Wine-ador RH fluctuation problem.

[jerseynewbie]

Now that Jersey is warming up, temps in my apartment are climbing in my apartment. Nothing crazy, high 60's outside, high 70's inside because of greenhouse effect. But still, I decided it was time to plug in the Johnson controller and actually use the cooling unit on the wine fridge, before the temps rise into the 80's and 90's in the summer. This leads me to my question.

I have a pound of 65% beads and three oust fans in the bottom . Bboxes fill 90% of the airspace, and I have two wireless sensosr (top and bottom). When the unit cycles, it only drops about three degrees before cutting out (from 68 to 65 degrees). I have no problem with that.

However, the rh goes from 68% to 48% during this cycle. What am I overlooking? A full 20% rh drop with only a three degree fluctuation? This is more than I can account for with simple physics.

It's not a big deal now, because all of the cigars are in boxes, but I'm going to be putting open shelves on sliders for better access. There's nothing more of a pain than needing a smoke from the bottom box in the back and having to play tetris for ten minutes every time you need it. Hence the reason for the shelves. But some of my cigars are nude, and some with wrappers. I'm worried that the nude cigar wrappers are going to suffer with constant rh changes of this magnitude.

Secondly, should the fans be in the top forcing the warmer air down? Or should then be in the bottom forcing the more humid air up? (the beads are in the bottom) I don't have enough room to put beads in both the top and bottom, and in case they ever become supersatured I don't want water dripping down on my sticks.

Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.

[adsantos13]

Just posted the same exact thing in another thread. Unplugged, my Edgestar holds at 70/65 RH. When I plug it my RH plummets within 10 minutes to high 40's - low 50's and doesnt recover. I have 2 pounds of beads spread throughout the thing and 2 oust fans, one on top one on bottom.

I do not have a temp controller installed. I wanted to see if I was going to need it or not first. Considering the same exact thing happens to you WITH the controller that happens to me without it, Im getting a tad nervous in my recent investment! Anyway, Im very interested in seeing the responses to your thread.

[jerseynewbie]

Originally Posted by adsantos13

Just posted the same exact thing in another thread. Unplugged, my Edgestar holds at 70/65 RH. When I plug it my RH plummets within 10 minutes to high 40's - low 50's and doesnt recover. I have 2 pounds of beads spread throughout the thing and 2 oust fans, one on top one on bottom.

I do not have a temp controller installed. I wanted to see if I was going to need it or not first. Considering the same exact thing happens to you WITH the controller that happens to me without it, Im getting a tad nervous in my recent investment! Anyway, Im very interested in seeing the responses to your thread.

My apologies to the moderators for starting a new thread in what looks like it should have been put in yours. Feel free to delete this one or move it. I've done searches on this, but I guess I should have done one right before posting. For now I'm going to be monitoring both threads so I can get this figured out before installing the shelves.

[jerseynewbie]

One difference I forgot to note between your situation and mine. My rh plummets as soon as the cycle starts, but it recovers within ten minutes of the cycle ending. Not sure if that's worth anything.

[adsantos13]

Originally Posted by jerseynewbie

One difference I forgot to note between your situation and mine. My rh plummets as soon as the cycle starts, but it recovers within ten minutes of the cycle ending. Not sure if that's worth anything.

Interesting. Yeah, mine doesnt recover both times Ive tried plugging it in. I need to unplug, physically take the beads out, and recharge them. The RH rapidly then climbs back to 65. As soon as I try plugging it back in RH plummets. Ambient RH in the room is about 65.

Looks like Im moving my boxes back into the ol' igloo later tonight if I dont see the RH rise this second try.
Im stumped and kind of depressed to be honest!

Jersey, maybe try tightening the temp controller range? I did a search over at CW and found a post saying a 67-70 degree range cut down on the swings. I believe I recall the poster saying it shouldnt be much more than that.

On a sidenote: Jerseynewbie, what part of N Bergen are you from? Im from just over the border in Rockland County NY originally

[jerseynewbie]

Originally Posted by adsantos13

Interesting. Yeah, mine doesnt recover both times Ive tried plugging it in. I need to unplug, physically take the beads out, and recharge them. The RH rapidly then climbs back to 65. As soon as I try plugging it back in RH plummets. Ambient RH in the room is about 65.

Looks like Im moving my boxes back into the ol' igloo later tonight if I dont see the RH rise this second try.
Im stumped and kind of depressed to be honest!

Jersey, maybe try tightening the temp controller range? I did a search over at CW and found a post saying a 67-70 degree range cut down on the swings. I believe I recall the poster saying it shouldnt be much more than that.

The range is already set at one degree on the A419, but it still fluctuates about three degrees throughout the cooler (where the wireless temp sensors are located). Before I started using the cooling unit I could recharge the beads about once every two weeks. But with the cooling unit, they lost all their moisture overnight and were white when I got home from work. I guessing that the cooling unit must pull dry air from outside the the wine cooler during cooling, but I can't substantiate that at all.

[jerseynewbie]

Originally Posted by adsantos13

On a sidenote: Jerseynewbie, what part of N Bergen are you from?

Sorry, didn't notice the question. I'm actually not from here, just got transferred to NYC for work. Northern end of North Bergen, that's about as detailed as I'd ever get on a public forum. Nothing personal, it's not you, but all the other psychos trolling the net!

[adsantos13]

Originally Posted by jerseynewbie

Sorry, didn't notice the question. I'm actually not from here, just got transferred to NYC for work. Northern end of North Bergen, that's about as detailed as I'd ever get on a public forum. Nothing personal, it's not you, but all the other psychos trolling the net!

Understandable!

[digger]

If I recall somewhat my cooling/humidification.

Cold air cannot hold as much humidity as warm air thus causing the fluctuations in RH when the unit cools.

Someone correct me if I am wrong.

[jerseynewbie]

Originally Posted by digger

If I recall somewhat my cooling/humidification.

Cold air cannot hold as much humidity as warm air thus causing the fluctuations in RH when the unit cools.

Someone correct me if I am wrong.

Oh, you're completely right, but I still think the swing is a bit excessive.

Originally Posted by jerseynewbie

However, the rh goes from 68% to 48% during this cycle. What am I overlooking? A full 20% rh drop with only a three degree fluctuation? This is more than I can account for with simple physics.

[Boston_Dude05]

Have your guys tried the Cigar Oasis? That usually helps a unit recover quite quickly.

[borndead1]

My 12 bottle is at 42% with 1 lb. of 70% beads.

I just ordered a Cigar Oasis.

I'm getting to the point where I'm thinking I will just take my chances with beetles and stop all this madness. It's getting pretty damned frustrating.

[RGD]

Originally Posted by digger

Cold air cannot hold as much humidity as warm air thus causing the fluctuations in RH when the unit cools.

You guys are not doing anything wrong - as stated by the third post. It's not really anything that you need to worry about as long as your humidification recovers.
Keep in mind that in this short time you are not sucking out moisture from your smokes - they are in zero danger.
If your fridge is compressor based - you may notice a quicker drop than if you have a thermal electric unit - but again - it's no biggie, nothing to worry about.

Ron

[jerseynewbie]

Originally Posted by borndead1

My 12 bottle is at 42% with 1 lb. of 70% beads.

I just ordered a Cigar Oasis.

I'm getting to the point where I'm thinking I will just take my chances with beetles and stop all this madness. It's getting pretty damned frustrating.

I understand your frustration. But stand by for further. There's a number of gorillas here that have successfully completed wine-adors, and with the combined brainpower of the BOTL I'm sure we'll figure it out. Although, if you have a cooler you can put your sticks in until we do get it figured out, it might not be a bad idea. (Or just unplug the unit and put it in the coolest part of your house for now.)

[borndead1]

Originally Posted by RGD

You guys are not doing anything wrong - as stated by the third post. It's not really anything that you need to worry about as long as your humidification recovers.
Keep in mind that in this short time you are not sucking out moisture from your smokes - they are in zero danger.
If your fridge is compressor based - you may notice a quicker drop than if you have a thermal electric unit - but again - it's no biggie, nothing to worry about.

Ron

I tried an experiment.

I threw a few nekkid sticks in my fridge (ones that I wouldn't miss of course) to see if they would be ok. They are now crunchy. I hope the CO helps. If not, I'm tired of messing with it and will just freeze everything and take my chances with critters. This is supposed to be an enjoyable hobby, not a source of constant stress.