Lesser of two evils temperature/humidity?

[Mel39]

I am still striggling to create ideal storage conditions.

I have two thermo-electric coolers, and the one compressor wine cooler which I thought would be the answer to all my troubles but alas not.

Of the two coolidors, the smaller one is great with temp and humidity around the 65 mark. The larger one runs too cold and consequently the humidity is too low. The wine cooler runs at about 65'F but I can't raise the humidity above 50%. That is still a big mystery and I've tried everything. The only way the humidity reaches 65% is when the wine cooler is turned off but then the temperature soars to 75' which is the ambient room temp.

The question arises, if I can't create ideal conditions, is it better to have a high temperature and 65%RH or a lower temperature and the consequential lower RH?

Sorry to keep bringing this subject up.

Mel39

[ccsmoker]

Try to run the cooler at 62 deg. When I set my cooler at 62 the temp.

in the unit is about 68-69 deg.You do not want it too hot...

The thermo electric units should have a drain in side the water may drip down the back.There are a few things you can do tho fix it what model do you have,ade what are you using for humidity?

[Colt45]

Mel, do you still have cigars in the wine cooler, or have you moved them to the coolers?

This has been asked in the viagra thread, but if you do have cigars in the wine cooler, how do they feel?

If they feel good, and the wrappers aren't cracking with a light squeeze, I'd say just roll with it.

I'm still perplexed as to why you can't get the humidity over 50% at 65'F, especially with a pan

of water in the unit???

With higher temps comes the risk of beetles hatching, though if I recall correctly, they were to start

freezing the tobacco or cigars.

[Professor Twain]

Mel, one issue, the humidity is going to be much lower in the top of your fridge than the bottom. There is a 10% difference in the top and bottom level in my fridge. Because of this, I rotate my stock every month. Installing fans is also a good idea.

The fridge will also hold steady humidity better if it is pretty full of cigars.

I also put up a lengthy post about this some time ago, I did an experiment using wireless digital hygrometers, and found that the humidity dipped dramatically in the fridge while the fridge was running--but that when I put my hygrometers inside of the my cigar boxes or cabs, the drop was nothing or trivial.

And of course you have to be sure your hygrometer is accurate, not an easy task.

Good luck with this.

[Mel39]

I keep rotating the boxes both inside the various coolers and from one to t'other.

No real sign of cracking yet and some give in the ones I've tried.

That DVD I was given by the LCDH staff on Cuba, does state that cigars are given a freezing treatment.

As the only problem that I have read about with higher temperatures, is the dreaded beetle, I think I will lean towards that and keep the RH at 65.

On another forum, I read about a guy who had discovered beetles in his cigars. One solution that was given was to cover the holes with pieces from the cap licked into place and to smoke the cigar. I am intrigued as to what flavors might be picked up by the expert palates amongst FOH members on coming across toasted beetle and fried eggs.:-P

I'll struggle on with experiments to find the best combination of temp/RH I can manage and periodically check my stock.

Thanks as ever,

Mel39

[Mel39]

» Try to run the cooler at 62 deg. When I set my cooler at 62 the temp.

» in the unit is about 68-69 deg.You do not want it too hot...

» The thermo electric units should have a drain in side the water may drip

» down the back.There are a few things you can do tho fix it what model do

» you have,ade what are you using for humidity?

Thanks NB. The coolers are Ezitil shown here:

http://www.ipv-hungen.de/english/index.html they do not have a resevoir for condensation. Bear in mind that I am in the UK and can only buy products available here which are very limited. As I said the smaller one, 30 liters I believe, runs fine. It is the 45 liter model that blows too cold and there is no adjustment dial.

As these got filled to capacity, I went for the wine cooler.

Mel39

[Mel39]

» Mel, one issue, the humidity is going to be much lower in the top of your

» fridge than the bottom. There is a 10% difference in the top and bottom

» level in my fridge. Because of this, I rotate my stock every month.

» Installing fans is also a good idea.

»

» The fridge will also hold steady humidity better if it is pretty full of

» cigars.

» And of course you have to be sure your hygrometer is accurate, not an easy

» task.

»

» Good luck with this.

Thanks Prof, your input is appreciated and will be taken onboard while I continue experimenting. The heat of my apartment around 75-80'F, which I cannot control, is the biggest drawback I feel.

Mel39

[n2advnture]

Mel,

Try putting them on timers so they don't kick on so frequently. Sometimes this helps.

Also, try a temp controller like this:

http://www.northernbrewer.com/temp-control.html

Many have found the combination of the two to be very helpful.

I hope this helps

~Mark

[jasonM]

Maybe some of the people that have been to Cuba can correct me, but all of the pictures that I've seen cigars are just laying out in the open. No humidors. So....being in the Carribean it certainly stays well above 70* most of the year causing me to think that is the lesser of the two issues.

Of course that just my personal opinion.

[Mel39]

» Maybe some of the people that have been to Cuba can correct me, but all of

» the pictures that I've seen cigars are just laying out in the open. No

» humidors. So....being in the Carribean it certainly stays well above 70*

» most of the year causing me to think that is the lesser of the two

» issues.

»

» Of course that just my personal opinion.

Too true, I was told humidity on Cuba is in the 90% range and you can really feel that. However the LCDH that I bought from was very cool inside with air-con.

Mel

[Mel39]

» Mel,

»

» Try putting them on timers so they don't kick on so frequently. Sometimes

» this helps.

»

» Also, try a temp controller like this:

»

» http://www.northernbrewer.com/temp-control.html

»

» Many have found the combination of the two to be very helpful.

»

» I hope this helps

»

» ~Mark

Thanks Mark, I'll check that out. I'll also check if there is something similar sold in the UK.

Why I can't keep the RH level in the wine cooler is a big mystery. It cools down to around 65' so surely I should be able to get a RH of around 65%. I've got your muslin bag of beads absolutely soaked with distilled water hanging in the middle and a bowl beneath catching drips. I have also put another bowl of beads at a higher level. There is a lot of condensation on the back panel also, so the insides of the cooler have a helluva lot of moisture there but RH won't rise much above 50% unless I switch it off and let the temperature rise to 75-80'F and then the RH reaches 65% dead, making the 65% beads spot on.

I'll keep looking for solutions and thanks again.

Mel39

[KB24]

Mel,

Your **** out of luck with the wine cooler. I had one and when it was plugged in it was too cold and the humidity dropped way too low. When it wasn't plugged in the temp rose too high and the humidity some what leveled out but not quite, it was usually too high. The final straw will be when mold hits and then you will bite the bullett and order an Aristocrat. You might as well with all the money and effort you are spending on fixing what you have, put it into an Aristo. It's frustrating I know because I went through the same things you are now. I can't be happier now with my Aristo. Everytime I open her up I have 68deg/65rH. Good Luck!!

-Patrick