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Posted
We are in the process of designing 3 x inexpensive electronic Wine Cellar /Cigar Humidor which are both temp and humidity cotrolled under the FOH banner.

The temperature range is designed to be 14 degrees Celcius ( 57.2F ) to 16 degrees Celcius ( 60.8F ) and the constant humitity range 65%-70% RH.

The brief was to design three colours (Black/Dark Mahogany/Stainless Steel). Three Sizes:

595 x 600 x 840 (50 wine bottles or boxes of cigars)

595 x 600 x 1240 (100 Wine bottles or boxes of cigars)

595 x 600 x 1640 (150 Wine bottels of boxes of cigars)

From the pics below, we are looking at incorporating a series of cedar drawers in the top section of each cellar for cigar singles.

Digital readout and control standard.

While we are in the design phase with the factory, what features do cigar connoisseurs want included?

Where this will differ from a normal inexpensive wine fridge is that there will be far more emphasis on humidity. You will still be able to use part of the Cellar cave for wine shoud you wish....kill two birds with one stone.

Your thoughts and recommendations please...we want to get this right! ....along with improvements, additions.....we also need a catchy name. :lol:

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Hi Rob.

Hate to be a pain but,are you guys still going to be building the "fridgadoors" as stated at the start of this thread,whats the progress if any?? :rotfl:

Thanks for your time

cheers Steve

Posted

The thing looks great. Personally I would like to see it made out of stainless and the entire inside Spanish cedar not just the drawers. The name should be:

"THE CZARIDOR"

Posted

RA nixed the project some time back. If I recall correctly, the prototypes were incapable of maintaining proper humidity

during Australian summers. I'm sure he'll chime in when able.

Just don't ask him about the FOH Guayabera........

Posted
the prototypes were incapable of maintaining proper humidity during Australian summers.

While looking forward to Piggy's documents, I will add some of my own findings:

I've done a fair bit of research and experimentation into this (at an engineering level) and have come up with the conclusion that no fridge (commercially available for home use), regardless of type (compressor or thermoelectric) will hold a rock solid RH level when trying to maintain temps of greater than 8 degrees differential.

What I mean by "differential" is - the difference between the ambient room temperature of the room the fridge is placed in AND the desired internal temperature of the fridge.

Also, the greater the differential... the greater the RH fluctuations will be.

Though, what I can confirm is that thermoelectric fridges will be a LOT better at creating smaller fluctuations. From memory, an 8 degree temperature differential will create fluctuation possibilities in the range of +/- 5%. When you notice this fluctuation you will also notice a lot more condensation forming in the rear drip collection tray at the bottom of the back wall - this is the unit 'sweating' - Collect the condensation up with beads to recycle the water back into the internal atmosphere. (very occasionally, during the hottest of hot weeks, you may need to dry out those beads a touch and replenish the water in the beads at higher shelves.

Also, the better you can insulate the fridge from external temperature build up... the more stable your RH is going to be.

Now, having said all that - fridges are definitely the way to go. I have my entire collection in fridges and have 99% piece of mind they are safe. I will also gladly sacrifice 5% RH (for 4 weeks of the year) to maintain and ensure they are kept at temperatures below 17 degrees Celsius.

Posted
We are in the process of designing 3 x inexpensive electronic Wine Cellar /Cigar Humidor which are both temp and humidity cotrolled under the FOH banner.

The temperature range is designed to be 14 degrees Celcius ( 57.2F ) to 16 degrees Celcius ( 60.8F ) and the constant humitity range 65%-70% RH.

I would only recommend increasing the temperature range. 60F seems a bit cool. I like to keep my cigars at 70F and 67%RH.

Posted

In the end it the roject was canned due to some simple economics:

1. It could be done at about $5000 AUD (100 boxes)

2. You could purchase a similar size wine fridge and add beads for 1/3 to 1/2 the cost.

The sole issue was regulating humidity when an external temp was 28 degrees Celcius which is common in the Asia Pacific region. To clarify...lock up the house for a few days no airconditioning on.

The humidity swings were too high when keeping a core temp withing the humidor at 16 degrees Celcius.

The object of the exercise was to build a relatively inexpensive bulk storage system. By the time we incorporated an electronics system which could handle the specs required, it blew out the cost.

On the guayaberra's....our supplier succumb to the financial crisis.

Posted
I would only recommend increasing the temperature range. 60F seems a bit cool. I like to keep my cigars at 70F and 67%RH.

The tobacco beetle can survive at 70F.

A MAXIMUM temperature of 18ºC / 65ºF is required to kill THE tobacco beetle, Lasioderma serricorne in all four stages of its life cycle.

This is one reason that Habanos SA recommends 16ºC to 18ºC for its cigars.

http://www.cubancigarwebsite.com/7-cigars...._&_Problems

Posted
In the end it the roject was canned due to some simple economics:

1. It could be done at about $5000 AUD (100 boxes)

2. You could purchase a similar size wine fridge and add beads for 1/3 to 1/2 the cost.

The sole issue was regulating humidity when an external temp was 28 degrees Celcius which is common in the Asia Pacific region. To clarify...lock up the house for a few days no airconditioning on.

The humidity swings were too high when keeping a core temp withing the humidor at 16 degrees Celcius.

The object of the exercise was to build a relatively inexpensive bulk storage system. By the time we incorporated an electronics system which could handle the specs required, it blew out the cost.

On the guayaberra's....our supplier succumb to the financial crisis.

One word, one big problem... thermocouple!

Mine works great but is not a commercial venture. Rob I have finished my PDF and would like to send it to you. There is a cost!!!! I have difficulty proofreading my own work and I want some comments from you before posting. If you think it is ready as is, post it up. A detailed file is about 1.4 meg. Send me an email addy that will handle it. -Ray

Posted

Ray, happy to proofread it for you mate. Shoot it to my prvate Czar01 e-mail and I will give you a call once I have had a read over the next couple of days.

Posted
One word, one big problem... thermocouple!

I suspect that you'd have tried other options... but Silicon diode temperature sensors are not expensive and are relatively easy to integrate in a temperature control system...

Looking forward to seeing the design... on'ya Mr PigFish ;)

Posted
I suspect that you'd have tried other options... but Silicon diode temperature sensors are not expensive and are relatively easy to integrate in a temperature control system...

Looking forward to seeing the design... on'ya Mr PigFish ;)

The beauty of what I made is that it is based on commercially available components, that was the goal. My goal was not to reinvent the wheel (even though that is where my heart lies) but to throw something "nice" together to get the job done right at a reasonable cost.

As I stated at the end of the project; you be the judge, all comments, criticisms, positives and negatives gladly accepted!

We'll have Bwana proofread it for me and we will post it up.

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