Circulating air in a desktop humi

[Throb]

I just had a near fatal heart attack!!! After battling this cold for 10 days I opened my humi to gaze upon my sticks and pick one out for the sacrifice when I noticed the RH was 15% and the temp was 72*!!!

I have a desktop 75 count humi with 65% beads in a tube on the lower shelf that were just fine 10 days ago. I have light tested the humi and found no gaps. The humi is stocked to about 75% with sticks and my hygro (digital) was dead on in a salt test several weeks ago (Damn if I don't listen to all you guys on tests, advice etc!!! ) I ripped the tube out of the lower shelf, ran to the kitchen and poured DW on the beads till they were all clear (They appeared to be all white so I knew they were dry) When I ran back to the humi to open it up and save my sticks, the hydro read 65, quickly dropping to 64...After regaining my breath I gently dropped the tube inside and sealed it up. It has now been 20 hrs since my palpitations. I want to open it up and check but I am afraid.

I'd like to think that the RH in a desktop cant vary that much from top to bottom and the sensor on the hygro was just "dry". I cant really fit a Oust fan in there so should I just whoosh it open every day or so to get the air moving inside?

[Warhorse545]

I think that opening it up every day or 2 and ya should be ok. Will get the air moving around a bit.



Stacey

[Hammerhead]

It's also been my observation that there are RH gradients, even in a small humidor, especially if you have a tray or shelf with cigars that will act as a barrier to airflow. That's why I try to distribute beads throughout the box.

Remember that now your beads are oversaturated so your RH will be higher as they evaporate to a normal balance.

[Throb]

Very strange...After 2 days of leaving it sealed, the RH "read" 15% again...(I keep it on the tray on the top level. WHen I removed the tray to looks at the bead (some had begun to turn white) and looked back, the hygro read 67%. CLearly something wrong with the hygro.

One more thing on my OCD list to do now...

[stogsmokr]

Try changing the battery. I think the digital hygros can act up if the battery is low.

http://www.clubstogie.com/vb/showthread.php?t=20500

[Throb]

No...its a brand new battery. Just replaced it with a new Energizer. The display is a nice dark color, unlike when the battery was dying and I got a faint display.

[stogie_kanobie_one]

Could also be a defective hygrometer. If you have doubts and you are really getting into the hobbyaspects of cigars the wireless units with a station are nice to have for desktop humi's without glass. Yo ucan check the conditions without opening the unit up all the time. For me they were a good investment because I had little patience early on, was constantly opening my humidor, was using only the analog, and on and on and on my troubles went. You sound like you've covered many of the basics. Could it also be that you have recently added sticks that are dry and thus when the humidor is closed and the hygrometer settles it settle to the drier air immediately around your sticks. Then when you open the humi up it jumps on the next reading as the more humid air rushes into the humidor? Also do you know the humidity of th air outside of the humi?