The science is not that complicated. Automating the execution can be.
Seems to me that the biggest issue everywhere and always is that everyone is trying to automate both temp and humidity separately, but in the same space. But adjusting one means affecting the other.
In my newest humidor, I'll be separating the two. Temp control in the fridge and then sealed tupperdores inside that temp controlled environment.
Some guys here have been doing that long term and it works beautifully.
You’re quite right. All these ”all-in-one” units are attempting to control temp and humidity in the same “space”. The unit I’m testing with and have made some slight modifications to, for those testing purposes, is doing exactly as you describe. It is attempting to control both, and having the same problems as everyone else in differing humidity levels throughout the cabinet. With the differing humidity levels in my current unit, I attempted to increase the humidity at the top of the cabinet and lower it at the bottom by increasing airflow with the unit 80% full. What I’ve found is that airflow, while very important as we want a unit where we don’t have to rotate stock on a regular basis, isn’t really the end all be all to ensuring a consistent humidity level throughout the cabinet.
Out of the box, like almost every model on the market, my unit, was reading 70% on the bottom shelf, 67% in the middle, and 65% at the top. It works out for me as I store my aging cigars on the bottom, my NC in the middle, and the cubans up top…however all 3 of my Govee’s in the unit (all calibrated before the expirement using 2 different methods to ensure accuracy) are showing the same temp & humidity roller coaster that we’ve seen in other’s screenshots….Constant up and down, albeit only 1-2%/º. Compressor & Humidity chamber are fighting each other…There are times when the compressor and the heater are running at the same time!
The first test, where I increased the airflow in the cabinet (adding a few more fans), began the process of stabilizing the humidity but there are core problems with the humidity chamber. As StogieNinga pointed out, temperature and humidity are independently controlled in most, if not all of these units. It’s very clear that most of the units were not designed by someone who smokes and ages cigars.
In my second test, I’ll be staying with the temporary modded in PC fans as well as attempt to control the humidity output more efficiently. From there, if all goes well, I will have a basis from which to create electronics for a custom unit. If airflow is planned for the usage of the unit, humidity output & temperature are controlled, you can achieve an efficient unit which, in theory, should retain a consistent temperature and humidity level throughout the cabinet, without the need for sealed tupperdores on each shelf. The one key point I’ve found is that if the air is cycled throughout the cabinet after an adjustment of temperature & humidity, the consistency across the cabinet is substantially improved.
While I like the idea of drawers with sealed containers inside, that defeats the purpose of having the Spanish cedar drawers for one, and secondly you have to have humidity control for each container on each shelf. That is an investment in Boveda. The goal of my custom build is efficiency first, silence second, beauty third so the tupperdore idea is decent, I could always throw a sheet of Spanish cedar in the bottom of each tupperdore…if all else fails, but I think I’m onto something with my idea…The second test will tell me whether I’m right or wrong.