Vino Temp 102

[Raralith]

Rarilith, i appreciate your advice on the beads but i'm not ready to go that route.

My basic question to everyone who is trying to help is this... Will the RH even out top-to-bottom if i get some circulation going in there? shoudl i put the fan up high or down low.

I've used beads and other types of passive humidification which didn't produce what i wanted and as of right now i'm never looking back.

Air circulation is not the best route, especially if you are aging cigars. Air circulation creates more fermentation which speeds up aging, but the cigars do not age as beautifully. This is why dress boxes aged faster than SLB/cab's, but cigars in cab's aged much better in the long run - less air circulation, less air flow. This isn't a problem if you are smoking NC's, and not aging the NC's either. But this, in my opinion, is not a good route for aging sticks.

But you should look back at passive humidification, many people on these forums use it and there's a good reason why.

To answer your question specificly though, yes the RH should balance out if you use fans. It doesn't matter which way you point (up or down, high or low) the fans either because within a few hours there would be enough air circulation to cover the Vino. Make sure that your drain is plugged though.

[s15driftking]

Originally Posted by Raralith

Make sure that your drain is plugged though.

School me on why the drain must be plugged? thanks

[DPD6030]

Originally Posted by s15driftking

there is more humidty on top, and the cigars are a bit softer up top when i do the squeeze test. i should have also mentioned that both hygros are digital.




yes, i have done this and they (respectively) tell me that there is mroe humidity on top.


Rarilith, i appreciate your advice on the beads but i'm not ready to go that route.

My basic question to everyone who is trying to help is this... Will the RH even out top-to-bottom if i get some circulation going in there? shoudl i put the fan up high or down low.

I've used beads and other types of passive humidification which didn't produce what i wanted and as of right now i'm never looking back.

Bob,
I have my computer fan pointed on an angle at a 45 degree or so upward so it blows from the bottom of the vino and off the glass door up to the top. I'm always within 1-2 % from top to bottom. Oh and I have beads.

[s15driftking]

Originally Posted by DPD6030

Bob,
I have my computer fan pointed on an angle at a 45 degree or so upward so it blows from the bottom of the vino and off the glass door up to the top. I'm always within 1-2 % from top to bottom. Oh and I have beads.

Thansk for the info,

I should update all of you... it seems like the only reason i had higher humidity on top was due to a bad "tetris" situation. i moved some stuff around after i recieved chas' trays and im good all throughout.

BTW, i might add:

i never plugged my drain and i have experienced zero problems thus far... BUT, the edgestar is a bit different since the drain route starts halfway up the back instead of the bottom so any excess "water" will route itself out without being able to damage anything.

[Raralith]

Originally Posted by s15driftking

Ok,
My question is.. how do i even that out? Should i buy an oust fan to circulate the air? will the oust fan do the job? Should i put the fan up top where its very humid or down low where its right at 65?

What should i do?

Do you have anything obscuring the heatsink fan? Do you have boxes pushed directly onto it? If so, move the boxes and give it some room. The fan has holes on the front, top and bottom so air circulates in all directions. Also, is your drain plugged?

An oust fan won't do much in my opinion. The oust fan is 1-2 CFM, 3-4 if you remove the cover, and the fan in the Vino itself is much stronger. If you do want more airflow, you need to use computer fans which can be easily hooked up via a 12v adapter (found at RadioShack).

What you should do is just invest in some beads. A pound of beads split in two for top and bottom will almost always fix this problem. $30 for a lifetime of use, and passively working is probably the best thing you could buy besides a humidor for your cigars. You may like your Oasis, and paid a pretty penny for it but for a Vino, beads are the way to go.

[landhoney]

Originally Posted by s15driftking

The one on the bottom reads 65% and the one on top reads 74% (respectively)....

You don't need 'respectively' in that sentence.

[s15driftking]

Originally Posted by landhoney

You don't need 'respectively' in that sentence.

You are right. I should have said....

"the top half and bottom half are at 74% and 64%, respectively."

i believe that would be correct, sorry!

[s15driftking]

mine isnt a vino, its an edgestar so there is a pan out back. with a little bung that loosk like a hollowed out bolt... i think im just going to put a foot long tube (that fits nice and snug) over the drain spout (note- its outside the vino) so that i can plug the drain (in a sense) and still let it capture water without having to rig a run-off system.

[Raralith]

Originally Posted by s15driftking

mine isnt a vino, its an edgestar so there is a pan out back. with a little bung that loosk like a hollowed out bolt... i think im just going to put a foot long tube (that fits nice and snug) over the drain spout (note- its outside the vino) so that i can plug the drain (in a sense) and still let it capture water without having to rig a run-off system.

You don't want to capture water though because there should be no water; that's why you have a humidifier. If there is enough moisture, the humidifier shouldn't do anything, if there's not enough it should add some. If you have a pool of water on the bottom of your Vino and you have it sealed, you are doing something wrong. If it's draining, it's because the ambient outside is sucking out that moisture. Both of these are bad for a humidor. This is why beads are so good - they have the ability to both release and absorb water, and you can easily recharge or discharge moisture from them. Read shilala's post because he makes a very good description of what the drainage hole is,

"First off, the vino drain is a hole. It's a hole in my humidor.
If I had a half inch hole in the front of my desktop it'd make keeping the humidity stable a real challenge. Being as I know it's not supposed to be there, I'd plug that sucker up.
Now if I choose to leave it there, I can use lots of beads, a hydra, sponges, voodoo, and lots of effort and manage to keep the humidity where I want it. If that's okay by me and I have the time or enjoy doing it, by all means I should keep my hole and go along being happy."

[s15driftking]

Originally Posted by Raralith

You don't want to capture water though because there should be no water; that's why you have a humidifier. If there is enough moisture, the humidifier shouldn't do anything.

Don't people put rags or cups on the bottom of their vinos because they want to catch and hold the water? So if there should be no water than shouldnt they drain it?

I understand hte importance of taking the rag/cup out to pour it out as often as possible. I am going to experiment with it and post results.

After having a hard time trying to figure this out a couple of weeks ago, I went to one of the PHD's here in the lab and asked for an explanation for this very problem. And here is what he came up with.
"The temp of the confined space plays a roll as well as the density of the space (how packed is it with cigars) & CFM of air flow around the booty stashed in the confined space."

Take it for what it's worth, I don't usually put a lot of weight in a PHD's response to most questions for they are mostly "THEORY" types I work with but his explanation seems to make sense to me.........

[Mirrorlure7m]

I have a question I just ordered 70%RH beads will I be alright with 2 pounds of the 70% beads ? Or are the 65% better for the Vinotemp 28?

[King James]

Originally Posted by Mirrorlure7m

I have a question I just ordered 70%RH beads will I be alright with 2 pounds of the 70% beads ? Or are the 65% better for the Vinotemp 28?

The % Doesn't really matter for which type of storage you are using, it is the amount of beads that matters. You want to have enough for what ever size storage you have.

The % Is more so a matter of WHAT you are storing. If Non-Cuban some like using the higher 70% beads. For Cubans the 65% beads seem to be favored. Although personal preference is important to.

The vino is roughly 4400 cubic inches.

Based on the Heartfelt site you only need 8 oz of beads.

Past experience tells me to always double that number.

To be safe I then double it for a wine cooler since the RH jumps up and down when it cycles.

As for 65 vs 70, it depends on what you like. I started with 70% and switched to 65%.
I like my cigars a little dryer. They tend to burn better for my smoking style at 65%

Chas

[Mirrorlure7m]

Originally Posted by ChasDen

The vino is roughly 4400 cubic inches.

Based on the Heartfelt site you only need 8 oz of beads.

Past experience tells me to always double that number.

To be safe I then double it for a wine cooler since the RH jumps up and down when it cycles.

As for 65 vs 70, it depends on what you like. I started with 70% and switched to 65%.
I like my cigars a little dryer. They tend to burn better for my smoking style at 65%

Chas

Thanks guys. I ordered the 70% I got 2 pounds and 2 oust fans from Heartfelt. I am hoping it will not go over 72% and no lower then 68% then I will be happy. This Vinotemp 28 I am setting up with be for my rare and hard to get cigars I want to age. I will get another Vinotemp for me everyday smokes later on. But my main focus is on the aging vinotemp now.

[kydsid]

Does anyone know if Vinos are still available at Target? I can only find them for about 400 online but none at Target.

[DPD6030]

Originally Posted by kydsid

Does anyone know if Vinos are still available at Target? I can only find them for about 400 online but none at Target.

I don't think Target has anymore. Months and months ago I searched about 50 Targets with no such luck. Craigslist or Eeeebay is probably your best bet right now

[Mirrorlure7m]

Originally Posted by DPD6030

I don't think Target has anymore. Months and months ago I searched about 50 Targets with no such luck. Craigslist or Eeeebay is probably your best bet right now

Yeah I looked on ebay when I was about to get mine they never had the 28 bottle unit. Which is the one you want to get. I got mine for 300 less then a month ago but checked the website and it is 400 now. I should have bought two . Becuase I need another one since I filled mine up already.

[Mirrorlure7m]

Check your PM they are online for 300 in some places. Edit nevermind I just looked and the price is 400 now .. WOW

[kydsid]

Well what is it that makes the VT28 so preferrable. From the current pricing I am thinking of spending a bit more for more room and get this new model.

http://www.vinotemp.com/View.aspx/29...perature-Zones