Advice on how to lower heat level in humidor with No air cond. at home.

[JohnnyFlake]

Originally Posted by bazookajoe

This isn't true. The moisture that collects on the blue ice pack is drawn out of the air which drops the RH. I've had the RH drop from 70% to around 60% every time I've tried it.

It's difficult to debate this, since we are apparently having different results. My only thought is that the size of the coolers may effect the end result. I have used one icepack, with very little sweating, and no effect on the RH, in a 150 qt cooler. What size cooler have you used the icepack in?

[bazookajoe]

Originally Posted by JohnnyFlake

It's difficult to debate this, since we are apparently having different results. My only thought is that the size of the coolers may effect the end result. I have used one icepack, with very little sweating, and no effect on the RH, in a 150 qt cooler. What size cooler have you used the icepack in?

It's an 82 qt. cooler. I tried it 3 different times over the course of a month and the same thing happened each time. The temp dropped about 5 degrees but the RH dropped about 10 points. I think the amount of air space might have an impact more than the size of the cooler. The only other factor I can think of is that I have a circulating (computer) fan on a timer so maybe moving the air around may have exposed more of it to the ice pack causing more condensation...

[wharfrathoss]

i don't think it should matter if the moisture is in the air (RH) or condensed on the ice pack in the form of water drops, it's still the same amount of moisture & the reading should stay the same-hygros will drop the RH as temp drops, it's just the way they read IME-i'm not a humidity expert, so take it w/a grain of salt, but it comes from what i've experienced w/mine-i just wrap the ice packs in a t shirt & switch 'em out once a day, they drop 7 to 11 degrees in a 50qt. cooler

[JohnnyFlake]

This has become very interesting, with respect to the different results we are having.

wharfrathoss also has good results, with a slightly different set up and a smaller cooler.

As I stated earlier, I have a 150qt marine cooler, which are sealed a bit better than standard coolers. I also use two Oust Fans in my cooler. They run five minutes on and fifteen minutes off, and I have then both running, and off, at about the same times. When I do use the icepack, I place it in the center, high up in the cooler, near the top, in a plastic tray which catches any sweat that may occur, however, the sweat is really minimal. I have about a pound of 65% beads in the center of the cooler and at the bottom. I also use two Caliber III Hygrometers, one high at one end of the cooler, and the other low at the other end. I also change the icepack, when I use them, which is usually in July and August, once a day, in the mornings. With this set up the icepack will drop the overall temp, within the cooler, by about 5/6 degrees.

[demiurgic]

thanks for the feedback, and our respective points of view.

I just got back into my place and checked the humi after 3 days of not opening it. STILL A MIGHTY HIGH 78 degrees and 73% RH. OUTRAGEOUS, and most concerning to me.
Here are my options after reading all the posts, please correct me if I am wrong here with my final decision.

I play tetrus with my propane freezer which is TINY and barely capable of storing all our food.
So that rules out the ice packs. Besides, changing ice packs day in day out is not happening since I travel about.

We have an exposed foundation, a cabin raised 5-7 feet off the ground for better air circulation and I am gonna get a cooler place the humi in it, and hope for the best.


demi.

[nozero]

Originally Posted by JohnnyFlake

Yes, they will sweat a little, however, the sweat created is drawn from the environment they are in. In this case it's the cooler and the only moisture that's available is what's in the cooler. There is no added moisture, and the RH is not effected at all!

Thanks, I didn't think about that...