65*/65% help

[LoneSmoker]

Hey guys. I finally got my wineador completed. It been full and running great for a few weeks now. It's an Edgestar 28, three full double drawers, 2 shelves with 7 or so boxes, Ranco thermostat, Cigar Oasis with three fans, 2 pounds of dry 65% beads.
I have had the Ranco set at 69 with a 2* variance and the RH was holding a steady 65%. Now that everything is stable, I want to keep my sticks at 65 degrees. I know the lower the temp the lower the RH will go, but with an active/passive set up should I not be able to kind of force it to 65%? Its staying at 58% - 60% at 65 degrees. Any suggestions?

 

[Jwrussell]

Lee,

It's not that the lower the temp, the lower the RH will go, but that the lower the temp, the less total moisture can be held in the air. You should be able to get to 65*/65%, it is just a bit harder to maintain because it is easier to overshoot that. Honestly, I wouldn't expect that your issue would be the RH being too low. Especially since you were at 69*/65% prior to dropping the temp. If anything, your RH should have jumped, not gone down. How long has it been since you adjusted the temp down?

 

[LoneSmoker]

Well I've been aging with it since Monday. Setting it from 69* to 65* by one degree at a time then back up trying to fine that sweet spot. But I keep it there probably a few hours at a time. I'm worried that if I keep it in the low 60% to high 50% I might damage my stash...

 

[Jwrussell]

Well I've been aging with it since Monday. Setting it from 69* to 65* by one degree at a time then back up trying to fine that sweet spot. But I keep it there probably a few hours at a time. I'm worried that if I keep it in the low 60% to high 50% I might damage my stash...

Not at all. Low 60's (%) is nothing, many even prefer it. High 50's (%) is starting to get in the worrisome range, but not for short periods. You need to give the system time to stabilize. Drop it to 67* and leave it for a week. If everything settles nicely, drop it again by a degree or two and leave it for another week. Keep an eye on it, but really, you should be fine.

 

[orangedog]

Well I've been aging with it since Monday. Setting it from 69* to 65* by one degree at a time then back up trying to fine that sweet spot. But I keep it there probably a few hours at a time. I'm worried that if I keep it in the low 60% to high 50% I might damage my stash...

Not at all. Low 60's (%) is nothing, many even prefer it. High 50's (%) is starting to get in the worrisome range, but not for short periods. You need to give the system time to stabilize. Drop it to 67* and leave it for a week. If everything settles nicely, drop it again by a degree or two and leave it for another week. Keep an eye on it, but really, you should be fine.

Agreed - I've found that for CCs, I like the 60-62% range, for NCs more of the 65-67% range. Amazing how those few percentage points seem to make a difference.

 

[LoneSmoker]

Seems I am always trying to rush things. lol. Ok I'll start dropping it a degree per week instead of playing with it all week.