Help Vinotemp or Humidor for a beginner

[Cigar Smoker NY]

Hello guys! Im a new cigar smoker im from Lonng Island NY and this is my first post here! im looking for some advice. I was considering buying a vinotemp 28 bottle after some research but my house is cold always 55 at night , 65 degrees in the day. Would I benefit from getting the vinotemp or just get a big humidor since its always cold and the vinotemp only cools. Are there any humidors that add heat to 70 degrees?

[newlifetaxidermy]

Temperature is only a problem if it gets above 80deg. That is when beetle larvae can hatch. I bought a vinotemp off craigslist for $25 with the cooling part broken. The fan and light work perfectly. The fan helps keep air moving which helps the RH stay stable throughout the vinotemp. The seal is great and it holds a ton of cigars.

[Cigar Smoker NY]

If its 55 degrees room temp will the vinotemp maintain 66 degrees?

[newlifetaxidermy]

No...it only cools.

[ChokeOnSmoke]

For a beginner, I'd highly recommend a cooler. Very low cost & extremely easy to properly maintain the humidity level you want.

[Garzilla]

I live in Connecticut, and just bought a Vinotemp 28. I have 2 lbs of 65% Heartfelt beads, one bag near the top, and one at the bottom over the drain (which I sealed). It's holding steady at 65 deg, but the RH is steady at 70% using a newly Boveda calibrated hygrometer. Any suggestions for bringing down the RH to 65%?

[Herf N Turf]

Originally Posted by Garzilla

I live in Connecticut, and just bought a Vinotemp 28. I have 2 lbs of 65% Heartfelt beads, one bag near the top, and one at the bottom over the drain (which I sealed). It's holding steady at 65 deg, but the RH is steady at 70% using a newly Boveda calibrated hygrometer. Any suggestions for bringing down the RH to 65%?

Any chance your beads are too moist? If so, take them out of the cooler for a couple days to dry, then check again.

[Garzilla]

I don't think so. I put them in the vino immediately after receiving them from Heartfelt and transferring them to mesh bags (also from Heartfelt). If anything, they were a little on the "white" (dry) side. I just ordered some cedar trays from cheaphumidors.com. I'm hoping these will help.

One thing I'm wondering (and the reason I posted in this thread) is that it has been on the cool side here, so the refrigeration/fan is probably not running very often, so there isn't much dehumidification going on ...

[Herf N Turf]

Next question. Where's the hygro located? If it's in the top, youre getting a false reading. Moist air rises, so if the hygro's up top, it's gonna see more humidity. Try putting it in the middle and on bottom and see what you get. Next, test the hygro against your beads. Put the hygro in a small container with about an ounce of beads for 24hrs and see what you get.

[Garzilla]

The hygro is at the bottom. I'll give your idea about testing the hygro against the beads a try. Thanks!

[GrtndpwrflOZ]

Go with a cheap cooler and go from there. within 6months....to a year you will have bought 3 more humidors, or a vino.

Long Island ay? What part. I'll be in Port Washington Sunday.

[reefkeep]

agreed, I went from a 100 count humidor to two Wine coolers (100% full)...in two months.... I need help!

[bartolomeo]

Originally Posted by Herf N Turf

Next question. Where's the hygro located? If it's in the top, youre getting a false reading. Moist air rises, so if the hygro's up top, it's gonna see more humidity. Try putting it in the middle and on bottom and see what you get. Next, test the hygro against your beads. Put the hygro in a small container with about an ounce of beads for 24hrs and see what you get.

Maybe I am wrong here, but I thought you always have higher RH levels at the bottom of the humi rather than the top?

Thanks,

Bart