Okay, I'm at a total loss here and need some advice. I've searched high and low on here and online; the only thing I can think of is that I was possibly shipped the wrong rh beads.
The setup:
I bought a new glass door 4.5 cubic foot humidor (made by Quality Importers), applied some "v" weatherstripping for a quality seal, seasoned it, and set up my Hydra SM (set to 65%). I calibrated the Hydra and two digital hygrometers. The Hydra is on the bottom of the humi, and I have one digital on the middle shelf, and one at the top. Again, all three were calibrated and match perfectly. I went overkill on some heartfelt beads as a safety/backup measure and added 2 lbs, when only one is needed as stand alone. I have one lb on the top shelf, and one lb on the bottom next to my Hydra. The beads I ordered were 65%, and the package they came in was marked 65%.
The problem:
My humidor has stayed ROCK SOLID at 70% on all three levels according to my calibrated digitals and the Hydra display. The heartfelt beads over the course of time have become MORE opaque (solid white). Only about 10% of them are clear, when they started with 90% being clear. This tells me they are releasing moisture to maintain the environment at 70%, and not absorbing rh as I want them to. If they are 65% beads, they should be absorbing that extra 5% and becoming more translucent, not more opaque. Especially since I have doubled up? The Hydra, BTW, never comes on (doesn't need to since the rh isn't dropping to where I have it set at 65%.
Again, the only thing I can think of is that I was shipped the wrong beads as a result of being mis-marked? :dunno: I'm happy to have a stable uniform environment, but really want 65%. What are your thoughts? Am I missing something here?:scratchhe
The setup:
I bought a new glass door 4.5 cubic foot humidor (made by Quality Importers), applied some "v" weatherstripping for a quality seal, seasoned it, and set up my Hydra SM (set to 65%). I calibrated the Hydra and two digital hygrometers. The Hydra is on the bottom of the humi, and I have one digital on the middle shelf, and one at the top. Again, all three were calibrated and match perfectly. I went overkill on some heartfelt beads as a safety/backup measure and added 2 lbs, when only one is needed as stand alone. I have one lb on the top shelf, and one lb on the bottom next to my Hydra. The beads I ordered were 65%, and the package they came in was marked 65%.
The problem:
My humidor has stayed ROCK SOLID at 70% on all three levels according to my calibrated digitals and the Hydra display. The heartfelt beads over the course of time have become MORE opaque (solid white). Only about 10% of them are clear, when they started with 90% being clear. This tells me they are releasing moisture to maintain the environment at 70%, and not absorbing rh as I want them to. If they are 65% beads, they should be absorbing that extra 5% and becoming more translucent, not more opaque. Especially since I have doubled up? The Hydra, BTW, never comes on (doesn't need to since the rh isn't dropping to where I have it set at 65%.
Again, the only thing I can think of is that I was shipped the wrong beads as a result of being mis-marked? :dunno: I'm happy to have a stable uniform environment, but really want 65%. What are your thoughts? Am I missing something here?:scratchhe