Safe dry rod

My oldest is probably 20 years old.

Good question, don't think I have ever heard of one going out but sure they do. This site says the Goldenrod (if that is the one you have) has a Lifetime warranty. https://www.btibrands.com/product/golden-rod-dehumidifier-rods/

I think I would back up the safe with some desiccant packets in case the rod were to fail but don't think I would replace it until it did fail unless you have a serious humidity problem.

Buy a wireless hydrometer/thermometer. Put the sensor in your safe. Put the display where you can glance at it to take the guesswork out of safe humidity.

2nd 41 said:

I think I once read not to use both (packets and rod)

Click to expand...

If you can find a reference please let me know as I have been doing that (and most others I know) for decades now. Not at all saying you're wrong so please don't take it that way. I could see them competing but not sure that it would be a major issue.

2nd 41 said:

At what point do you replace yours.

Click to expand...

When it no longer gets warm. It is only a low grade heater, after all. A low wattage incandescent bulb would provide the same protection.

The packets absorb (actually remove) moisture while the rod (heater) warms the environment thus lowering the RH.

Using both is the best approach.

We keep being told the IoT will sensorize the world. But the last two kickstarters for simple greenhouse sensors failed to deliver. Did anyone ever make a simple, internet-connected hygrometer? Remoting it to the inside of the gun safe would be one of the places I would love to have this.

(Also want temp sensors for outside containers and the greenhouse, water sensors for basement, bathrooms etc. Knowing how everything does, when not in the room or even at home would be awesome).

shoobe01 said:

We keep being told the IoT will sensorize the world. But the last two kickstarters for simple greenhouse sensors failed to deliver. Did anyone ever make a simple, internet-connected hygrometer? Remoting it to the inside of the gun safe would be one of the places I would love to have this.

(Also want temp sensors for outside containers and the greenhouse, water sensors for basement, bathrooms etc. Knowing how everything does, when not in the room or even at home would be awesome).

Click to expand...

Have one of these in my safe and they work great. The people who sold me my safe highly recommended this.

http://www.elertus.com/

ColtPythonElite said:

Buy a wireless hydrometer/thermometer. Put the sensor in your safe. Put the display where you can glance at it to take the guesswork out of safe humidity.

Click to expand...

This sends me emails and texts me when it detects something is amiss. works great.

http://www.elertus.com/

2nd 41 said:

Here's the issue. I travel sometimes and cannot check the safe periodically. Dry packs work well but have to be recharged(something like that)....put into oven for x amount of time. I cannot do that.

Click to expand...

I usually recharge mine once a year on a cold/dry day. Takes some time but I don't need to do it often. Now, if you're in a high humidity area (currently in md myself) you may want to recharge them more often that that but in conjunction with the dry rod I wouldn't think that often. Also, does depend on having enough desiccant so it has enough capacity to handle a little moisture.

If you want another option and level of protection put some Zerust packets in there (others make things like it also) https://smile.amazon.com/Zerust-VC2...rd_wg=yLITJ&psc=1&refRID=BHN57AX0F80D5HF4VTR2 Helps to stop rust. Also, if buying from Amazon be sure to use Smile there and contribute (with their $$) to a pro 2A cause, couple to choose from there.

I have deployed for a year+ several times and with those 3 levels of protection (dry rod, desiccant, and rust inhibitor) never had an issue.

I bought an off-brand Goldenrod at first, it lasted 2 years before dying on me. After that I bought the real deal, it's been going 2 years now and hopefully lasts a lot longer because it really sucked unbolting my safe from the floor and tipping it forward enough to fish the new electrical cord through!

I used a rechargeable desiccant pack for a couple years too in addition to the goldenrod, but got tired of recharging it every couple months so I stopped that about 2 years ago. Even with my safe in my basement I haven't had a problem with rust using just the Goldenrod.

Yep,unbolting the safe would be a PITA.
I would be tempted just to cut the cord on the old one and splice the wires new one on to the existing plug.
(course I am getting lazy in my old age).

2nd 41 said:

Here's the issue. I travel sometimes and cannot check the safe periodically. Dry packs work well but have to be recharged(something like that)....put into oven for x amount of time. I cannot do that. Also cannot use a wireless thermometer ...but like the idea. The GoldRod has been working great...just thought I'd be proactive and replace it.

Click to expand...

I get where your going with that logic, but sometimes with very reliable things it is better not to change,

In general If you were to plot failures of mechanisms along a time graph you would see a steep Spike in the beginning as defective units fail early and then a low midlife area then a gradual incline as they age.


your current rod has a known value it has made it past the defect period, and golden rods have been known to go for decades, they have no moving parts, no contacts. No electronics, they are controlled by the imutable physics of the metal they are made of.

Let sleeping dogs lye.

I would look into the remote monitoring posted above instead. That seams like a better use of your money.

I never used one. Both NC and FL are humid as heck- we have those bags of whatever granules we keep in the closets that end up full of port-a-john looking water after 2 weeks. Know how I make sure my guns don't rust in my safe? A generous amount of cheap generic motor oil applied to the metal surfaces with a small paint brush. No problems, ever.