Vinotemp 12 Bottle Wine Cellar

[Volusianator]

Not sure what it is as I don't have a wine cooler humidor, but there's some sort of thermoelectric nuclear something or other that you should have or should not have. Again, don't know exactly what it is, but find out first!

 

[Moro]

Thermoelectric.

 

[Jfire]

Thermoelectric.

Which I believe all Vinotemp use no matter the size.

 

[dpricenator]

I do not think mine is Thermoelectric, and it holds just fine. Not sure what the acctuall storage capabilities of that one is, but it seems a bit small. maybe 5-6 boxes max. beads and an oust fan will work fine for humidity. You do not need to add cedar to it, the cedar in the boxes will do just fine.

 

[Moro]

Which I believe all Vinotemp use no matter the size.

Nae, but it's their "common" line, so probably the one ye'll find.

 

[Headbanger]

don't they require active humidification.

yeah, but so does anything you make a humidor.

I believe most wine coolers will need an active RH system. During the summer months when you want a wine cooler to keep things cool they suck the RH right out of the cooler. For my set up an Oasis was needed and I keep 1lb of beads in there as well to absorb any excess.

A Few other things: My Avanti EWC28 is a 28 bottle wine cooler is almost 3 cubic feet large (more like 2.6 cubic feet interior). I can not see how a 12 bottle will be 2.6 cubic feet interior. They might mean the outside dimentions, you better check.

If you buy one of these smaller type sytems is going to be the same thing is someone that buys a 100 ct humidor. Next thing you know you will need another system or two for more storage. Keeping 3 or 4 of these type systems is going to be more a pain in your ass then if you get something larger then you need and maintain that one system.

 

[Donk]

If you have a 28 bottle wine cooler, Even with the thermoelectric plate running you would be a little light with just 1 lb of beads. I have almost 2 lbs in my wine cooler. 1 large container on the bottom and a smaller container up top. I use two CPU fans istead of an oust fan. I think the Oust fans are too small to move enough air to make it worth while. I would say if you are going to go just passive humidification you need roughly 2 pounds of beads to keep the humidity at a solid 65% during the summer months.

 

[Donk]

Is this worth picking up for $25? :scratchhe

Dude I would get if be a cool singles storage.

 

[Jfire]

I hate to argue with elders and know that everyones conditions and where they live are diff. But right on Heartfelts site it has the math. If you measure your vino 28 and do the math. It comes out to 0.86 lbs of beads. Now I agree that more beads is better, Im just saying I did the measurements and math before I ordered. I also again state that Im newere here and would not like to rumble anyones cage. I also believe because I have a huge amount of spanish cedar it helps to regulate RH. Also how is it possible to "suck out" rh in the summer when most months they RH is high in alot of the US. Maybe becasue my storage is in a cooler basement but it is still humid in the summer that is why I must use a big dehumidifier in the summer. Just my thoughts of course. Im just not getting why active needs to be used Ive never had a problem and got mine at the end of last summer.

 

[Headbanger]

I hate to argue with elders and know that everyones conditions and where they live are diff. But right on Heartfelts site it has the math. If you measure your vino 28 and do the math. It comes out to 0.86 lbs of beads. Now I agree that more beads is better, Im just saying I did the measurements and math before I ordered. I also again state that Im newere here and would not like to rumble anyones cage. I also believe because I have a huge amount of spanish cedar it helps to regulate RH. Also how is it possible to "suck out" rh in the summer when most months they RH is high in alot of the US. Maybe becasue my storage is in a cooler basement but it is still humid in the summer that is why I must use a big dehumidifier in the summer. Just my thoughts of course. Im just not getting why active needs to be used Ive never had a problem and got mine at the end of last summer.

HF is not taking into account the thermoelectric or even worse the compressor systems sucking out the air, just baseing the effectiveness of the beads for a set space.

You live in a colder state and have in the basement. Rarely does the inside temps pass lower 70s in the autumn, winter, or spring where you are so I see why you would not need an active system. When these run hard during the summer they will pull RH out depending how hot it gets. My office the AC gets turned way up over the weekends so it runs a lot. With only beads the RH stayed mid 50s. Beads, cedar, glass of water or any other passive system will not replace RH fast enough for me to be comfortable, so an active system was required.

IMO if you live in a cooler envirnment yeah around or keep sticks in a cooler basement all the time I think a wine cooler is useless and a waste of money.

 

[Jfire]

I can see alot of your points but most states(northern) including providences in Canada) reach temps of 100 or greater including IL in the summer for a month or longer. And no basement is going to keep a house in the 60s at those temps. That was the reasoning at least for me to drop the dinero.

 

[dpricenator]

All I can say is that when my cooler kicks on, the RH drops 15-20 % for a bit. it doesn't come on much, but when it does, it's noice to have the extra beads in it, so it cam recover quickly.

 

[cba191]

I got a 16 bottle wine fridge a couple months ago. My only mistake? I need a bigger one now. :argh:

 

[Mtmouse]

I have 1 pound of Heartfelts 65% beads in mine, divide in 2, 1/2 pound mesh bags. I haven't had to top-up the beads in 8 months. The temp is set at 66 degrees and I leave it plugged in all the time.

I placed a piece of black electrical tape over the drain hole and one bags of beads sits over top of it any excess humidity that drips down is absorbed by the beads. Th other 1/2 pound sits in the top drawer.

I have three Spanish cedar drawers and two shelves in there, which helps maintain the humidity.

If you have any further questions, feel free to ask; I'll do my best to answer.

 

[sportsmedjosh]

I got a 16 bottle wine fridge a couple months ago. My only mistake? I need a bigger one now. :argh:

Can you post pictures of your 16, I'm worried that this 16 is going to be small.

I have 1 pound of Heartfelts 65% beads in mine, divide in 2, 1/2 pound mesh bags. I haven't had to top-up the beads in 8 months. The temp is set at 66 degrees and I leave it plugged in all the time.

I placed a piece of black electrical tape over the drain hole and one bags of beads sits over top of it any excess humidity that drips down is absorbed by the beads. Th other 1/2 pound sits in the top drawer.

I have three Spanish cedar drawers and two shelves in there, which helps maintain the humidity.

If you have any further questions, feel free to ask; I'll do my best to answer.

Thanks, I know you'll be able to help maximize my space.

 

[Doc]

I just got a set of 2 drawers and 3 shelves from Mtmouse and they have worked great in mine. humidity holds a steady 67% with a pound of beads. I also keep mine on all the time but have the temp set at 65 degrees.

 

[petroleumengineer]

I have a Vino 28 from Target, drawers and shelves from mtmouse, one pound of beads from Heartfelt, two Oust fans and it's plum full of cigars.

When I was first getting it going, I had some moderate swings in RH, but when it was filling up and since then it hardly ever moves RH. I leave it plugged in all the time and haven't had any problems besides the 1 year old occasionally playing with the temperature.

You definitely want Thermoelectric. It has a cold plate/hot plate cooling device that does not use any air exchange. I.e. the plate on the inside is cool with a fan over it blowing into the inside of the fridge. The plate on the outside is hot with a fan blowing air off of it to cool the plate. Thermoelectric probably won't work in very hot environments (garages, etc) because the fan on the outside can't cool the plate down enough. Probably too much info, but...

I was looking at that same 12 bottle for the office. I think it'd be great for singles and an occasional box!