Wine fridgeador humidity issues.

[mgvsquared]

So I have a wineador set up. Pretty fully stocked Whynter 18 bottle dual zone unit. I only use the bottom (12 bottle capacity) for cigars, but I have both drain holes plugged and both zones are set on 66F. I have a computer fan running (24/7) inside for air circulation and 1lb of 65RH heartfelt beads, 1/2 at the top and 1/2 at the bottom of the zone I use.

My problem has been pretty constant. I can't seem to get the RH to drop below 72, and it fluctuates slowly between 72-75. The thing is, the beads are bone dry. They don't seem to be absorbing any excess moisture at all.

Any suggestions would be immensely appreciated. If you have any questions, or need additional information on my set up, please ask.

 

[Jfire]

How long have you.......
Had the unit?
Had most of the cigars in said unit? (new boxes always arriving?)

Do you use any other humidification device in the unit? (GEL etc)
Do you use a digital calibrated hygrometer?
Just the starting thoughts for me.

 

[mgvsquared]

How long have you.......
Had the unit?
Had most of the cigars in said unit? (new boxes always arriving?)

Do you use any other humidification device in the unit? (GEL etc)
Do you use a digital calibrated hygrometer?
Just the starting thoughts for me.

I've had the unit since June 2011. Since the initial stocking of cigars (maybe 60 cigars?), I've put in 2 extra boxes (one in September, one in late January) and numerous singles a few at a time. I do need to do an inventory count. The humidity has always run high, however.

I use no other humidification other than the heartfelt beads. I have 2 pre-calibrated (Don Salvatore, Acurite) digital hygrometers, but both read the same +/- 1RH (one is at the top, one at the bottom, of the lower zone)

 

[mgvsquared]

As an added though, should I try some KL crystals? Maybe a small bowl of them at the bottom?

I just don't get why the HF beads are bone dry and the RH is not plummeting (I guess it really shouldn't since it's a sealed thermoelectric environment). I mean, I have it well stocked, so the cigars and wood obviously aren't drying out, which I suppose is good.

I thought I did enough research to truly understand wineadors, but clearly I've missed something somewhere. But 1lb bone dry 65RH beads in a 12 bottle wine cooler that's fluctuating between 72-75RH just puzzles the hell out of me. It's also causing some burn issues (too wet IMO), I think, so I'd like to get it solved completely.

 

[RonC]

what temp do you keep the wine cooler at? what is your room temperature? these are the 2 most important questions

 

[mgvsquared]

The wine cooler has a max temp of 66 so I leave it at that. During the winter I keep the house between 70-73. The summer? Depends. Keeping the house around 80 makes the energy bill tolerably affordable. If I could drop the RH by 5, that would make me happy and I wouldn't be bothered by the fluctuations do much.

 

[RonC]

The wine cooler has a max temp of 66 so I leave it at that. During the winter I keep the house between 70-73. The summer? Depends. Keeping the house around 80 makes the energy bill tolerably affordable. If I could drop the RH by 5, that would make me happy and I wouldn't be bothered by the fluctuations do much.

ok, so you are cooling it approx 4-7 degrees at this time of year. that can cause humidity to go up 5 to 10% easily depending on how long it is running.

First step is to put a Johnson temperature controller on the wine fridge. Keep the temp at 70. you will see a difference.

next is to make sure that your beads are spread out very thinly in your cabinet. beads work best based on surface area exposed.

 

[aherzing]

I would also check the calibration of the hygros, I know they are reading the same and what not but I've purchased "precalibrated" that we're off 12-15% ... Couldn't hurt

 

[mgvsquared]

ok, so you are cooling it approx 4-7 degrees at this time of year. that can cause humidity to go up 5 to 10% easily depending on how long it is running.

First step is to put a Johnson temperature controller on the wine fridge. Keep the temp at 70. you will see a difference.

next is to make sure that your beads are spread out very thinly in your cabinet. beads work best based on surface area exposed.

I will start with this. Thanks.

Is this sufficient enough?

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Johnson-Controls-A19AAT-2C-Temperature-Controller/dp/B0002EAL58/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top"]Amazon.com: Johnson Controls A19AAT-2C Freezer Temperature Controller: Kitchen & Dining@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21m4rDi75PL.@@AMEPARAM@@21m4rDi75PL[/ame]

The reviews looked pretty good.

 

[mgvsquared]

I would also check the calibration of the hygros, I know they are reading the same and what not but I've purchased "precalibrated" that we're off 12-15% ... Couldn't hurt

I will also recheck them. I think when I originally did the salt test on both, they were both off a few RH, but I think it was a few RH too high. So...I might be okay in the end anyway. BUT, I do wish my smokes were a bit dryer.

 

[RonC]

I will start with this. Thanks.

Is this sufficient enough?

Amazon.com: Johnson Controls A19AAT-2C Freezer Temperature Controller: Kitchen & Dining

The reviews looked pretty good.

that will do it

 

[mgvsquared]

Did the salt test on one hygrometer overnight. After 8 hours I read 70F ( which I deliberately set) and 75RH. I will test the other tonight.

Once I get the Johnson, should I recharge the beads and spread them out a little more? I had the pound split into 2 mesh bags with one near the top and one on the fridge bottom. Or is there a suggested way of placement?

 

[audio1der]

If the hygros are accurate, have you tried drying out the beads? I've even left the door of my fridges ajar for a night to help dry them out a little.
One you get that figured out, I'd put all the beads at the bottom; humid air rises so the sticks at the bottom should need the most help.

 

[mgvsquared]

If the hygros are accurate, have you tried drying out the beads? I've even left the door of my fridges ajar for a night to help dry them out a little.
One you get that figured out, I'd put all the beads at the bottom; humid air rises so the sticks at the bottom should need the most help.

I've actually just removed the beads entirely and placed dry (silica) kitty litter on the bottom of the unit. My RH is now holding at 70. I might put a little more to get it down further, but if this is what KL does, I'm sold. I may not even need the temperature controller. I'm in New Orleans, and the ambient RH, most of the year is over 70, so I think that was my main problem. I needed something that would sap humidity from the air fast, because with the cooler running -most- of the time, it's getting a constant influx of higher RH air, regardless of it being sealed. If all it took was a little cheap kitty litter, I feel dumb for struggling for over 7 months with this. :cursing:

 

[audio1der]

Live and learn. You can always bake the beads in your oven to dry them out. That way the'll always be on the absorbtion end as opposed to the humidifying end which most of us need,
If it gets bad you can play with varying amounts of damp-rid or other dessicant which is made to absrob humidity from basements etc, just be careful; it wicks the moisture out of ANYTHING.

 

[Alwayslit]

How do your cigars feel? That is the ultimate test.

 

[mgvsquared]

Some felt very spongy. Too soft for my liking. The good news is that my RH is holding at 68-69. If I can keep it there in the summer, I will be satisfied. That will be the ultimate KL test.

 

[wcintro1]

mgvsquared, I hope I'm not too late or you have fixed the issue. Check out the web site www.cigarsciences.com. It is a new product that maintains the RH where you want it. They sell them from 65% to 75%, with custom orders for 40%. Good luck.