Stupid Wineador

[Palmettoguy]

Ok, so, the wineador isn't stupid...rather it's the owner.

I purchased a Frigidaire 38 Bottle Two-Zone Wine Cooler a few months back and never had a need to run it since it's been cold here. Well, this week was warm and the temp inside the wineador got to 71, so I turned it on.

Once I did that, the RH started dropping down rather quickly. All my humidity was being drawn to the coils in the rear and icing them over. I ended up turning it off and having to put it down in the basement where its much cooler.

Totally my fault for not doing enough research on the subject. I should have gotten a thermoelectric model and not a compressor model.

 

[De46vil]

That sucks to hear, but it doesn't sound like this is the wineador's fault.

 

[Palmettoguy]

That sucks to hear, but it doesn't sound like this is the wineador's fault.

Nope it isn't...That's why I said it was my fault :rolling:

 

[JNT]

i guess its not to late to sell and put the money towards the model you need.

 

[Palmettoguy]

i guess its not to late to sell and put the money towards the model you need.

I bought it from Lowes on the cheap (floor model/military discount) so Im not too upset that its not gonna work for me. I'll just stock it with beer :stretchgr

Wifey nixed my idea on getting an Avallo today so I just ordered a NewAir model, an ETC, some fans, ect.

Oh well, at least I have something to tinker with on the weekends...and the wife is still happy.

 

[Tobacco Giant]

I bought it from Lowes on the cheap (floor model/military discount) so Im not too upset that its not gonna work for me. I'll just stock it with beer :stretchgr

Wifey nixed my idea on getting an Avallo today so I just ordered a NewAir model, an ETC, some fans, ect.

Oh well, at least I have something to tinker with on the weekends...and the wife is still happy.

Just an FYI, my newair has given me nothing but problems from the get go. I'm on my 3rd unit and I'm not sure it cools more then 6 degrees below the ambient temperature.

 

[jowee77]

Just an FYI, my newair has given me nothing but problems from the get go. I'm on my 3rd unit and I'm not sure it cools more then 6 degrees below the ambient temperature.

Agreed...I ended up buying an Edgestar after the Newair didn't work. The cooling took forever to drop a few degrees so it was constantly running.

 

[Palmettoguy]

Just an FYI, my newair has given me nothing but problems from the get go. I'm on my 3rd unit and I'm not sure it cools more then 6 degrees below the ambient temperature.

Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Palmettoguy]

Agreed...I ended up buying an Edgestar after the Newair didn't work. The cooling took forever to drop a few degrees so it was constantly running.

Wow...I didn't realize so many ppl were having issues with them.

 

[JLB]

Agreed...I ended up buying an Edgestar after the Newair didn't work. The cooling took forever to drop a few degrees so it was constantly running.

Don't mean to hijack your thread Mike, but Jowee, how does your edgestar work? I've been keeping my eye on the scratch and dents.

 

[jowee77]

Edgestar is working great! I have it fully equipped with fans, ETC, and drip tray. I use about 2.5 lbs of HF beads and it stays rock solid at 65% RH!

 

[TommyGunz]

I feel it is also important to have consistency with whatever storage system that choose to use. I have a wineador that I have upstairs and it stays relatively stable with temperature for the desktop that sits on top of it. However, I live in a northern climate and run the heat in the winter and AC in the summer. I would be fooling myself to think that the desktop is at the same consistent temperature all the time, despite my best efforts with my HVAC.

So, what is the purpose of the wineador? We buy them to convert in order to keep a temperature of our cigars below the temperature of potential beetle hatching and for a more optimal aging temperature, right? We also know that RH is dependent on temperature and will fluctuate quickly with temperature swings making a passive system with beads struggling to catch up. Temperature can also do the same to the cedar that we put in for shelves and drawers to help stabilize the otherwise plastic and glass box.

I feel the key to a wineador, regardless of brand, is to make sure that the system is running constantly. I have had best results when making sure the system stays plugged in and on, regardless of the external environment. After all the system controls the internal temperature. Does it not make sense to have a system performing all the time, and stabilized with all the drawers and beads in the wineador prior to putting in the cigars. Then, I don't see any reason to ever unplug my system as it is set up for a stable, desirable RH at a constant temperature that the wineador maintains.

I guess long story short, my experience has shown best results when the system is never "turned on/off" but rather; I choose the Ron Popeil approach and "set it, and forget it".

 

[jowee77]

Mine is always plugged in and turned on but it only kicks on when the temp reaches a certain point. What I meant in my earlier post was that the cooling unit of the Newair unit was constantly running because it was incapable cooling the wineador below the ambient temp. I have had no problems with passive humidification to this point

 

[ItalianCustom]

I have a magic chef 12 bottle and love it. Need to fill it back up. Getting sparse, but set at 67* with a lb of beads in 2 bags and 2 65* boveda, i never worry about it

 

[Tobacco Giant]

Agreed...I ended up buying an Edgestar after the Newair didn't work. The cooling took forever to drop a few degrees so it was constantly running.

I need to PM Forest and see if the drawers he built for the Newair will fit any other model. I can buy another wine fridge, I couldn't swing another fridge and more drawers.

 

[Palmettoguy]

Anyone know the INSIDE dimensions of the NewAir? I can only find the outside dimensions...

 

[Tobacco Giant]

Anyone know the INSIDE dimensions of the NewAir? I can only find the outside dimensions...

I can measure mine a bit later today. Out of curiosity, are you asking to calculate how many pounds of beads you'll need?

 

[sonarman]

I can measure mine a bit later today. Out of curiosity, are you asking to calculate how many pounds of beads you'll need?

If so I used the outside dimensions which equaled about 2 lbs of beads and doubled my order for a total of 4lbs. :dunno: I'm anal like that.:rofl:

 

[Palmettoguy]

I can measure mine a bit later today. Out of curiosity, are you asking to calculate how many pounds of beads you'll need?

Thanks :thumbsup:

I'm looking for the dimensions because I'm playing Tetris in my head, lol.
Since the NewAir is smaller than my Frigidaire, I'm trying to figure out if all my boxes will fit as well as if there will be room for drawers from Forrest.

 

[Tobacco Giant]

Width - 14.5 in
Height - 24.5 in
Depth - 13 in

If you're interested in what the drawer set up will look like, check out my thread:

http://www.botl.org/community/forums/showthread.php?t=57934

And luckily enough, Forrest told me the Edgestar 28 bottle is an exact match for the drawers so if you have the same problems I've had, you can always get an Edgestar and still keep the drawers (I just ordered mine today, on sale for $190, free shipping at compact appliance).

Good luck with your set up, man, make sure you throw up some pictures when it's done!

PS - Forrest is the man.