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Vinotemp Questions

D

dtandrews

New Member
Joined
May 19, 2008
Messages
32
Well guys, the closet conversion is dead. After two weeks to work on the cooling, I have given up. I have just purchased 2 Vinotemp 28 wine coolers to use instead. I notice a lot of you use a dish of beads in the bottom of the cooler. Is it possible to put the 4oz tubes on various shelves to help equalize the humidity? I would use the amount of tubes needed to equal the amount of beads in the dish. Wouldn't this make more room for cigars? Or is it better to use the dish and a fan or two on the bottom to help circulate the air upwards?

Also, where do you guys get the timers for the fans?

Thanks so much for your help with this, as well as the help you gave me on the closet conversion.
 
The dish in the bottom is used to catch condensation runoff from the channel under the cooling unit. I used a piece of black pastic and black duct tape to adhere a 3 ring binder divider that i trimmed to fit. Basically i took the black divider from a 3 ring binder, its the perfect width. Trimmed the length. So when the dish rests against the back wall of the vinotemp, you just angle the black plastic into the dish.

Presto, your condensation problems are over.

I have two fans mounted in the base on either side of my dish that are hooked up to a timer that runs for 15 minutes every 3 hours.

RH in the bottom says at 68 and at the very top 62.

It does consume more water than a standard all wood humidor, however. Probably a gallon of distilled water every 3 months.

YMMV.. good luck
 
I just bought 1 lb. of beads for mine, and have it split into two 1/2 lb. pouches from heartfelt. I have two singles trays, I put one pouch in each tray. The whole fridge has been hovering around 66-68% RH but occassionaly the top tray will drop to 63 when it tries to cool, and no fans at all.

I may pick up another half pound or so for the bottom of the fridge but I only have one box in there so it hasn't been an issue yet. But I also don't think I'm dealing with the kind of heat you guys are in the south... so I haven't had any condensation yet either.
 
Turk10mm said:
The dish in the bottom is used to catch condensation runoff from the channel under the cooling unit. I used a piece of black pastic and black duct tape to adhere a 3 ring binder divider that i trimmed to fit. Basically i took the black divider from a 3 ring binder, its the perfect width. Trimmed the length. So when the dish rests against the back wall of the vinotemp, you just angle the black plastic into the dish.

Presto, your condensation problems are over.

I have two fans mounted in the base on either side of my dish that are hooked up to a timer that runs for 15 minutes every 3 hours.

RH in the bottom says at 68 and at the very top 62.

It does consume more water than a standard all wood humidor, however. Probably a gallon of distilled water every 3 months.

YMMV.. good luck
Click to expand...

Wow you must have left the drain hole open or have a bad seal...I use only a spritz per week. Maybe 2 cups a year!
 
I don't think I have a bad seal. The holes drilled for fan wires are puttied, but now that i think about it, the hole may not be plugged anymore. been a while, i think i needed my rubber cork for something else.
 
Turk10mm said:
The dish in the bottom is used to catch condensation runoff from the channel under the cooling unit. I used a piece of black pastic and black duct tape to adhere a 3 ring binder divider that i trimmed to fit. Basically i took the black divider from a 3 ring binder, its the perfect width. Trimmed the length. So when the dish rests against the back wall of the vinotemp, you just angle the black plastic into the dish.

Presto, your condensation problems are over.

I have two fans mounted in the base on either side of my dish that are hooked up to a timer that runs for 15 minutes every 3 hours.

RH in the bottom says at 68 and at the very top 62.

It does consume more water than a standard all wood humidor, however. Probably a gallon of distilled water every 3 months.

YMMV.. good luck
Click to expand...

Instead of the 3 ring binder divider, I used humidity sheets from viper (http://www.heartfeltindustries.com/products.asp?cat=36) and then 2 lbs of beads distributed throughout in mesh bags.

Good luck,
-Chad
 
chadth said:
Turk10mm said:
The dish in the bottom is used to catch condensation runoff from the channel under the cooling unit. I used a piece of black pastic and black duct tape to adhere a 3 ring binder divider that i trimmed to fit. Basically i took the black divider from a 3 ring binder, its the perfect width. Trimmed the length. So when the dish rests against the back wall of the vinotemp, you just angle the black plastic into the dish.

Presto, your condensation problems are over.

I have two fans mounted in the base on either side of my dish that are hooked up to a timer that runs for 15 minutes every 3 hours.

RH in the bottom says at 68 and at the very top 62.

It does consume more water than a standard all wood humidor, however. Probably a gallon of distilled water every 3 months.

YMMV.. good luck
Click to expand...

Instead of the 3 ring binder divider, I used humidity sheets from viper (http://www.heartfeltindustries.com/products.asp?cat=36) and then 2 lbs of beads distributed throughout in mesh bags.

Good luck,
-Chad
Click to expand...

How do the humidity sheets work for you? Do the ever get over-saturated?
 
I am building a shelf system to hold the Vinotemps I have purchased. I will then begin to line the coolers with luan and make my shelves and drawers. I will post pictures as I continue.

I have a question about beads. I have decided to go with Heartfelt instead of trying KL since, I cannot find the KL locally and I would rather use a proven product like Heartfelt's. Is it better to use 65% or 70% beads? Is there a reason for each, or is it just personal preference?
 
dtandrews said:
I am building a shelf system to hold the Vinotemps I have purchased. I will then begin to line the coolers with luan and make my shelves and drawers. I will post pictures as I continue.

I have a question about beads. I have decided to go with Heartfelt instead of trying KL since, I cannot find the KL locally and I would rather use a proven product like Heartfelt's. Is it better to use 65% or 70% beads? Is there a reason for each, or is it just personal preference?
Click to expand...

Personal preference. You'll find some cigars smoke better at different humidities. I find some are best at about 62% but other I prefer a bit higher. I find 65% is a good all around humidity to keep them for smoking.

I have started to find that about 70% is good for aging, but I'm not positive. I have one humidor I've been keeping at a about 70% just to see the effects for aging, I've been using PG solution and I think I'm going to start using beads in that one some time. My other humidors I keep at 65 with beads. The beads are definitely much lower maintenance and much easier.
 
I have got a good start on my rack system for the Vinotemps. I decided to do a rack that would hold 5 Vinotemps and a set of drawers for lighters, tubes, and other accessories. The pictures below show my progress so far. I have fitted the bottom 2 coolers in for sizing purposes only. I still have to finish the top shelf, which will hold 3 more Vinotemps. Once the rack is complete and stained, I will add Luan lining, shelves, and drawers to the coolers. Hopefully, this will be complete soon. It has been a long process getting here.

I will be making patterns for all pieces used in the cooler, so if anyone likes the layout, I can mail you copies.

humi1.jpg


humi2.jpg


humi3.jpg
 
That looks good cant wait to see it done. I think while your at it build a bar then you'll have your own one stop shop. If you do or don't it with that many vinotemps I think you should light them up it would look sick.

When I finally get my vino temp I was just going to do the binder thing for condensation then just use beads and battery powered fans (the oust ones) I don't know how many it will take but i got 2 already from my failed coolidor they each run for 5 min every 15 min. I was going to do this as I want to keep the seals good and I see no reason why to drill into it. Ive never had one but it seams to me that this is the easiest way to do it. If there is a problem with doing it this way tell me before I do it LoL. I am also interested in the idea of using humidity sheets instead of the binder divider.
 
beatnik said:
That looks good cant wait to see it done. I think while your at it build a bar then you'll have your own one stop shop. If you do or don't it with that many vinotemps I think you should light them up it would look sick.

When I finally get my vino temp I was just going to do the binder thing for condensation then just use beads and battery powered fans (the oust ones) I don't know how many it will take but i got 2 already from my failed coolidor they each run for 5 min every 15 min. I was going to do this as I want to keep the seals good and I see no reason why to drill into it. Ive never had one but it seams to me that this is the easiest way to do it. If there is a problem with doing it this way tell me before I do it LoL. I am also interested in the idea of using humidity sheets instead of the binder divider.
Click to expand...

I think I am going to go with the divider and beads. No need to screw with success and I cannot find the Oust fans around here. I plan to use timed fans and will silicone all holes after completion. I am not sure about the humidity sheets, would be interesting to hear more about them.
 
dtandrews said:
beatnik said:
That looks good cant wait to see it done. I think while your at it build a bar then you'll have your own one stop shop. If you do or don't it with that many vinotemps I think you should light them up it would look sick.

When I finally get my vino temp I was just going to do the binder thing for condensation then just use beads and battery powered fans (the oust ones) I don't know how many it will take but i got 2 already from my failed coolidor they each run for 5 min every 15 min. I was going to do this as I want to keep the seals good and I see no reason why to drill into it. Ive never had one but it seams to me that this is the easiest way to do it. If there is a problem with doing it this way tell me before I do it LoL. I am also interested in the idea of using humidity sheets instead of the binder divider.
Click to expand...

I think I am going to go with the divider and beads. No need to screw with success and I cannot find the Oust fans around here. I plan to use timed fans and will silicone all holes after completion. I am not sure about the humidity sheets, would be interesting to hear more about them.
Click to expand...

I'm not 100% certain of their status nationwide, but Oust fans have been unavailable up here for about 3 months. Target marked them all down to $1 and they were gone never to return. Apparently they no longer have themn at Wal-Mart, either.

Just an FYI and it may not mean anything out side of this God forsaken place...
 
Yeah, that is what I figured. I think the wired fans will be the ticket for me. I hope to have them done this week.
 
It looks like they no longer have the 'fan' item.

Oust is going with a 'diffuser' based air cleaner.
 
Will you have a fan/exhaust feature in the closet itself? I would think you would need a way of dissipating the heat that 5 fridges would generate. Just a thought as you are in the building stage.
 
tone-ny said:
Will you have a fan/exhaust feature in the closet itself? I would think you would need a way of dissipating the heat that 5 fridges would generate. Just a thought as you are in the building stage.
Click to expand...
Yes, there will be a fan to get the hot air out of the closet.
 
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