Vaisala's relative humidity products incorporate a capacitive thin-film polymer sensor, Vaisala HUMICAP® Sensor. The HUMICAP® sensor features high accuracy, excellent long-term stability and negligible hysteresis. It is insensitive to dust, particulate dirt and most chemicals.
The thin-film polymer either absorbs or releases water vapor as the relative humidity of the ambient air rises or drops. The dielectric properties of the polymer film depend on the amount of water contained in it: as the relative humidity changes, the dielectric properties of the film change, and so the capacitance of the sensor changes. The electronics of the instrument measure the capacitance of the sensor and convert it into a humidity reading.
In 1973 Vaisala presented a completely new way of measuring humidity. Vaisala HUMICAP® Sensor, the world's first thin-film capacitive humidity sensor was brought into markets. Due to the success of the Vaisala HUMICAP® Sensor and products, Vaisala has reached the position as world's market leader in relative humidity measurement instruments. Throughout its 30-years history, the Vaisala HUMICAP® technology has been under continuous development in order to ensure all time high-tech sensors and instruments. Vaisala has introduced a new generation Vaisala HUMICAP® relative humidity sensor, the Vaisala HUMICAP®180R used in Vaisala humidity transmitters for harsh conditions. The latest members of Vaisala HUMICAP® product family are the Vaisala HUMICAP® Humidity and Temperature Transmitter Series HMT330 and the Vaisala HUMICAP® Humidity and Temperature Probe HMP155.
The HMT337 has been developed for demanding meteorological measurement and is now equipped with the new-generation Vaisala HUMICAP®180R sensor, which provides long-term stability and withstands harsh conditions. It comes with a non-warmed probe for conditions of moderate humidity and with an unique warmed probe to maintain measurement reliability in extreme conditions of humidity. As the probe head is warmed, the humidity level inside the head stays below the ambient level. Ambient dewpoint can be calculated precisely, due to accurate temperature measurement. The HMT330 MIK (Meteorological Installation Kit) is available for the installation of the HMT337 outdoors.
Vaisala HUMICAP® Humidity and Temperature Probe HMP155 is designed to measure humidity and temperature in meteorological applications. The HMP155 has a new-generation Vaisala HUMICAP®180R sensor, which provides long-term stability and withstands harsh environments well. The probe structure is solid and the sensor is protected with a sintered teflon filter, giving maximum protection against liquid water, dust, and dirt. An additional temperature probe is also available enabling fast measurement response in environments with rapidly varying temperatures.