Humi Fan 101

[MocoBird]

Originally Posted by Steeltown

Great work - I don't nearly have a humidor large enough, but I appreciate 1) the time it took to take those pictures and create this "manual" of how to..., and 2) the fact that you are offering your time/services to others free of charge. Very classy. Thanks again.

No Problem! Glad to help out when I can. I'll only be happy when all the cigars in this world are as well taken care of as mine are. I figure I'll start with you gorilla’s!!

[MM2(SW)S]

Thanks for posting this. I was thinking about adding a fan one of my coolers and I was figuring out how to do it. Thanks again this will make it easier.

[FunkyPorcini]

Hey Moco,

Great idea. Thank you for sharing. I wonder about something though. Since we all like BargainHumidors so much maybe you should share this with them (if they haven't seen it yet, it seems they check out the boards). If they are able to buy the components in large quantities and install them at the time of construction I think it would imrove the final product as well as pass on the savings to us.

Just an idea for what seems to be a caring retailer.

[magno]

Great post, Mocobird. I was one of the guys who commented on your fan setup a while back. I currently have the Oasis plus in my manassas set at 70. My hygrometer reads 70 in the bottom shelves and 67-68 in the top ones. Not sure how big a deal this is, but I'm thinking the perfectionist in me needs one of these fans.

I'll be PMing you soon

Originally Posted by MocoBird

I’ve seen a lot of post recently about installing fans in different humi’s and have been asked, after posting a picture of one I installed in my own humi….”How did you do that?” Well tonight I put together another one for a customer of mine who is also a fellow BOTL. He also has an Antietam and was having humidity issues. Seems he was seeing a big difference in the RH level from the top to the bottom. So I offered to install a fan for him. I thought this might be a good time to show everybody how this is done, and in pictures too……have you come to expect anything less. So if your interested follow along……

First picture is of the required goods needed to complete the project…..

1) Standard AC/DC Adapter. This one has a variable output with six different settings. 3 thru 12 volts. This allows to set the fan at different speed levels.

2) Timer: This is a GE Model # GE5110 I like this one because you can set it at 15 minute intervals and there are no pins to lose.

3) Computer Cooling Fan: Standard 12v

4) Connector: I use a Battery Pack and RC Car Connector and Repair Kit from Radio Shack. Cheap and easy.

5) Heat Shrink Tubing: A few pieces to cover the soldiered wires.

[MoTheMan]

When I was ready to graduate to a bigger humidor (i.e. a closet), I chose a large size (room size) humidifier w/ fan. [Hee, hee, hee.]
Here's the picture fro the Gallery. You can see what I'm using at the botton.
I'm a big proponent of active humidification.

[MocoBird]

Originally Posted by magno

My hygrometer reads 70 in the bottom shelves and 67-68 in the top ones. Not sure how big a deal this is, but I'm thinking the perfectionist in me needs one of these fans.

I'll be PMing you soon

Just let me know if I can be of assistance. Until then I'll be right here, ing and ing!!

[magno]

So I was drivin' around town and decided to go into Radio Shack. I forgot exactly what I needed but went for it anyway. I picked up:

---a CPU cooling fan for "Pentium processors from 75 -200mhz" that is 12vdc compatible.

--- a fixed 12vdc power adapter and some crimp-on wire connectors

So the question is, now that I've reread your instructions, am I going to get enough blowing power from the fan I purchased, and am I going to be abl to get enough --or rather, apppropriate -- speeed for my Manassas using the single power rating adapter?

I realize now that I'm going to have a devil of a time dealing with permanently crimped connectors, but I can live with that provided everything else works.

I was going to put the fan on the second shelf facing upwards. Good idea? Also, is there any reason not to run the fan all the time?

Originally Posted by MocoBird

Just let me know if I can be of assistance. Until then I'll be right here, ing and ing!!

[MocoBird]

Originally Posted by magno

So I was drivin' around town and decided to go into Radio Shack. I forgot exactly what I needed but went for it anyway. I picked up:

---a CPU cooling fan for "Pentium processors from 75 -200mhz" that is 12vdc compatible.

--- a fixed 12vdc power adapter and some crimp-on wire connectors

Yea, fixed adapter means only 1 speed on the fan. As for the crimp-on wire connectors, just go get a connector like in Pic #5 and use the crimp-on's to connect that together.

So the question is, now that I've reread your instructions, am I going to get enough blowing power from the fan I purchased, and am I going to be abl to get enough --or rather, apppropriate -- speeed for my Manassas using the single power rating adapter?

I would imagine the fan speed issue won't be a problem. I don't run mine on top speeds for two reasons. First in my humi's,which is smaller then yours I don't need that much force to get things blowing around. The other reason is on slower speeds the fan tends to be not as noisey.

I realize now that I'm going to have a devil of a time dealing with permanently crimped connectors, but I can live with that provided everything else works.

Yea, connectors make everything easier. Moving it around, installing it... etc.

I was going to put the fan on the second shelf facing upwards. Good idea? Also, is there any reason not to run the fan all the time?

I though about that when I installed mine but deceided to put it under the Cigar Oasis ( see pic of humi ) figuring that the humidity is going to fall to the bottom of the cabinet. As far as two fan, not a problem with me besides your humi is bigger.

I do have a complete unit that is all made up out in the garage. I made two when I put the thread together. Kinda figured someone would take me up on my offer So if you want to take all that stuff back to Radio Shack I'll sell you the unit. Let me know if you are interested.

[magno]

Hey Moco, let's do business. I'm looking at my parts and realizing I spent too much for the AC adapter and still need better connectors etc. etc.. I just caught my wife's flu so I'd probably just elecrocute myself anyway.

I'll PM ya and you can tell me what I need to do money-wise.

Originally Posted by MocoBird

Yea, fixed adapter means only 1 speed on the fan. As for the crimp-on wire connectors, just go get a connector like in Pic #5 and use the crimp-on's to connect that together.


I would imagine the fan speed issue won't be a problem. I don't run mine on top speeds for two reasons. First in my humi's,which is smaller then yours I don't need that much force to get things blowing around. The other reason is on slower speeds the fan tends to be not as noisey.

Yea, connectors make everything easier. Moving it around, installing it... etc.

I though about that when I installed mine but deceided to put it under the Cigar Oasis ( see pic of humi ) figuring that the humidity is going to fall to the bottom of the cabinet. As far as two fan, not a problem with me besides your humi is bigger.

I do have a complete unit that is all made up out in the garage. I made two when I put the thread together. Kinda figured someone would take me up on my offer So if you want to take all that stuff back to Radio Shack I'll sell you the unit. Let me know if you are interested.

[MocoBird]

Originally Posted by magno

I'll PM ya and you can tell me what I need to do money-wise.

That's why I'm here.

[magno]

I'm posting some of my correspondence with Mocobird for those who might be interested in making/buying one of these fans for their cabinet(s)



Magno:

Got the fan. She purrs. I stuck her in the back of the second shelf in my Manassas. at first I set her up so she was shooting air to the top. that moved the humidity to the top drawer quite quickly. I decided then to simply move her to the back, facing the front door. I came home a little while ago and found that my top drawer was at 71RH. More than I want, but more than I had ever been able to muster out of the oasis plus setup in the bottom of my humidor.

I currently have the hygrometer in the bottom to see how things are doing down below now that I have the extra fan. I'll know in a little bit how we're doing. (I've since checked: Bottom 70RH; middle shelf 70 RH. )

I've kept the fan running non stop for a few hours, now. i don't have a timer but will be getting one tomorrow. One thing that has me concerned is that since I got the fan installed, the Oasis plus never stops running. I'm thinking the fan is pulling enough humidity away from the oasis to cause the sensor to think that the fan needs to keep push humidity into the humidor. Have you experienced this?

Also, I noticed the ac adapter was not set at 12v. I've since switched it to 12 v. should I consider running the fan at lower speeds than this?


Mocobird:

Glad you got it and installed it so quickly. I find facing forward to the door is best as it spreads it out a little more when it hits the door. I have a feeling that your issue's with the 71RH at the top, the Oasis running (which I think your right about the fan pushing the humidity around) will all be taken care of when you put it on a timer. Right now thing are flying around in there with the fan on all the time. Mine goes on for 15 minutes then off for 15 minutes. Allowing things to even out. Also my fan speed is only a couple clicks above the bottom setting. I like to gently caress my stogies with a light tropical breeze.
__________________


Magno:


oh, and I can just switch through all those different voltage settings? doesn't matter that it's a 12v fan? (just checking)

Gonna get a timer tomorrow and start experimenting.I'm really psyched that I seemingly can achieve RH consistancy throughout the Humi.Nice tropical breeze, though perhaps a bit stormy at current settings.

Mocobird:

the switch on the adapter has 6 different setting. From 3.5 to 12v (I think) You can use all of the setting. As you switch to a lower setting the fan will slow down. I run my only a couple of clicks up from the bottom.

[pinoyman]

Amigo, that is one great help for me, earlier you guys been helping me about buying a bigger humidor and I am thinking to get the tower type, now I'm sure I can use one of this... Good job Mon!
A big Salud for you Mocobird!

[jgrimball]

Thanks for the great information!!
It helped me a lot while installing a fan in my new wine cooler.
I did not soldier the wires though, I just used little crimp connectors
and put heat shrink around them! That should work shouldnt it?

[Jsabbi01]

Awesome tutorial, thanks!! I actually have 2 computer fans cooling the power amp of my stereo, they are both cut into the shelf. They are then hooked into a temp sensor to turn on once the temperature of the heat sinks on the amp reach 100 degrees.

[Arleban]

Mocobird, that is crazy. And when I say crazy I mean that is bad to the @ss. And when I say that I mean that is wickedly awesome. And by that point I should just type what I mean in the first place because my fingers are tired now.

Seriously, that is cool and giving the instructions was very magnanimous of you. <--- OOO! big word! Way to much caffiene this morning.

Simply awesome.