Humidor, Coolidor Temperature Variations

[mrcigar]

Got this test going on at the moment. I have some temperature data logger devices (use 'em at work) which record temps every 60 seconds and sends the info to a receiver plugged into my laptop. I have one in my humidor, one sat on top of the humidor, one in a cool box, and another on top of the cool box. It's interesting to note that, although I only started this about 16:30 today, the humidor is more stable than the cool box.

The differences aren't huge, but I would have thought that an insulated cool box would have responded less to ambient room temps than a wooden box. It's also interesting to see how the temperature inside the humidor tracks the changes in room temperature almost immediately. Just goes to show the importance of finding a spot in your house where the temps are consistent.

Will leave it running over the weekend and see what the results are.

[Eddie]

Dont suppose you can plot RH against temp can you?

[mrcigar]

Don't suppose you can plot RH against temp can you?

No, that would be just the job wouldn't it? It would be useful to have some data showing what happens to the humidity as temps vary.

I was reading up on the relative humidity of a saturated salt solution, and was surprised to find that the changes in humidity were almost negligible over quite considerable temperature changes. With this in mind, it raises the question about the effectiveness of these humidity solutions and gels etc. that are designed to regulate humidity, i.e. how much are they effected by temperature?
I suppose the thing to bear in mind here is that, once the wood in the humidor has absorbed the correct amount of moisture, temperature changes will cause the humidity in the humidor to fluctuate because of the moisture in the wood and in the cigars themselves, not just the puck/gel/pouch etc.

[Eddie]

Yeah, the beads are based on the way metal salts have stable RH. The graph I was hoping to see was one to show how the humidity changes due to temp changes due to the water in the air. Then how long to return to "normal" one the temperature stabilises.

[mrcigar]

Here's the data I referred to earlier -

Saturated Salt Relative Humidity.pdf

[Puff Scotty]

I use a Humidiprobe from pico, plots humidity against temperature with a single probe, about ?150, plugs straight into your usb, the TC-08 data logger is also useful for more temp readings.....

[Puff Scotty]

Dont suppose you can plot RH against temp can you?

Yes mate see above...

[Puff Scotty]

I have a brand new Picoscope 4424 full kit for sale if anyone is interested!

[mrcigar]

I use a Humidiprobe from pico, plots humidity against temperature with a single probe, about ?150, plugs straight into your usb, the TC-08 data logger is also useful for more temp readings.....

What have you discovered when you test the environment in your humi, Puff?

[Puff Scotty]

Oh Jaysuss mr c. I've already been told off this week for getting too technical....
In my humis I use Diamond Crown setups which are calibrated against the humidiprobe, I have logged dozens of times the fluctuations between temp & humidity but in a nutshell it tracks each other. In a microclimate..temp up = humidity rise, dependant on volume,material,external t & h,airflow etc.
Fluctuations are the norm between outside & inside, controlling one has a direct reflection on controlling the other (outside to in) the humidor is a barrier against this.
I converted a small area in my loft several years ago & to stop wild seasonal temperature swings, which result in wilder humidity swings, had to resort to lagging, insulation, boarding, heating & cooling to get it stable enough for peace of mind...I'm sure at the time everyone though I was growing a herb crop.
What it did teach me is that small fluctuations in either don't make a f88k**g bit of difference to your stogies.......don't get too paranoid !

just a little addition, years ago we built a series of control panels for the Hong Kong - Lantau railway, once installed & functioning our only problem was humidity..water was actually running down the backplates of the Eldon enclosures we had built...great fun water & leccy!

[mrcigar]

Technical is good because it provides a scientific foundation to work to. That said, and all the testing and empirical data gathered, the end result is whether you get a good smoke or not and, as you say, it makes very little difference to your stogies.

(Stogie - slang term for cigar, named after the Conestoga wagon drivers who used to roll tobacco into thin ropes for smoking on long journeys.)

[Puff Scotty]

(Conestoga - a village of south east Pennsylvania.)

[mrcigar]

This is a Kilner jar with a wet salt thing and a hydrometer in it. I moved it to different parts of the house where some were warm and some were cold. Interestingly, and contrary to the info on the attached pdf, the RH fluctuated by 10%.
Again, it shows the importance of keeping your humi in a stable temperature.
image-611979402.jpg

[pedro]

This is a Kilner jar with a wet salt thing and a hydrometer in it. I moved it to different parts of the house where some were warm and some were cold. Interestingly, and contrary to the info on the attached pdf, the RH fluctuated by 10%.
Again, it shows the importance of keeping your humi in a stable temperature.
[ATTACH]10922[/ATTACH]

Could also be down to the fact that analogue hygrometers are crap at giving your humidity readings in the first place, as the temperature should not be that big a factor with the salt test

[Eddie]

But did the RH return to 75.5% after the temp had changed and the the RH had chance to return?