Adding PC fans to Wine Fridge

[mbrody]

I'm interested in improving the circulation of air and humidity in my wine fridges and see that people mention PC fans as a good method of moving some air around.

Can anybody provide a tutorial or step by step guide for adding them to a fridge?

Mike

[Bartolomeo]

I'm interested in improving the circulation of air and humidity in my wine fridges and see that people mention PC fans as a good method of moving some air around.

Can anybody provide a tutorial or step by step guide for adding them to a fridge?

Mike

I need to update some pics but this is a good start

http://www.friendsofhabanos.com/forum/inde...20&start=20

My fans run when the Vinos run FYI

Bart

[mbrody]

Thanks Bart. I will check it out and see what I can handle...never thought having too many cigars would create a problem!!!

[Guest gradymrobertson]

Mike, a pretty simple solution is an Oust fan without the scent. I have a few extra and could send you a couple.

Grady

[mbrody]

Grady, Thanks! I would be interested in trying them to see if they can do the trick. I'm willing to pay you for them, so PM me if you are interested.

[PigFish]

You need a timer, controller or some other switch to control them if you are looking for controlled, active devises; or perhaps run them all the time. If you are going to use DC fans in a Peliter device cooler you can tap the power wires where the thermostat powers the cooler (assuming they are the 12 volt type) and run your fan when when the cooler is energized.

If you tell me what kind of cooler you posses and what your goal is with the circulation fan(s) I can better help you. I need to know what kind of controls you are using and if I have familiarity with them I will post some ideas for you.

I have now built numerous actively cooled and actively humidified cigar storage boxes (humidors) using wine coolers. Like building race cars, the more control you want the more you spend to get it.

If you look up my humidor tutorial (posted by Rob) it may help you with some ideas about how to accomplish your tasks electrically. -Piggy

[mbrody]

Piggy, I will look up your thread.

I use Avanti 28 thermoelectric fridges. Going to try the Oust fans in the mean time thanks to Grady...

[PigFish]

Attached you will see some pictures of my latest project which includes the controls, fans and system control relays. Fans and fan controls overlap in these systems and even though they work generally to circulate air, they should be thought out and tested to work empirically. It all depends on your intent, your level of interest and of course your budget. Best of luck on your project. -Ray

Fans

Overall

Control relays. The dimmer is used to control the cooler fan and experiment with different settings to establish optimum performance if any.

Humidifier fan.

[mbrody]

Ray, do you work for NASA?!?

[kcmontie]

NASA for real......WOW... very nice

[PigFish]

Ray, do you work for NASA?!?

... no, they do a background check!

[audio1der]

WOW- that is a LOT of wiring and devices in with the sticks.

I had a nice timer/voltage regulator/PC fan setup but have unplugged it as I believ it's superfluous.

If anyone wants to trade the setup for sticks shoot me a pm.

[mrbagel]

I bought a wine cooler on the weekend and im pondering how to get a fan in their as well.

Do people think a Laptop cooling pad with fans in it would work? it will just be a matter of gettinga USB wall adapter to power it since every single one i have seen is powered through USB.

[thechenman]

I would go with a simple battery operated fan. Cheap and efficient. Use recharageable batteries.

[Bartolomeo]

I bought a wine cooler on the weekend and im pondering how to get a fan in their as well.

Do people think a Laptop cooling pad with fans in it would work? it will just be a matter of gettinga USB wall adapter to power it since every single one i have seen is powered through USB.

Been there, done that...........dont do it is my recommendation for the LT cooling pad

How big a wine cooler?

Make sure to get some beads as well, never have enough especially if your going to be opening and closing periodically during the week

Bart

[PigFish]

Circulation is primarily a need of active systems; meaning this. If you have an active humidifier or an active refrigerator then it benefits you to increase circulation in order to decrease over saturation. In other words you don't want your cigars over cooler or over humidified in areas away from your controller. Circulation fans are better for active systems where these situations can and do occur.

I think that refrigerated systems, as active systems, require active air circulation. Rapid response to changing condition such as overheating is why you choose an active system in the first place. If stable conditions provided by active systems is the goal, circulation is one key to that process and is a requirement. (MHO) - Piggy

[mrbagel]

Been there, done that...........dont do it is my recommendation for the LT cooling pad

How big a wine cooler?

Make sure to get some beads as well, never have enough especially if your going to be opening and closing periodically during the week

Bart

It's a 28 bottle, not sure of the dimension and i can't get them yet since i can't get my hands on it for a few weeks.

I will get some beads with my next order later this month, would 16 ounces be enough?

Also would some pucks just be rubbish?

[thechenman]

With a 28 bottle wine fridge...forget about the pucks...cost wise, it is cheaper just to get beads in bulk. I would go with at least 32 ounces (2 lbs.) or even more. You can never have too much when it comes to beads.

[JSPEC]

You need a timer, controller or some other switch to control them if you are looking for controlled, active devises; or perhaps run them all the time. If you are going to use DC fans in a Peliter device cooler you can tap the power wires where the thermostat powers the cooler (assuming they are the 12 volt type) and run your fan when when the cooler is energized.

If you tell me what kind of cooler you posses and what your goal is with the circulation fan(s) I can better help you. I need to know what kind of controls you are using and if I have familiarity with them I will post some ideas for you.

I have now built numerous actively cooled and actively humidified cigar storage boxes (humidors) using wine coolers. Like building race cars, the more control you want the more you spend to get it.

If you look up my humidor tutorial (posted by Rob) it may help you with some ideas about how to accomplish your tasks electrically. -Piggy

What did you use as the timer? I am trying to incorporate a timer to run my fans; so exploring possible methods.

[PigFish]

What did you use as the timer? I am trying to incorporate a timer to run my fans; so exploring possible methods.

Mate I don't use a timer. I use a semi-programable logic controller. My system is automatic and on demand. I am experimenting now with a powered bead silo that runs 24/7. This may be an okay alternative but is not the same as controller. Beads as a buffer works in some situations but they are not "smart" controls by any sense.

My newest idea is the use of beads as a post-conditioned-air processor. What this means is that I seal the cooling coil behind a false back and only allow forced air into the humidor (cooled air) that has been processed through a conditioned bead silo first. In this way... at least theoretically, the dry air will have a chance to pick up some moisture while passing the beads. The desorption cycle in beads is not a fast one at temperatures below about 250 degrees F, so I am not really convinced that this will work. I will likely build and test a prototype anyway!

-Piggy