It seems I cannot hold mt 65% anymore... It does some major fluctuations. Like 55-72 sometimes. It will very rarely sit at 65% for long... Maybe a few days. I have 2lbs of RH ( Not HCM ) beads in it from CigarMony.com ( N2 ) , and I open it maybe once a week... I also have around 5-6 cabs, 2 large, 3 small and 2 shelves from ChasDen and around 100 or so ( didn't count ) loose sticks.

My beads are in the mesh bad on top and then the rest in a shallow tub on the bottom. I don't know whats happening. Are the beads shot? They are around 2 years old. They are also starting to discolor.. Is that them absorbing the ammonia, or is that only a trait from Shilala's beads..

None the less, not sure whats going on.
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Hi Anthony,

I'm sorry to hear you're having trouble.

With such wide RH swings, my first suspicion would be from the Vino temp control kicking on and off but without being there to see what's going on, it's tough.

I've never had any "go bad" but please feel free to send them back and I'll swap them out.

The discoloration is normal as the RH Beads absorb moisture that contains oils from the tobacco.

I hope this helps and that all is well.

~Mark
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No need to send them back, but i appreciate you giving me the offer. As long as the coloration is normal. They do their normal turning clear to milky white, so in terms of them absorbing they re good to go.

I did remember about the fluctuation of the temps, but they temps dont change much on the hygrometer. I'll try and make it a bit colder in there and see if that would help.
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When is the last time you checked your hygrometer?
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If you haven't already, start by replacing the batteries and then calibrating your hygrometer.


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What is the current temp set to?

You may want to use a Johnson's temperature controller as well. If you set it to closer to 70 degrees, it will turn on/off less frequently which should reduce the frequency of wide RH swings.

Also, adding fans will help to evenly distribute the RH throughout.

Sorry, for reason I thought you said you calibrated your hygros - if not, Ranger and Apoco are absolutely correct. Replace the batteries and calibrate them first so we know where we stand.

Hygros do "drift" and weak batteries can give unfavorable readings.

I hope this helps

~Mark
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I did just calibrate it. Maybe my battery is going bad. Because in a sealed baggie with salt I adjusted it to 75 then a few hours later the RH was off again. So maybe the weak battery isn't giving strong readings ...
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Could be the battery. I know when mine start to kick they fluctuate a little bit. I do try and change mine at a very minimum, once a year. How do the sticks feel?
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IMO kinda dry. So the RH would seem to read right. I'm not a cigar expert at all so they could be ok too... they seem to smoke good though.
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I had one Vino that developed those same kind of symptoms. After looking I found corrosion around the top of the fan assembly on the back (I think it is a fan). The corrosion had gone all the way through and was allowing air in. The unit ran too much and pulled in humidity. I turned that one back into a wine cooler!!
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I have found that a plugged in Vinotemp will suck your beads dry (that's what she said). I am not having the fluctuations that you get, but if the beads aren't charged, then your outside RH may get those fluctuations. I used to undercharge my beads, afraid of jacking up the RH. I have learned that when it says to have 70% of them wet, it is the truth. I have been recharging about every 10 days with the vino plugged in. If your A/C is at a good setting, you may try it unplugged. Other than that I don't understand why the thermoelectric units are draining my beads. :-)
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That is the deciding factor. Remember the air RH changes much faster than the cigar RH. Cigars hold their RH very well compared to the other elements (air, beads, etc.). I have gotten many different readings from 60 up to 72. I have found that 60 to 68 is fine with me. They still smoke well.
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Do you have a link for the temperature controller? Thanks.
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I live in an attic that is finished so it gets hot. We have central AC but its such an old design that its still hot. I have a window unit running but once its hot.
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Is it a thermoelectric?
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The humidity of your Vinotemp is irrelevant. What's important is the Rh of your cigars, place a hygrometer on the inside of a box for 24hours. Take a look at the high and low temps and Rh. Over a period of time the Rh should average out to something in the range of 58-65%. Your wine cooler is cycling more often and there will be fluctuations in the humidity, but I will guess that the Rh of your cigars is exactly where your beads are set. :-)
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Will do. But what about my chasden drawers? I have slotted bottoms so wouldn't they fluctuate faster than the ones in the box.
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They'll swing back just as fast. If the cigars in the drawers are smoking the way you like them, then everything is fine. Cigars are much tougher than anyone gives them credit. If you're concerned take out 10 cigars and place them in a ziplock with a hygrometer for 12 hours, take a reading and look at the high/lows. :-)
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Good idea.
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I replaced the battery and I noticed that the display on the hygro is WAY brigher now. So maybe the low battery was lagging on the RH reading. So we will see.

Also to add this, I just smoked a stick that I have multiple of and it seems hard to draw from. Before it wasnt, but now I seem to be having an issue with it. So that does lead me to say the RH was off... Are these going to recover?
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