Another Cabinet Humidor Cooling Project

[bkc888]

Well I slide hard on the slippery slope and won this auction for a 2000+ Cabinet Humidor with 10CUBICFT:



http://www.cigarbid.com/auction/lot.cfm?lotID=429498

Then, I realized that summer is coming so I purchased this easy plug-in thermostat, no complicated wiring in which I do not want to learn:

http://www.amazon.com/WIN100-Heating.../dp/B000E7NYY8

Now if only there is a humidistat that works as easy as that....FREE CIGARS TO THE FIRST ONE WHO FINDS ONE ONLINE! (Must work in the US not UK and BE UNDER $50, AND must be a PLUG-IN like that) Here is an example for the UK:http://www.airandwatercentre.com/sto...uctdetails.htm


Manual downloadable here if interested:
http://www.thermostatshop.com/manuals/win100.pdf


Now I either have to find a
Thermoelectric Unit
or
Rip out a compressor from a mini fridge



I am leaning towards the use of a compressor in which I will rip out of a Mini Fridge because it is CHEAP! You can find used mini fridges for around $20 on craiglist.org!


My question is, will one of these compressors dehumidify the humidor?
Free Cigars to first 2 logical(my own judgment ) answers! PM addresses to me please.



I will post the progress. Thanks!

[txdyna65]

Very nice humidor, I have one just like it A few other guys here have it as well, so maybe they can comment on your questions. I dont use anything but beads and oust fans in mine. I had built a room onto my house and keep my humi in there. I keep the room cool with a window unit. Anyways, very nice humi, congrats to ya and keep us updated on what you do.

[bkc888]

I don't know how big the compressor unit will be. I hope I don't make it look like Frankenstein lol.

[havana_lover]

as far as I know a compressor does dehumidify..

I know you would only want to cool the humidor but cooling a wood humi??

[muziq]

Originally Posted by havana_lover

as far as I know a compressor does dehumidify..

Yep, it will. As long as you have active humidification (or a buttload of beads/fans), your retrofit might work. I haven't seen any examples of a retrofit with a compressor unit, so I'll be interested to see how it turns out if you go that route!

[txdyna65]

Ive looked into getting a peltier, but a little apprehensive about cutting a hole and installing it. I do think it would work though, and you could put a bowl of beads under it to catch the condensation.

Right now I have beads in small dishes throughout my humi and 4 oust fans and I have no problems with RH. Im using the 4 trays to store singles and have them stacked in the bottom part of the humi as well as the drawers. Then store nothing but boxes on those top 3 shelfs.

[bkc888]

I searched for the smallest AC unit on google. Those units are EXPENSIVE! I got a quote on the GENESIS 13 for over $2000! here:

http://www.primeparts.net/Mclean/mclean.shtml



I am also worried about cutting a hole. I will probably mount it on top and once I get the fridge and humidor I will see if i can get away with just cutting holes for tubes.

[mosesbotbol]

Keep room temperature constant and you'll have no worries. Do you have AC in that room? Why cool the humidor when it's easier to cool the room?

[bkc888]

I have central AC and I thought maybe I can save some money just cooling the cigars...

[Silhanek]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

Keep room temperature constant and you'll have no worries. Do you have AC in that room? Why cool the humidor when it's easier to cool the room?

From my perspective, we don't keep our house cooled to 65-70 degrees in the summer in AZ. We usually have it set somewhere in the low 80's and often don't even turn it on if the outside temp is below 95-100 degrees. That means it's possible my cigars will see 90 degrees if I don't have a cooler for them. Just my

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by Silhanek

From my perspective, we don't keep our house cooled to 65-70 degrees in the summer in AZ. We usually have it set somewhere in the low 80's and often don't even turn it on if the outside temp is below 95-100 degrees. That means it's possible my cigars will see 90 degrees if I don't have a cooler for them. Just my

I know where I would spend my money if I came home to a 90 degree room... I suppose you could lower the RH more in the summer down to 60% to prevent beetles. 80 degrees should be fine with lower humidity.

[piperman]

Originally Posted by Silhanek

From my perspective, we don't keep our house cooled to 65-70 degrees in the summer in AZ. We usually have it set somewhere in the low 80's and often don't even turn it on if the outside temp is below 95-100 degrees. That means it's possible my cigars will see 90 degrees if I don't have a cooler for them. Just my

It would never stop running
ditto on this I just freeze my Cubans before I introduce them to the humi, no bugs yet.

[bkc888]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

I know where I would spend my money if I came home to a 90 degree room... I suppose you could lower the RH more in the summer down to 60% to prevent beetles. 80 degrees should be fine with lower humidity.

Thanks will take into consideration if I fail my project.

[GOAT LOCKER]

With that large glass door and no insulation, it would be tough to keep it cooled in a 90 deg room. IMHO, 20-25 deg is too much differerential without insulation. The compressor would run almost constantly and humidity would be very low. If you look at sites that offer cooled humidors, you will notice they insulate them. How about closing off the room it's in and just cooling that room?

[ca21455]

Nice cabinet, I have the same one. You got a good deal!

Have to agree with answers so far. The cooling coils are going to condense the humidity in your cabinet. Water will puddle up unless you collect it. This is going to cause a fight between your humidifier adding water and the coil removing it. Not a good situation. You would have to ensure the cooling coils were shielded so the inside air would not condense. This will be a real problem since your humi is not insulated.

Your best bet would be to put your cabinet inside of an other box or closet and use the cooling coils to cool the air around the outside of the cab.