100% (dry sock)
- Delay in response: Humidity changes are not detected
Consequences for incubation:
- You think the humidity is correct when it isn't.
- Eggs too dry → air chamber too large → weak chicks
- Eggs too moist → small air chamber → drowning during hatching
- Drastically reduced hatchability
📋 When to replace the sock
✅ ALWAYS replace:
- Optimal At each new incubation cycle/batch
- When it appears dirty, yellowish or dark
- If there are visible white deposits (limescale)
- When readings are unstable or stuck at 100%
- If the sock no longer absorbs water well
- After prolonged periods of non-use
🔧 Replacement instructions
Necessary material
- New wick (cut ~5-8 cm from the spool)
- Distilled or demineralized water
- Clean scissors
Procedure
- Remove the old sock: Unscrew it or gently slide it off the bulb
- Cut the new wick: Long enough to wrap around the bulb + draw into the reservoir
- Wrap the bulb: The sock must completely cover the thermometer bulb
- Tighten well: There should be no air spaces between the sock and the bulb
- Place in the tank: The free end should be sticking out of the water
- Fill with distilled water: The tank must be at least 1/3 full
- Wet the sock: The first time, moisten it manually
- Wait for stabilization: 30-60 minutes before the first reading
💧 DISTILLED WATER: MANDATORY
ALWAYS USE DISTILLED OR DEMINERALIZED WATER!
Tap water contains minerals (calcium, magnesium) that:
- They settle on the sock forming white crusts
- They clog the cotton fibers
- They reduce capillarity (absorption)
- They drastically shorten the life of the sock
- They cause incorrect readings
With distilled water the sock lasts 3-4 times longer!
⚠️ Common mistakes to avoid
- Touch the sock with your fingers frequently: Skin oil contaminates the fibers and prevents proper absorption.
- Use tap water: Minerals quickly encrust the sock
- Sock too dry: If the tank is empty, readings impossible
- Empty tank: Always check the water level
- Never change the sock: After weeks it becomes unusable
🔧 Maintenance during use
Daily checks:
- Make sure the tank is at least 1/3 full
- Check that the sock is visibly damp
- Make sure it fishes properly in the water
Weekly checks:
- Inspect the sock for dirt or deposits
- Change the water in the tank
- Evaluate whether it is time to replace the sock
💡 Advice from 45 years of experience: It's better to change the sock one too many than one too few. The cost is minimal (€2/meter = several replacements), but the risk of losing an entire brood due to incorrect readings is very high.
📊 Technical specifications
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|
| Material | 100% cotton muslin |
| Length | 1 meter (cuttable) |
| Color | Natural white |
| Product type | Consumable - periodic replacement |
| Replacement frequency | Each incubation cycle |
| Recommended water | Distilled or demineralized |
🛒 Commercial information
Price: €2.00 per meter (VAT excluded, shipping excluded)
Yield: 1 meter = approximately 10-15 refills (depends on the length needed)
FIEM COMO WAREHOUSE – Padovan Avicoltura: original spare parts for precision instruments.
💡 Related products
- HNB Wet Bulb Hygrometer – Complete Instrument with Sock Included
- Analog Thermometer °F (0.5/A) – Temperature Control
- Thermohygrometer
- IGR.PARETE 70 Hair Hygrometer – Maintenance-Free Water Alternative
📦 Logistics and times
- Shipping: 1 business day
- Delivery: 2-4 working days
- Departure: FIEM Como Warehouse
- Packaging: Protective bag
✅ Guarantee
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: How long does a sock last?
A: With proper use and distilled water, 2 months
Q: Can I wash the sock instead of replacing it?
A: Not recommended. Washing doesn't remove mineral deposits within the fibers, and the soap contaminates the cotton. It only costs €2/meter, so it's best to replace.
Q: Do I have to use distilled water?
A: Highly recommended. Tap water deposits limescale, which quickly ruins the sock and causes inaccurate readings.
Q: The hygrometer always reads 100%. Why?
A: The sock is dry, dirty, or no longer absorbent. Replace it and use distilled water.
Q: How many refills do I get from 1 meter?
A: About 10-15 pieces, depending on the length you need for your hygrometer (typically 5-8 cm per spare).
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📋 Legal Notice and Rights
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