New air 18 bottle wineador

[Farringtonr]

So I made my wineador and was wondering with an 18 bottle fridge do I need to put a fan in cause the button shelf is 68% humidity and the top is 65%. What do u guys think

 

[CigarGavin]

Either throw in some more beads; or grab an oust fan and put it in the middle.

 

[mdwest]

I dont think a fan is necessary for an 18 bottle... but if you can find an oust fan somewhere, it certainly wont hurt you...

I agree with Gavin on the additional beads... youll get the added advantage of faster bounce back in RH on top of the more constant RH throughout the windeador...

 

[Farringtonr]

I have 2 pounds of beads in there. 1 pound on the bottom and another pound on the middle shelf

 

[CigarGavin]

I have 2 pounds of beads in there. 1 pound on the bottom and another pound on the middle shelf

Are you using silca based beads or clay? are they properly humidified?

 

[mdwest]

2 lbs should be overkill for an 18 bottle... I have less than a pound in my 12 bottle.. and it keeps a rock solid 65 throughout..

what brand of bead are you using? did it come factory at 65%?

also, have you calibrated your hygros? is it possible that one of them is reading a couple of points off?

any other RH control in there? bovedas, gel jars, etc? or are you running beads only?

 

[Farringtonr]

They r hf beads 65%. The hygrometer is properly calibrated cause if I switch the 2 hygrometers around it shows the same 68%. And no other humidification

 

[Farringtonr]

I was thinking I have a Johnson controller set to it and the fridge will durn on like 4 times a day for 5 minutes. Will the fan in the unit be enough to push the humidity around

 

[CigarGavin]

They r hf beads 65%. The hygrometer is properly calibrated cause if I switch the 2 hygrometers around it shows the same 68%. And no other humidification

Hmm... not making much sense. Should be working perfectly.

Throw up a picture of your humidor open, maybe there is some other reason (airflow blockage, etc.)

 

[mdwest]

really weird... if you have a good seal on your wineador, those beads should be putting out a steady 65 with maybe just a little chance right after you open the door, etc..

I'd consider throwing in a couple of 65 bovedas (maybe 1 per shelf?).. and see if that helps any.. I use them in conjunction with beads/KL.. works really well for me..

The fan might help a little too.. although all I think you are going to do there is circulate your higher RH air with your lower RH air.. and get something other than 65 RH throughout (probably bring the whole box to something in the middle..)...

 

[Farringtonr]

I will try it and I will be posting a pic in a minute

 

[Farringtonr]

 

[CigarGavin]

Damn brother, the beads are taking up all the space in your humi!

There has to be a leak, or the hygos are wrong. Cause what you have now is overkill as it is.

My cabinet only has a pound and a half of beads and holds 68% like a champ. You should only need a tube of bead a drawer.

Did you season the drawers when you got them in?

 

[Farringtonr]

I want it be at 65% humidity so I don't think there is a leak cause it would lower the humidity. Maybe the bottom shelf is over seasoned.

 

[mdwest]

Maybe... but.. in an 18 count... there really shouldnt be a whole lot of deviation between the top and the bottom (although 3 RH really isnt that much I guess)...

Even if the bottom drawer had an abundance of moisture absorbed, with the amount of beads you have in there, it literally should have self corrected within 24 hours.. beads both absorb and release RH.. if you live in a humid climate, they will pull the extra humidity out of the air and keep your wineador at 65... if you live in an arid environment, they will release RH and keep you at 65.. all you should have to do is give them a spritz or two every now and then if you are somewhere arid.. or swap out a few wet beads for dry ones occasionally if you live somewhere super humid..

Im wondering if your bottom beads might be over humidified as opposed to your shelf/drawer being over seasoned...

try swapping out the beads.. take the ones you have at the bottom and put them at the top.. and take your top beads and put them at the bottom... wait 24 hours.. and then tell us what happens..

 

[Farringtonr]

I took out half a pound of beads and put the majority of them in the middle drawer so I will see what happens

 

[Farringtonr]

So I have a quick question. Where is the best spot to put the sensor for my Johnson controller unit. Right now I have it in the back of the fridge but should I put it on top cause heat rises or closer go the bottom. Also in the front of the unit or in the back near the fan.

 

[mdwest]

In my 12 bottle I just put my hygro on the middle shelf, close to the front so that I could see it through the glass.. the box is small enough that the variance between the top and the bottom is minimal.. I get a pretty accurate reading for the entire box there..

 

[Farringtonr]

But if I but the sensor in front wont the fridge kick on more

 

[Jaricon]

Farr is refering to temp and md is talking hygro heh. I would put the sensor upper mid to top in the back somewhere the fan wont blow right on it or something splash the cold air back onto it. That would keep your temp in the whole unit at or just below what you want.