Keeping a coolidor...cool

madwilliamflint · 08-22-2010, 07:53 AM

Well, the two coolidors I've got seemed like a great idea. I've got a 70qt and a 100. (These Pepin events with their 2 for 1 boxes are really soaking up my storage.)

But I'm finding that while humidity is a breeze to keep up, temperature here in NYC is tough to keep down. I'm getting stable temperatures in the mid 70s and I REALLY don't like it.

What kind of options do I have? I'm actually not above picking up an arduino, a peltier unit and building something if that's a feasible solution. But I'd rather something that wasn't such a project.

Any ideas?

bobarian · 08-22-2010, 10:08 AM

Options:
1) Move coolers to the basement or to a inside closet
2) Freeze everything-Most cigars purchased domestically are already frozen at the distributor level. After you freeze, temps dont matter any more.
3) Add external cooling-Ice packs are one option
4) Purchase a Wine Cooler.

madwilliamflint · 08-22-2010, 10:26 AM

1) Can't. Wee 5th floor apartment. My closets might as well be ovens.
2) "After you freeze, temps dont matter any more." wha? Why not?
3) Good idea, but sounds like a lot of maintenance.
4) $$$.

I may look in to building something. Maybe an external unit that I can tap in to the drainage plugs on both coolers.

T.G · 08-22-2010, 10:54 AM

2) beetle eggs are dead man. It's game over for them. Scoreboard: we win.

madwilliamflint · 08-22-2010, 10:55 AM

Ah! I was thinking in terms of mold.

T.G · 08-22-2010, 11:15 AM

You are correct for mold; freezing only kills some active growth and forces the colonies into a dormant state and doesn't kill the spores. Mold spores are pretty much everywhere in the air naturally unless you have a very effective HEPA filter system, so you really can't avoid them. All you can do is keep the humidity down a bit, to avoid growth and colonies forming. I don't recall what the exact RH level is that they grow at, but I don't think I've never seen them form in a humidor kept at 65%RH or less.

BTcigars · 08-22-2010, 01:24 PM

From what Ive heard from peoples experiences, when the climate within a humidor starts to make its way past the 70/70 mark, thats when bad things start to happens.

bobarian · 08-22-2010, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T.G

2) beetle eggs are dead man. It's game over for them. Scoreboard: we win.

The title implies that you are concerned with temperatures. Hi temps will only lead to beetle outbreaks if there are viable eggs and sustained temps of over 72-74degrees. Once frozen most if not all eggs are dead.

Mold will form with high humidity. High temps alone will not lead to mold formation.

08-22-2010, 07:53 AM	#1
madwilliamflint Cigar n00b Join Date: Sep 2009 First Name: Michael Location: Wallkill, NY Posts: 390 Trading: (0)	Keeping a coolidor...cool Well, the two coolidors I've got seemed like a great idea. I've got a 70qt and a 100. (These Pepin events with their 2 for 1 boxes are really soaking up my storage.) But I'm finding that while humidity is a breeze to keep up, temperature here in NYC is tough to keep down. I'm getting stable temperatures in the mid 70s and I REALLY don't like it. What kind of options do I have? I'm actually not above picking up an arduino, a peltier unit and building something if that's a feasible solution. But I'd rather something that wasn't such a project. Any ideas?

08-22-2010, 10:08 AM	#2
bobarian Cranky Habanophile Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Wine Country Posts: 8,869 Trading: (51)	Re: Keeping a coolidor...cool Options: 1) Move coolers to the basement or to a inside closet 2) Freeze everything-Most cigars purchased domestically are already frozen at the distributor level. After you freeze, temps dont matter any more. 3) Add external cooling-Ice packs are one option 4) Purchase a Wine Cooler.

08-22-2010, 10:26 AM	#3
madwilliamflint Cigar n00b Join Date: Sep 2009 First Name: Michael Location: Wallkill, NY Posts: 390 Trading: (0)	Re: Keeping a coolidor...cool 1) Can't. Wee 5th floor apartment. My closets might as well be ovens. 2) "After you freeze, temps dont matter any more." wha? Why not? 3) Good idea, but sounds like a lot of maintenance. 4) $$$. I may look in to building something. Maybe an external unit that I can tap in to the drainage plugs on both coolers.

08-22-2010, 10:54 AM	#4
T.G Grrrrrr Join Date: Mar 2009 First Name: The Other Adam Posts: 15,543 Trading: (37)	Re: Keeping a coolidor...cool 2) beetle eggs are dead man. It's game over for them. Scoreboard: we win.

08-22-2010, 10:55 AM	#5
madwilliamflint Cigar n00b Join Date: Sep 2009 First Name: Michael Location: Wallkill, NY Posts: 390 Trading: (0)	Re: Keeping a coolidor...cool Ah! I was thinking in terms of mold.

08-22-2010, 11:15 AM	#6
T.G Grrrrrr Join Date: Mar 2009 First Name: The Other Adam Posts: 15,543 Trading: (37)	Re: Keeping a coolidor...cool You are correct for mold; freezing only kills some active growth and forces the colonies into a dormant state and doesn't kill the spores. Mold spores are pretty much everywhere in the air naturally unless you have a very effective HEPA filter system, so you really can't avoid them. All you can do is keep the humidity down a bit, to avoid growth and colonies forming. I don't recall what the exact RH level is that they grow at, but I don't think I've never seen them form in a humidor kept at 65%RH or less.

08-22-2010, 01:24 PM	#7
BTcigars Adjusting to the Life Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sacramento CA Posts: 486 Trading: (1)	Re: Keeping a coolidor...cool From what Ive heard from peoples experiences, when the climate within a humidor starts to make its way past the 70/70 mark, thats when bad things start to happens. __________________ Be sure to chek out my blog.