Question for all you wineador experts

[hawaiian]

I'm having a hell of a time stabilizing my humidity in my wineador because I'm running it 24/7 and need your expertise.

I have a 12 bottle vinotemp with 3 drawers. Right now the top drawer is 67F/53%, middle drawer is 65F/63%, and bottom drawer is 62F/65%. I'm trying to get the top drawer to at least 60%.

In the last few weeks I think I read every single thread with "vinotemp" or "wineador" or "humidity problem" in it and still have questions.

It seems the fan or the cooling unit is the one causing the low RH in the top drawer and I don't have a choice but to run the unit 24/7 because my ambient temp is so high. I unplugged the unit to see if that theory is true and within 15 mins all 3 drawers were spot on at 65%!!!

Now here is my thinking... top drawer has the most spacing, about 1 1/2" so more airflow I'm guessing. Other 2 drawers have about 3/8" gap at the most so not much movement there. If I understand the humidity/density thing correctly the cold/humid air will lower to the bottom and hot/less dense air will rise to the top which explains my readings.

I'm not looking at ETC as an option because it is never below 75F in my house so I have to run it all the time. Will adding some fan to help circulate the air even the drawers out? I was hoping the fan in the back of the unit was enough to move the air around but obviously it is not doing it's job with the drawers in place. Oust fan on ebay or maybe I can hardwire couple PC fans and face them up? If I can get all 3 drawers to be around 60-70F and 60-65% range I'm all good.

Sorry for the long post but I think I've exhausted all options and need some hlep. Thanks for looking.

 

[CigarNut]

Some questions:

- Are your beads all together or spread around?

- Have you tried moving the beads around (all on the top, spread around, all on the bottom, etc.)?

- Do your drawers have covers?

- If drawers are not covered, is it possible to get a cover for the top drawer?

 

[hawaiian]

Hi Michael, thanks for responding so quickly. I should've just emailed you instead lol.

Some questions:

- Are your beads all together or spread around?
Yes, I actually split the 1lb of beads I got from you into 8 separate baggies and I have 2 per drawer and 2 on the bottom shelf.
- Have you tried moving the beads around (all on the top, spread around, all on the bottom, etc.)?
Yup, I tried various combinations and results are pretty much same. I had all the beads in the top drawer at one point and still the same
- Do your drawers have covers?
No, they are open with slots on the ottom
- If drawers are not covered, is it possible to get a cover for the top drawer?
That is a great idea. I might look into getting maybe a plexi cover

I just ordered 2 oust fans off ebay so we'll see if that makes any difference.

 

[speeddemon11L]

I'm not sure I understand why you are so quick to write off an ETC. My house is typically around 75 deg and with the ETC set to 65-67, my wineador runs often, but not constantly. (approximately 15 mins on and 30 mins off...but I haven't put the clock on it yet). My humidity drops while the cooler is on, but then recovers quickly during the off period.

Also note that many wine coolers run the FAN constantly, but the cooler itself is shutoff and only turns on for short periods. That's the biggest reason why I got the ETC. I didn't want the fan running 24/7.

 

[Jwrussell]

You are going to have issues with the cooler running non-stop. That's going to make things difficult no matter what you do. I know you said you don't want to use an ETC, but I would reconsider.

That being said, we should clarify the following.

If I understand the humidity/density thing correctly the cold/humid air will lower to the bottom and hot/less dense air will rise to the top which explains my readings.

Yes, the cold air will be towards the bottom and the warm higher up, but the "less dense air" you speak of WILL BE the more humid air, not the colder air at the bottom. The readings you have actually show that if you were to convert the RH numbers into absolute humidity (the AH for the bottom and middle are about the same, with the top having the higher Absolute Humdity).

Your issue is not really your humidity, as you've shown with turning the cooler off, but with your temperature. You will have issues so long as you have such a variance in temperatures from bottom to top. Even if you get things settled at the right RH, if you don't address the temps, you might still end up with some over or under humidified sticks.

 

[OB-Left]

I'm having a hell of a time stabilizing my humidity in my wineador because I'm running it 24/7 and need your expertise.

I have a 12 bottle vinotemp with 3 drawers. Right now the top drawer is 67F/53%, middle drawer is 65F/63%, and bottom drawer is 62F/65%. I'm trying to get the top drawer to at least 60%.

In the last few weeks I think I read every single thread with "vinotemp" or "wineador" or "humidity problem" in it and still have questions.

I'm not looking at ETC as an option because it is never below 75F in my house so I have to run it all the time. Will adding some fan to help circulate the air even the drawers out? I was hoping the fan in the back of the unit was enough to move the air around but obviously it is not doing it's job with the drawers in place. Oust fan on ebay or maybe I can hardwire couple PC fans and face them up? If I can get all 3 drawers to be around 60-70F and 60-65% range I'm all good.

First things first. You have plugged the drain hole correct?
Second, the wine cooler is designed to cool to a temperature below, the temp. that we really need. From your post you have a temp of 62 deg. on the bottom. Ten deg. lower than you need. The ETC will fix this problem. You can't turn the cooler to a higher temp without one. I have mine set between 68-72. Remember the cooler is an insulated box. It will cool to the correct temp. and shut off with an ETC (including the fan), regardless of your house temp. Jason is correct about the AH, when air cools it can carry less water, so despite the higher RH % for the bottom, there is less water down there. An ETC to shut off the cooling, will allow the air to contain more water, and will bring you much closer to your desired range.

 

[hawaiian]

Thanks for the temp/RH lessons everyone. I'm picking up an ETC tonight to fight the temp/RH battle. I really hope after this I can finally relax and not have to worry about my cigars everyday.

 

[OB-Left]

Keep us posted on how it goes.

 

[CigarNut]

Hi Michael, thanks for responding so quickly. I should've just emailed you instead lol.



I just ordered 2 oust fans off ebay so we'll see if that makes any difference.

Not sure that the Oust fans will help much; the plexiglas cover may help shield the cigars on top from the brunt of the cooling unit.

I am not as familiar with the ETC, but anything that will reduce the use if the cooling unit will help.

I have customers using HCM beads in all climates, but I don't want to force you to use something that you are unhappy with. If you find that the HCM beads are not working for you, please let me know -- you can return them and I will refund your money.

 

[hawaiian]

Not sure that the Oust fans will help much; the plexiglas cover may help shield the cigars on top from the brunt of the cooling unit.

I am not as familiar with the ETC, but anything that will reduce the use if the cooling unit will help.

I have customers using HCM beads in all climates, but I don't want to force you to use something that you are unhappy with. If you find that the HCM beads are not working for you, please let me know -- you can return them and I will refund your money.

Noooo it's quite the opposite. I love how your beads work, thinking of picking up more if it'll help stabilize the RH faster between the cooling cycles.

 

[Jwrussell]

If you find that the HCM beads are not working for you, please let me know -- you can return them and I will refund your money.

:thumbsup:

That is some awesome CS, right there! And though this may be Off-topic, I want to say a quick thank you for how quickly you processed and shipped my recent order. I couldn't believe it when they showed up on my porch that quickly.

 

[PLUSH]

If you find that the HCM beads are not working for you, please let me know -- you can return them and I will refund your money.

I also find that very admirable. I may take you up on that offer as I am thinking of going to an electronic humidification system.

 

[Mutombo]

Sounds like you already have your answer, but I have to agree with others here that the ETC should help even things out. Good luck and let us know how it goes!

 

[CigarNut]

I also find that very admirable. I may take you up on that offer as I am thinking of going to an electronic humidification system.

Just ship them back to me (you have the shipping address on the invoice, or you can get it from me via PM).

 

[RonC]

I also find that very admirable. I may take you up on that offer as I am thinking of going to an electronic humidification system.

beads and electronic humidifiers work very well together. There are plenty of us who use both in our cabinets. Take advantage of the best features of both types of humidification.

 

[hawaiian]

Ok update...

The ETC came in and immediately I went and installed it


the ranco controller wiring is done...


hazard area...lol


look at the difference between the built-in and Ranco... vinotemp sensor sucks


reward for a job well done!


So... I got the ETC set at 64-67 and the temp ranges from 68-70 inside the vinotemp. The RH with the cooling unit running ranges from 61 bottom to 58 top. When the cooling unit stops it settles at 65 within minutes. It runs for about 15mins and turns off for about 30-45mins. So far so good.
My cigars seem a little dry so I'll let it run as is for few weeks and update again.

Thanks everyone for changing my mind about the ETC. I think the temperature alone is already better for the cigars. I can live with 68-70* and RH in the 60s.

-hawaiian

 

[Jwrussell]

Looks good! :thumbsup: Glad to hear this worked out for you.