Do you run your fridgador? If so, do you have condensation?

[bsmokin]

So, I have a great Edgestar 28 Fridgador with beautiful Chaden drawers. Here's the problem... I can't get my humidity down below 69% during the summer. I have three 8oz Shilala bead bags in there, 65%'ers, but my humidity wont drop below 69% after about a month. I have yet to actually plug the thing in, since I don't need the temperature control though.

So, I'm seriously considering plugging it in for the dehumidification it would provide, which may help bring the dang thing into equilibrium. The main concern I have though is condensation. I have it in the basement, which has relatively high ambient RH (70+RH), and I get about 67deg temp in the summer at least... although both are pretty stable throughout the year. I realize there are various ways to deal with the condensation (don't put anything on the bottom, but a drip pan with some beads, etc.) but the idea of condensation still really bothers me... and if I'm going to get condensate by turning the thing on... well, I'd rather live with the 69% RH I think.


So... what do you think? If I plug it in, will I have condensation? At all? If so, how bad will it be?

I'm doing a poll to see what other people's experience is...

[T.G]

My fridgeador doesn't like to run, so I just take it for a quick walk in the morning and one long walk every evening.

[Ogre]

My fridgeador doesn't like to run, so I just take it for a quick walk in the morning and one long walk every evening.

:r:r:r

[stewshi]

:r:r:r

:tpd:

Quick thoughts on this maybe a BOTL can agree or disagree with them.

1) Calibrate the hygrometers if that hasnt been done yet maybe it is at 65% and your hygrometer is just off 4%

2) Have you tried measuring humidity at different levels within the Edgestar?

3) I would plug the fridge, as you stated humidity is high outside the fridge and is most likely the problem since it isnt an enclosed enviornment. Then I would follow Mike's instructions on how to bring the humidity down on the beads as their equilibrium is set at 69% now.

Once the beads are back to what you would like them to be I would throw in there and see how they do.

4) Not sure but running the edgestar still might be a good idea since the fan can circulate the air within the humidor. If your worried it might run too often you can pick up a timer cheap and plug into that.

5) Search on how others have dealt with condensation most will funnel it to a tray on the bottom and then empty that out if necessary.

[Montano]

I have the same fridg, plugged in, and rock solid @ 65/65. My drain is not plugged.

[Chingas]

Bryan. What's wrong with 69%? Unless your deadset on the 65 I'd say your setup is done.

I have two Vinos, relatively new. I get some condensation but it depends on the temp and humidity of my room. If it's 90 in the house, I get more condensation. If it's 70, I get none.

So if your 67 and the humidity is around 70 I can't imagine a boatload of condensation. But like I said before. All this for 4% drop?

[Smokin Gator]

I had two Vinos that were plugged in and on all the time. They had quite a bit of condensation in them. It wasn't a problem really until they were really jam packed. I ended up loosing several boxes of sticks because they got shoved against the back and got wet. After that happened I stood up one of the metal shelves in the back of the Vino. It solved the problem of boxes getting wet but of course not the condensation.

[kelmac07]

I have the same vino, plugged in, and mine stays rock solid @ 63/64. My drain is plugged.

[bsmokin]

Thanks for the input and to those that voted. So, it's 50/50 for those with the fridge plugged in and do or don't have condensation problems. Sounds like the condensation is pretty much a problem for those in areas with large temp swings and/or high ambient temps. I shouldn't have this issue I don't think @ 67degs.

I think I'm going to give it a shot and plug the sucker in for a while... :tu

[rostamizadeh]

I have a vinotemp 28, turned on, and with the drain plugged. I have 4 8oz Shilala beads @ 65%, and have the vino set to 61 degrees (I've found the digital setting isn't perfectly accurate). The temperature in the room fluctuates between ~67 and ~80 degrees.

I have digital temp/RH monitors at the top and bottom of the fridge, and it's steady between 63-65 degrees, and 64-65%. I have yet to experience condensation. I try not to open the door more than once per day.

This is just my :2. It sounds like everyone has varying degrees of success with fridgadors.

[Chingas]

Let us know the outcome Bryan.

[audio1der]

If drying out the beads (a la Heartfelt) doesn't work, get yourself some Damp rid. The stuff is no joke; if you touch it with your hands they'll dry out so bad they'll crack and bleed.

[bsmokin]

If drying out the beads (a la Heartfelt) doesn't work, get yourself some Damp rid. The stuff is no joke; if you touch it with your hands they'll dry out so bad they'll crack and bleed.

DampRid looks very interesting... I think I'll pick some up! Thanks!

[bsmokin]

Bryan. What's wrong with 69%? Unless your deadset on the 65 I'd say your setup is done. ...

I'm having draw issues that I think would be improved if RH was lower. The cigars feel too 'soft' to me as well... Just my :2

[shilala]

Is your drain hole plugged?

[bsmokin]

Is your drain hole plugged?

yup :tu

[bsmokin]

Is your drain hole plugged?

Yes... but here's the thing though...

The fridge has vents _all_over_! On the back and the sides. To vent and circulate the air for the cooling system. So, when the unit is kept off, these vents are just open to the ambient air and must wreak havoc on trying to get the inside stable... it's just not a closed system as I originally thought when I bought it!!!

I am trying to work around this by taping over all vents - with the unit - to try and achieve a near air-tight system inside. This includes plugging the drain hole. I've also hooked up my oasisII _without_ the humidifier part - just the fan - to circulate the air.

I did the fan last night. I taped up the vents almost a week ago now. The RH this morning when I checked it had gone UP... from 69% to 70%!!! NOT COOL!

[bsmokin]

HELP!!!!

So, I plugged the fridge in... and the RH went from 69 to 74% in a matter of 2 hours!!! The temp did drop from 67 to 62, so I know the cooling is working.

Im thinking this is from the intake pulling in the ambient air in the basement, which is fairly damp. I do have a dehumidifier in the room, but Im not sure how well it works.

Can I expect/hope that the humi will stabilize and come down in RH with the unit running for a while? If so, how long will this take? Will my stash survive? Should I give up now and unplug it???

If my cigars explode from a bit humidity spike, I will cry. I will, I swear.

HELP PLEASE!!! :confused::confused::confused:

[T.G]

Relax dude.

RH is a measure of how much moisture is in the air versus how much it can hold. Warm air can hold more moisture than cold air, so, in other words, as temp drops, but the amount of moisture vapor in the the air stays constant, the RH is going to go up.

[Chingas]

I posted in the Newbie Questions but I'm thinking the Dry beads will soak up the extra Rh. If that doesn't do it then throw in some boxes and cedar.

[bobarian]

You are mistaken regarding the vents. They are not open to the outside, they are to circulate air over the Peltier units to keep them from overheating. This is a closed system as are all wine coolers and refrigerators. Sealing the vents will result in premature failure of the unit due to overheating.

[Chingas]

Hey Bryan. Sounds like you might want to address those vents pronto!

[bsmokin]

You are mistaken regarding the vents. They are not open to the outside, they are to circulate air over the Peltier units to keep them from overheating. This is a closed system as are all wine coolers and refrigerators. Sealing the vents will result in premature failure of the unit due to overheating.

WOW! Thanks Bob! I'm going round in circles with my understanding of this stupid fridge.

hmmmm....

Well, I have the unit on now, but I also took the tape off the vents, so no danger to overheating. But, now I'm confused about my original problem again!... RH stuck at 69% for a month with 24oz of Shilala beads + raw ceder Chasden drawers.

Back to square one I guess :confused:

Ugh.

[CigarNut]

...But, now I'm confused about my original problem again!... RH stuck at 69% for a month with 24oz of Shilala beads + raw ceder Chasden drawers.

Back to square one I guess :confused:

Ugh.Take the beads out and put them in a Ziplock bag or a tupperware container with a hygrometer, and check the RH of the beads. It may be that due to the high RH inside your that the RH of the beads has changed. If the RH of the beads is too high, the instructions will explain how to bring it down.

If the RH of the beads is OK then put the beads back in and leave it all alone. It really can take a long time (several weeks) for a humidor to reach equilibrium. Particularly, if you have some wet cigars, temp changes, etc.

[Aside: this is my 1000th post]

[bsmokin]

Take the beads out and put them in a Ziplock bag or a tupperware container with a hygrometer, and check the RH of the beads. It may be that due to the high RH inside your that the RH of the beads has changed. If the RH of the beads is too high, the instructions will explain how to bring it down.

If the RH of the beads is OK then put the beads back in and leave it all alone. It really can take a long time (several weeks) for a humidor to reach equilibrium. Particularly, if you have some wet cigars, temp changes, etc.

[Aside: this is my 1000th post]

Ok... thanks Michael. Will try to test the RH of the beads.

CONGRATS ON 1000 POSTS! :D

[Chingas]

Ok... thanks Michael. Will try to test the RH of the beads.

CONGRATS ON 1000 POSTS! :D

Sidenote. We'll have to start a new thread for Michael! Congrats Brother.

[bsmokin]

Update: I have been running the fridge now for 4-5 days and no condensation. RH remains at 71%, temp at 63degs. Still waiting for the RH to drop...

[CigarNut]

Did you have a chance to test the RH of the beads? If so, what were they at?

[bsmokin]

Did you have a chance to test the RH of the beads? If so, what were they at?

No... haven't had a chance. I will do this when I get a chance and post.

[bsmokin]

Did you have a chance to test the RH of the beads? If so, what were they at?

Hey Michael... Looks like I do have a problem with the beads! This is good news, since things make sense now! Right now they are reading 70% instead of 65%...

I'll plan on putting them in the fridge tonight to try and recalibrate them. Thanks for your help :tu

[CigarNut]

My guess is that the humidity in your humidor was too much for the quantity of beads that you have. Now that you have a closed system, it should be better.

Keep us posted!

[bsmokin]

Strange, unexpected turn...

I tried to recalibrate my Shilala beads with little success last night...
I put my three 8oz bags in the freezer for 25mins as specified in the instructions. I then immediately put them in a ziplock bag with a hygrometer. The RH plummeted down to 62% RH! Cool, right?! Well, when I checked it again this morning the RH in the same bag (unopened) has risen back up to 70% RH!!! I guess this means the recalibration didn't work, right!?

Is the freezer less effective than the fridge? I guess I'll try the fridge tonight...

[CigarNut]

The catch with using the freezer is that you need to make sure that the moisture you remove from the beads does not get sucked back in from the temperature/humidity changes while you transfer the bags from the freezer to the ziplock.

This problem can also occur when using the refrigerator, but since the temp/humidity in the refrigerator is less than the freezer you have a little more leeway.

[bsmokin]

The catch with using the freezer is that you need to make sure that the moisture you remove from the beads does not get sucked back in from the temperature/humidity changes while you transfer the bags from the freezer to the ziplock.

This problem can also occur when using the refrigerator, but since the temp/humidity in the refrigerator is less than the freezer you have a little more leeway.

Thanks Michael. I did think of that and made it a point to get the beads back into a bag within 60 seconds of coming out of the freezer... but, still had this problem. I will give the fridge a shot tonight and try to do the transfer more quickly.

[bsmokin]

Update:

Put the beads in the fridge last night for an hour. IMMEDIATELY but in a sealed bag after. An hour in the bag and the RH was down to 45%. However, this morning the RH in the bag was up to 67%!!! We'll see what we're at tonight...
Posted via Mobile Device

[bsmokin]

Update:

Put the beads in the fridge last night for an hour. IMMEDIATELY but in a sealed bag after. An hour in the bag and the RH was down to 45%. However, this morning the RH in the bag was up to 67%!!! We'll see what we're at tonight...
Posted via Mobile Device

[CigarNut]

The RH change is not suprising -- humidity goes up with temperature. When the beads are fully at the same temperature as your humi then you should check the hygrometer to see the what the RH is.

[sikk50]

My cooler doesn't need to be plugged in. It's Eco friendly.