Having some issues with my Vino...

[Stew]

Hey guys,

Ive got a vinotemp 16 bottle wineador that has been acting up lately.

When I first set it up almost almost 2 years ago, I was using it with 1lb of 65% heartfelt beads and was using the cooling unit set at its highest (66*). Life was good. I used it like that for a few months.

Then I moved. It was in a basement and I didnt use the cooling function because the basement was always around 65* and again...life was good...my RH was always 65% + or - 2%.

I moved again...now in an apartment. I started using the cooling function again and started noticing a lot of condensation on the floor of my unit. I also started having issues with my RH drifting. It got super low (55) so I un-plugged it. Then it swung WAY high (75). Even with my beads removed, or half a lb of dry beads, the RH stayed no lower than 73.

Its hot today, so I tried plugging it in again and cooling. as SOON as I plugged it in the RH dropped from 73 to 61 in a matter of minutes.

I even bought a new adjustable Hygro and calibration kit to be sure that it wasnt just my hygrometer going wacko. now both of my hygros are spot on and read within 1% of eachother.

Im totally baffled....any suggestions appreciated. Unfortunately I think it may be too late for my stash since it went very dry and unnoticed...sucks. Thanks...

 

[LoneSmoker]

Yep... Sounds about right. Welcome to the amazing wineador club. Mine is doing the same. It mostly has to do with the internal fan/ heatsinks, or rather coldsinks. Top RH is a lot higher than the bottom right? I have put in some fans to help with this. I have 1lb 65% beads on the top and a pound on the bottom. The top is bone dry the bottom is kinda wet. I think KL will be your answer from my experimentation. I have decided to go back to an active/passive solution and it seems to be leveling out. Also, how much SC is in it and how full is it? Also, I have rigged up a condinsation catcher that allows it to be evaporated back into the unit.

 

[orangedog]

Couple initial reactions here...

First... what do you mean by your stash going dry... how long, and what is "dry"? They could be totally salvageable... if they sat at 55 for a couple of weeks, it is not the end of the world. Just let them sit in a good environment for a while and you'll be ok.

Second... what type of vinotemp do you have? If it is a 16 bottle I'm guessing compressor? You can expect the rh to swing whenever it runs, especially if it is dropping it from a high external temp. So that first initial drop isn't the end of the world. Keep plenty of beads in there - 1lb sounds good to me - along with spare cedar... empty boxes, drawers, shelves, whatever. That will help minimize the fluctuations. Even placing the beads in multiple spots should help.

As for condensation... I would set up some type of trap, funnel, etc. to route the water somewhere. Either into a dishpan that you can empty, or, my preferred solution, back into the beads to make an enclosed system. I'm sure there are mixed thoughts on this out there. Also note that this doesn't work if you are using the Shilala beads. The condensation is normal, especially on that first time you plug it in with a high external temp. Condensation will be less the less it has to run.

Feel free to post additional detail or ask follow up questions... happy to discuss.

 

[Stew]

Couple initial reactions here...

First... what do you mean by your stash going dry... how long, and what is "dry"? They could be totally salvageable... if they sat at 55 for a couple of weeks, it is not the end of the world. Just let them sit in a good environment for a while and you'll be ok.

Second... what type of vinotemp do you have? If it is a 16 bottle I'm guessing compressor? You can expect the rh to swing whenever it runs, especially if it is dropping it from a high external temp. So that first initial drop isn't the end of the world. Keep plenty of beads in there - 1lb sounds good to me - along with spare cedar... empty boxes, drawers, shelves, whatever. That will help minimize the fluctuations. Even placing the beads in multiple spots should help.

As for condensation... I would set up some type of trap, funnel, etc. to route the water somewhere. Either into a dishpan that you can empty, or, my preferred solution, back into the beads to make an enclosed system. I'm sure there are mixed thoughts on this out there. Also note that this doesn't work if you are using the Shilala beads. The condensation is normal, especially on that first time you plug it in with a high external temp. Condensation will be less the less it has to run.

Feel free to post additional detail or ask follow up questions... happy to discuss.

By dry I mean...Im not sure how long they sat at 55...I just got a puppy and sort of have been neglecting my humi. Could have been a week or more. I smoked two sticks back to back and they were noticeably dry.

Its definitely a thermoelectric type. Im 100% sure. Its never acted like this before.

Theres plenty of cedar trays and about 80 sticks.

Im going to place some beads in under the drain and try that. I may have spoken too soon. Both hygros were spot on and now the one on top is about 3% off from the one in the middle...well see. ITs cooling now with both 1/2 lb bags of beads re moisturized and the middle (new, calibrated) hygro is reading 63%.

Gaaah...I dunno...maybe it just went crazy because of the condensation and i've got to get it settled back in.

 

[Jwrussell]

I wouldn't worry too much about the cigars, they'll probably be fine. The only real worry I would have would be bringing them up to 65% too fast. Give it some time and see what it does.

Couple of thoughts? Didn't the weather in MI just change (to warm) as well? Is your drain plugged?

 

[orangedog]

Gaaah...I dunno...maybe it just went crazy because of the condensation and i've got to get it settled back in.

Yeah... this is probably the best approach. Give it a while to see if it stabilizes... then, let your cigars sit for a while... I'm a fan of the multiple month approach but you probably don't need that long. Just based on these two posts (and not seeing anything, of course), it sounds like things should be ok. Even a week at 55 isn't the end of a cigar. I thought I had read somewhere that at 55, most if not all of the oils are still maintained.

 

[twenty5]

Make sure the drain is plugged.

Make a drainage line of some sort to a bowl or plate with 65% beads in it to collect the moisture.

Put a secondary fan in there somewhere on the bottom blowing from one side

Buy an ETC so that it only runs periodically. (Do this last, obviously this is the most expensive)

I cant guarantee that will work obviously buy I assume my climate is similar to yours and thats what worked for me and a ton of other people. You might still get minor swings like this (5 degrees and 5% humidity) but nothing drastic like you are talking about.