Humidity Advice

[LandonColby]

I was a bit confused wondering how the RH could change like that indoors in an enclosed container.

Temperature.

[rodwha]

I didn't realize that despite being contained the temp could change the RH, especially not like that.

[LandonColby]

Certainly, but indoors it shouldn't change that much.

Do you have a programmable T stat that you allow a significant difference in temp?

I didn't realize that despite being contained the temp could change the RH, especially not like that.

Yeah, here in southern CA things get kinda warm this time of year. My Humi goes from low 70's/high 60's at night to 78-80 during the day.

usually hangs in the 70 range most of the year when it's not hot as hell.

[rodwha]

Certainly, but indoors it shouldn't change that much.

Do you have a programmable T stat that you allow a significant difference in temp?

[Ilroy]

With those huge temperature swings, you might consider just getting a wineador. A smaller one can be had for a reasonable price and hold a couple hundred or so, depending on RG. My RH is dead on day and night and the temp remains constant.

[LandonColby]

With those huge temperature swings, you might consider just getting a wineador. A smaller one can be had for a reasonable price and hold a couple hundred or so, depending on RG. My RH is dead on day and night and the temp remains constant.

Ultimately that's the goal. I strongly desire one but have been lazy and haven't looked too hard into finding a cheap one. Is anyone making these "ready to go" or is it still a DIY free for all? Or is anyone making cedar inserts for the Vinos?

[stonecutter2]

Ultimately that's the goal. I strongly desire one but have been lazy and haven't looked too hard into finding a cheap one. Is anyone making these "ready to go" or is it still a DIY free for all? Or is anyone making cedar inserts for the Vinos?

I wouldn't worry about a wineador just yet.

I think more than anything, you may just need more humidity buffering within the humidor for now, until the Spanish cedar truly seasons and the cigars acclimate to the humidor. Your swings of RH while the cigars were in the humi, in my opinion, are just the cigars "breathing" based on the ambient temperature of the humidor and the RH they're experiencing. As temperatures rise, the humidity is released from the cigars and from the air, and the gel and Spanish cedar will absorb some of that excess humidity slowly. As temps cool, the air will absorb more humidity and so will the cigars.

Keep in mind that cigars act just like any humidifying gel or packet will - they absorb and release humidity, too. When adding a new "factor" (your cigars) into an enclosed space, you may see some shifts in relative humidity until things settle out. You want to wait it out and see where things land when they stabilize.
62-65 RH isn't a big deal.
58-75 RH is, or can be, if you go from 75 to 71 to 68 to 63 to 58.....and don't climb back up!

You really should worry more about consistent and gradual declines in RH, than a seesaw number that fluctuates. A gradual decrease indicates either the humi isn't seasoned enough yet, or you have a leak.

I like Boveda packs as they are 2 way - they both absorb and release humidity, and with enough in a space, they will maintain a humidity quite well.

Ideally, a humidor should stay stable in both temp and RH, but fluctuations as you describe aren't that bad at all. High 60's to low 80's in temp...don't think that's a big deal. So long as you see swaying of RH readings up and down and back up again. You WILL see RH move around with temps moving like that though, that's why it's relative humidity (Google it):
the amount of water vapor present in air expressed as a percentage of the amount needed for saturation at the same temperature.

[LandonColby]

I wouldn't worry about a wineador just yet.

I think more than anything, you may just need more humidity buffering within the humidor for now, until the Spanish cedar truly seasons and the cigars acclimate to the humidor. Your swings of RH while the cigars were in the humi, in my opinion, are just the cigars "breathing" based on the ambient temperature of the humidor and the RH they're experiencing. As temperatures rise, the humidity is released from the cigars and from the air, and the gel and Spanish cedar will absorb some of that excess humidity slowly. As temps cool, the air will absorb more humidity and so will the cigars.

Keep in mind that cigars act just like any humidifying gel or packet will - they absorb and release humidity, too. When adding a new "factor" (your cigars) into an enclosed space, you may see some shifts in relative humidity until things settle out. You want to wait it out and see where things land when they stabilize.
62-65 RH isn't a big deal.
58-75 RH is, or can be, if you go from 75 to 71 to 68 to 63 to 58.....and don't climb back up!

You really should worry more about consistent and gradual declines in RH, than a seesaw number that fluctuates. A gradual decrease indicates either the humi isn't seasoned enough yet, or you have a leak.

I like Boveda packs as they are 2 way - they both absorb and release humidity, and with enough in a space, they will maintain a humidity quite well.

Ideally, a humidor should stay stable in both temp and RH, but fluctuations as you describe aren't that bad at all. High 60's to low 80's in temp...don't think that's a big deal. So long as you see swaying of RH readings up and down and back up again. You WILL see RH move around with temps moving like that though, that's why it's relative humidity (Google it):
the amount of water vapor present in air expressed as a percentage of the amount needed for saturation at the same temperature.

I bet they would have been fine but I didn't want to wait and see. My humi has been sitting and it's well OVER humidified. I took the bowl of DW out and stuck both of my Xikar gel crystals in (both rated for 50 cigars and are also 2-way like bovedas). Now I'm patiently waiting for the rH to drop to 70 and stabilize then I'll add my babies back in.

Also just wanted to say that colder air will hold LESS moisture, it may seem that way looking at a digital hygrometer but that's because the colder air makes moisture condense on the element in the hygro.

Long story short...I still want a wineador lol

[Ilroy]

Ultimately that's the goal. I strongly desire one but have been lazy and haven't looked too hard into finding a cheap one. Is anyone making these "ready to go" or is it still a DIY free for all? Or is anyone making cedar inserts for the Vinos?

There are some ready to go ones out there. Check Amazon to see if they have them in stock, and Home Depot also has some ready to go. If you have the available funds, it is very easy to get into one.

[Herf N Turf]

Haven't read through the thread, but to answer you quickly, YES, you should be fine. The fact that you had some water in there for several days and assuming the cigars were properly stored prior to emigrating, there's enough of a buffer in there to hedge your bets nicely.

About everything I have to say about conditioning a humidor are in the two stickies at the top. They'll tell you what you did right and show you the things you should perhaps do differently.

Also, moved this to the proper forum.