Think my dry cabi is faulty and my lenses grew fungus

[yztan2341]

Hello,

I m suspecting that my dry cabinet is faulty. While I was doing a cleaning check on one of my main lenses, I was shocked to notice quite alot of this tiny specs of fungus that look simply like a dot of dust from afar. Once i started eye balling it it looked like a "*" sign with wavy hairlines. This prompted me to start checking all of my lenses, which unfortunately, ALL of it had this same tiny specs of fungus. Most of these lenses were sitting in the dry cabi the whole time. I had clearly remembered the last lens I purchased 5 months ago was free from these "dots".


I am really at a lost presently. Could clubsnap members advise me on how I should check if my dry cabinet is indeed faulty.. and what is the immediate step I should take to stop this spreading of more fungus? Also, are these dots of a major concern?

Thank you.

 

[Octarine]

1) Is your hygrometer working? What's the reading?
2) Get a second one, perform the salt test to verify the reading. Use it to verify that your dry cab is working.
3) Readings should be around 50% or less. If you see 70% or more then it is not working.

 

[yztan2341]

It is always between 40-50%. But I am not too sure myself if it is working or so? Is it still possible for fungus to grow in a working dry cabi?

 

[Octarine]

If the reading is wrong, then of course it can happen. Do the verification.

 

[yztan2341]

If the reading is wrong, then of course it can happen. Do the verification.

Just to clarify, do I just put a plate with salt inside the cabi or do i need to take out the hydrometer?

 

[catchlights]

please read the instruction of salt test closely.

the salt test is to know the accuracy of your hydrometer.

 

[Bluesubm6]

1. Go to Homfix DIY and ask the storekeeper for a digital hygrometer - it should cost around $37
2. Buy AAA heavy duty battery for the hygrometer
3. Set up the hygrometer and put it inside your dry cabinet
4. Within an hour you can tell what is the RH inside your dry cabinet

You can perform a salt test on the hygrometer from Homefix later since the salt test takes about 24 hours.

 

[Bluesubm6]

What to do in the meantime?

If your dry cabi has a light, leave it on.

If it has an auto turn off function this will not help.

Light will help slow down fungus growth, so dont keep your lenses in the dark.

Keep your bodies outside the cabi, in a dry and airy place, away from windows (rain/damp)until the cabi is fixed or replaced. You can probably do the same for the lenses.

If you are losing sleep over your investments, leave a fan running to circulate air around your kit, and leave the lights on at night - USB fan and LED lights come to mind.

 

[ziggy]

1. Go to Homfix DIY and ask the storekeeper for a digital hygrometer - it should cost around $37
2. Buy AAA heavy duty battery for the hygrometer
3. Set up the hygrometer and put it inside your dry cabinet
4. Within an hour you can tell what is the RH inside your dry cabinet

You can perform a salt test on the hygrometer from Homefix later since the salt test takes about 24 hours.

I got a Casio alarm clock with a digital hygrometer for about $35.

 

[yzknobbies]

this hygrometer is the instrument to measure the humidity... is there a portable device that can control the humidity?... my dry cabi also fault la.

 

[Octarine]

this hygrometer is the instrument to measure the humidity... is there a portable device that can control the humidity?... my dry cabi also fault la.

Check DIY shops. Many shops in Sim Lim Tower sell standalone hygrometers.

 

[Bluesubm6]

this hygrometer is the instrument to measure the humidity... is there a portable device that can control the humidity?... my dry cabi also fault la.

Well, an air tight dry box and silica based dessicants would do the job. Long term still better to repair or replace the dry cabi.

 

[one eye jack]

1. Go to Homfix DIY and ask the storekeeper for a digital hygrometer - it should cost around $37

Why be Robert when a shop on 2nd. flr. Sim Lim Tower sells temperature cum hygrometer model S-263
for $26?

Of course there are other shops there that sell for more.
PS that shop is manned by young man and his parents.Only hardware shop on 2nd. flr.
Basement more expensive but still cheaper than homefix!

 

[lasercare]

Some measure to take note:

1) Don't put your drybox in your bedroom especially because in the night you may open air-con and the day time you won't.

2) Don't ever place a lens with fungus together with fungus free lens in the same drybox.

3) Leave the lens cap open if there is filter on.

4) 40-50 are reasonable Ok! Anything below 40 not recommend as the rubber part of the lens will damage for prolong period of dryness. :nono:

 

[Octarine]

1) Don't put your drybox in your bedroom especially because in the night you may open air-con and the day time you won't.

Why would this matter? If the aircon is running, the room humidity goes down. If the dry cabinet is an automatic model, it will just shut off because target RH has been reached. The 'always on' models will continue working, the RH will be lower than without aircon. No harm.

3) Leave the lens cap open if there is filter on.

Neither lens caps nor filters are airtight.

4) 40-50 are reasonable Ok! Anything below 40 not recommend as the rubber part of the lens will damage for prolong period of dryness. :nono:

The myth of cracking rubber and drying lubricant has be busted long ago. Modern lubricants are not water based, rubber can easily sustain lower humidity.
We don't see reports of damaged lenses from countries with constantly lower humidity, nor do we see 'wet cabinets' being in use there.

 

[sadper]

Neither lens caps nor filters are airtight.

Didnt know need to remove lens cap when kept the lens in the dry cabinet.

Since filter or lens cap is air tight then the dry cabinet air can just seep through the hole. Just my thought.

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[sadper]

Some measure to take note:

1) Don't put your drybox in your bedroom especially because in the night you may open air-con and the day time you won't.

Just curious where do you put your dry cabinet since bedroom is not recommended. Putting in living room is like putting your cash around, inviting robbery.


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[kandinsky]

Just curious where do you put your dry cabinet since bedroom is not recommended. Putting in living room is like putting your cash around, inviting robbery.


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I have a dry cabi in the office. When the air-con is on during the day, it helps the dry-cabi maintain the target RH, especially when you open/close for access. Mine works just fine. I personally don't agree with that tip, but ppl may do things differently based on their own usage experience. As long as you avoid those obviously high-humidity areas (your dry cabi will work extra hard), you should be fine.

In anycase, Octarine also disagreed with this tip, so I don't think you need to be concerned with it.

 

[Octarine]

Just curious where do you put your dry cabinet since bedroom is not recommended. Putting in living room is like putting your cash around, inviting robbery.


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Bedroom is perfectly fine. If you have it in living room / hall just put it out of sight so that it's not directly visible from the door. Otherwise, a piece of cloth, some velcro and double-sided tape can easily create a curtain for the glass door.

 

[Ah Keong]

jialatz,

I left my lens cap on when I store in the dry cabinet....