stin187's "Smart" Wineador Build

[stin187]

I've seen a lot of wineador questions being asked recently so I figured I'd show the build I did for my second wineador. I'm pretty happy with this one but I'm always tweaking things. It has wireless hygros throughout and an internet connected temp and humidity monitor as well (I travel a bunch for work). I've also added a heating system in addition to the thermo electric cooling. I've included my parts list with links. Hopefully all of this is helpful to someone. Any questions feel free to ask!


Here she is ... wineador v2.0 with her twin on the side.

Here is a close up of the temp controller mounted it in an empty Oliva box. I thought it looked better than the black project box I used on the first build.


Here is a shot of the guts of the wineador. All cables were run through a hole drilled in the back of the unit and then sealed from both sides with black aquarium sealer. You never see the ugly orange electrical tape with the drawers in so I never bothered to change it.


Here is a shot of how the drawers are set up. Some kitty litter in an aluminium pan in different spots in each of the three plus each has a remote sensor.
Here is the parts list with links ...

-New Air 281e (scratch and dent) http://www.air-n-water.com/product/aw-281e-bl.htm
-1 shelf, 2 drawers, 1 false bottom drawer (Forest or John can make these very well)

Temperature Control System

- STC 1000 Temperature Control http://www.amazon.com/Elitech-All-Purpose-Temperature-Controller-Thermostat/dp/B008KVCPH2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420299283&sr=8-1&keywords=stc-1000
- Under Tank Heating Pad http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-ReptiTherm%C2%AE-Heater-Medium/dp/B0002AQCL4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1420299362&sr=8-2&keywords=terrarium+heating+pad

Drainage System

- Tubing http://www.petsmart.com/supplies/water-changers/aqueon-water-changer-extension-hose-zid36-16766/cat-36-catid-300084?var_id=36-16766&_t=pfm=search
- Large Ball Jar for Collection http://www.walmart.com/ip/Ball-6-Count-Wide-Mouth-64-Ounce-Jars-with-Lids-and-Bands/21290198

Air Circulation System

- Antech Slot Cooling Fan x2 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000051299/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
- 4pin to 3pin adapter x2 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008J0ZS9Q/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
- fan extension cable x2 http://www.amazon.com/Pin-Sleeved-Fan-Cable-extension/dp/B001DIAXIM/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1420299703&sr=8-6&keywords=pc+fan+extension+cable
- Silenex Fan controller http://www.amazon.com/Silenx-IXAFCEX-Channel-External-Controlle/dp/B0030EZLSO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420299644&sr=8-1&keywords=external+pc+fan+controller
- 7 day digital timer http://www.homedepot.com/p/Defiant-15-Amp-7-Day-Plug-In-Digital-Polarized-Timer-49809/203678107

Humidification

-Silica cat litter http://www.petsmart.com/cat/litter-waste-disposal/exquisicat-crystal-low-dust-formula-fragrance-free-cat-litter-zid36-20098/cat-36-catid-200018?var_id=36-20098&_t=pfm=category&pfmvalue=faceted

Monitoring System

- Caliber IV digital Hygrometer http://www.amazon.com/Caliber-Digital-Hygromter-Western-Humidor/dp/B00JXOKQVW/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1420300356&sr=8-4&keywords=caliber+4r+digital+hygrometer
- Wireless Hygrometers and Base Station http://www.ambientweather.com/amws07x3kit.html
- Internet Connected temp and humidity monitor http://www.lacrossetechnology.com/alerts/remote-water-leak-detector-early-warning-alerts.php

 

[problemsolverjc]

Wow....really well done

 

[Whtwtrman79]

Great job stin, so where's the order button lol

Out of curiosity what was your total cost in addition to the winedor cost, how many hours approximately did you have in it labor wise?

 

[stin187]

Great job stin, so where's the order button lol

Out of curiosity what was your total cost in addition to the winedor cost, how many hours approximately did you have in it labor wise?

I never really thought about selling them so no order button yet . Also I never bothered to calculate the total cost (that way I can honestly tell the wife "I don't know" lol). It takes me about an two hours to wire everything up and get it mounted and tested.

 

[Cigarth Vader]

+1 for the ambient weather setup. Same one I use. I'm going to borrow a few of these other ideas too!

 

[SFerrojr]

Nice work Stin! I love the Ambient Weathers, I have one one in every 'dor. Gonna have to look I to those lacrosse units.

 

[daleo8803]

Very cool. How did you wire the fans?

 

[stin187]

Very cool. How did you wire the fans?

The fans are connected to two fan extension cables. Those cables run out the back of the unit and connect to a fan power supply. The power supply is connected to a digital timer set to have them run 5 min every hour.

 

[Cigarsnjeeps]

First off, sorry for all the upcoming questions . I just bought one and am starting this project when it comes in.

Where and how is your drain routed (I couldn't see it in the pic)?
Do thermo's condense a lot?
How is the big jar below the drain so water flows into the jar?
I read somewhere else where someone used beads in a sock or pantyhose or something to collect condensation rather than using a drain. Does that work?

 

[stin187]

Where and how is your drain routed (I couldn't see it in the pic)?

Sorry they are pretty hard to get off the stand they are on. The system I have is pretty simple to install. Take the tubing from the aquarium water exchanger and cut it to your desired length. Unscrew the plate on the bottom of the wine fridge that is around the pipe from the drain. Work some of the faom insulation away from the sides of the pipe then just push the tubing over the drain pipe to fit. Cut a hole the side of the tubing in the ball jar lid and push a bit thru there. Viola a drainage system that keeps the environment of the wineador sealed.

Do thermo's condense a lot?

I was having problems with condensation with mine so I rigged up this system as a solution. I would be leaving them untouched for months at at time and when I came home there was literally a pool of water in the bottom. I'm sure this has to do with conditions and everyone's are different however.

How is the big jar below the drain so water flows into the jar?

I have my wineadors sitting on top of a modified entertainment center with parts cut out to allow for them to sit flat while having the tubing for the drain run unobstructed down to the jars.

I read somewhere else where someone used beads in a sock or pantyhose or something to collect condensation rather than using a drain. Does that work?

I have heard of and seen people do this with success. However I didn't want to risk it with the length of time that these can sit while I'm away. This drainage solution made me feel the most comfortable.

Hope this was helpful and good luck with your build! If there's anything else I can do to help let me know.

 

[Cigarsnjeeps]

Thanks for the reply and answers, I really appreciate it. Prob gonna experiment a little to see what works and what doesnt.

 

[Jesse]

Love the jar idea, much better than the water bottle I did. Same idea but I have to dump mine more often.

Any pics on the fan wiring? I tried to add fans on the board of the wineador and it was pulling too much current and was changing the way the wineador worked. My next plan is to do what another member did and wire it to the ETC unit. Only problem with that is the fans only turn on when the wineador turns on.

 

[cgraunke]

Love the jar idea, much better than the water bottle I did. Same idea but I have to dump mine more often.

Any pics on the fan wiring? I tried to add fans on the board of the wineador and it was pulling too much current and was changing the way the wineador worked. My next plan is to do what another member did and wire it to the ETC unit. Only problem with that is the fans only turn on when the wineador turns on.

Just give the fans their own power supply run through a timer and be done with it.

 

[stin187]

Just give the fans their own power supply run through a timer and be done with it.

That's exactly what I did. Works great and no strain on the pc board of the wineador.

 

[Jesse]

Do the fans run on the same current or do you need some king of invertor to run them on a timer? I thought the fans ran on a lower volt and couldn't be plugged into 110 outlet?

 

[stin187]

They run off of a dedicated fan power supply the step down transformer to 12v is included as a wall wart with the unit
- Silenex Fan controller http://www.amazon.com/Silenx-IXAFCEX-Channel-External-Controlle/dp/B0030EZLSO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420299644&sr=8-1&keywords=external+pc+fan+controller

 

[Jesse]

Okay, that's what I'm missing. Thanks

*edit* guess I didn't notice it in your op up top. Thanks again for all the links and info.

 

[cgraunke]

Do the fans run on the same current or do you need some king of invertor to run them on a timer? I thought the fans ran on a lower volt and couldn't be plugged into 110 outlet?

You won't necessarily need a fan controller, though, unless you need to adjust the speed they are running.
Any wall plug in power supply will do if you have some sitting around from old electronics. (I tend to keep things like that) You just need to match up voltages and current consumption.
I'd have to double check, but I think my fans and the control power on my timer were either both 12VDC or 24VDC, so I only needed one DC power supply.
The timer should provide you with dry contacts that are just opening and closing your circuit, so for the most part it really doesn't matter if you use 5VDC, 12VDC, 24VDC, or even 115VAC fans, as long as you power them accordingly.
Just remember, you'll need a separate supply if your timer isn't the same.
Then, look the the power rating of the fans you have times the total number of fans. Add that up plus at least 25% of your largest load to size your power supply.
Example: If you have four fans @ 1A/ea (way bigger than what you will be buying, but makes the math easier) 1+1+1+1+0.25 = 4.25A, so you'd want a supply at least that big. Bigger is usually not going to be an issue, but would be more expensive if you have to buy one.

Edit:
This was assuming a basic industrial control timer. Using the light timer Justin used above you won't have the dry contacts, the power supply will plug right in to the timer.

 

[cgraunke]

They run off of a dedicated fan power supply the step down transformer to 12v is included as a wall wart with the unit
- Silenex Fan controller http://www.amazon.com/Silenx-IXAFCEX-Channel-External-Controlle/dp/B0030EZLSO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420299644&sr=8-1&keywords=external pc fan controller

That's a pretty slick little unit!

 

[Smoqman]

That's a pretty slick little unit!

My first girlfriend said that....