Help on Cabinet Humidor Operation

[rab1957]

I picked up a used JC Prendergast cabinet humidor a few weeks ago. I had to buy the humidification system and install it, and just got it running about a week ago. This is an active humidification system. It has an electric hygrometer that turns the system on and off. The settings seem to be fairly accurate. I set it for 70% and it shuts off at about 72% based on the reading from my digital hygrometer. It turns back on at around 66%. The system cycles about every few hours as the humidity goes down in the cabinet.

Prior to me buying it, the humidor was used as a wine cabinet for a long time and did not have any type of humidification in it. I’m thinking that the wood inside is dry and it will take a while for the moisture content to go up and stabilize. With this in mind what should I set the control at for the upper level? I don’t want my cigars too moist and then again not too dry. I normally keep my desk top at 68-70 % using Heartfelt beads.
I’ve just turned the setting down and now it goes on at about 69% and off at 64%. I’m thinking that at some point the cabinet will stabilize and I will still have the swings in moisture levels, but not very quickly.
I'm also in a position that I don't know what questions to ask, so any input would help.

[rlupojr]

[QUOTE=rab1957;2670887] I picked up a used JC Prendergast cabinet humidor a few weeks ago. I had to buy the humidification system and install it, and just got it running about a week ago. This is an active humidification system.

That is a great looking unit! Good find..

[Rubix^3]

I don't know anything about the built in system, but basic humi knowledge goes--you should wait for the rh to stabilize before you introduce any cigars.
Be patient and get a feel for how the cabinet is working. Given the possibility the humidification system could be faulty you don't want to risk damaging any cigars if you can help it.
Patience.

My

[zipa]

I'd make sure that the humidor is properly seasoned before putting any sticks in it.

[tx_tuff]

Agree with the two posts above me. You should have let the humidor stabilize before you put the cigars into it. So the best thing to do know would take them out and put them back where you got them from. Since this humidor is a new pick up I'm guessing you have another humidor you was using before you got it. Good luck, I'm sure it will run just fine once you get it there.

[rab1957]

Thanks everyone for the input. I did let the humidor sit for several days before I added cigars. The real question I had was what range I should set the control at for the humidifier since it seems to have about a 4 to 5 degree range from when it shuts off to when it turns on.
I made a change to the setting two days ago. The unit would turn off at 69% and then drop to 64-65 % and turn on. It would stay near the bottom numbers for a while before the unit turned on and raise the humidity. If you were to average the readings it seems like it was toward the lower end of that 4-5 degree range in the controller. Since the humidity drops and stays around the lower end of the setting it that what I should base the setting on? So if I want to maintain my cigars at near 70% do I adjust the control higher? This would mean it would cut off at around 73% and then drop and hang around 68% before turning back on.

[rab1957]

[Rubix^3]

Once again, my advice is not based on actual experience with this type of equipment, but If this were my setup I would not want my cigars to be exposed to any extreme fluctuations whether it be temp or rh.
That being said, I would try to adjust the cabinet to a narrower range of rh; perhaps 65-70, and even less difference if possible--especially if what you set it at is only the ideal range, and the cabinet may stray several more % each way.
One more note; as for seasoning a humidor a couple days is not usually long enough for it to stablalize--especially for a big cabinet like you have. You may run in to probs over the next month or so if it wasn't ready yet for the gars.
Best of luck.

[ssutton219]

Originally Posted by Rubix^3

Once again, my advice is not based on actual experience with this type of equipment, but If this were my setup I would not want my cigars to be exposed to any extreme fluctuations whether it be temp or rh.
That being said, I would try to adjust the cabinet to a narrower range of rh; perhaps 65-70, and even less difference if possible--especially if what you set it at is only the ideal range, and the cabinet may stray several more % each way.
One more note; as for seasoning a humidor a couple days is not usually long enough for it to stablalize--especially for a big cabinet like you have. You may run in to probs over the next month or so if it wasn't ready yet for the gars.
Best of luck.

For the most part

..in my opinion it has not had time to fully stablize..but on the same hand if the cigars are stored in boxes they will not see the change in RH as fast or as dramatic as the rest of the cabniet.


Good luck and watch it carefully.



Shawn