Overhumidification on Coolidors

[drew_goring]

It seems to me that the general trouble with coolidors is that they need to be frequently opened to maintain the proper RH and to exhange the air out of the coolidor. My question is...

Is there a way to make a coolidor with an opening to exchange air and still maintain the proper RH for the coolidor?

If a coolidor is left unattended for a while, like on a vacation or something like that, it would be nice to be able to leave it and not worry about it. Since I am an occasional smoker, I am interested in your views on this. Are there other ways to set one up so there is at least some ventilation without sacrificing RH? That is my question.


fyi I don't have a coolidor yet, but I am planning to make one, and I am hoping that I can establish the best coolidor that I can. Thanks.

Roger.

Over the winter when I really didn't smoke very much, my cooler got opened maybe once a week and this was just to pick out a smoke. RH was rock steady at 66% the whole winter. I could maybe see excess humidity being a problem if you are in a hot environment with a simple humidification system. Simple meaning simpler than beads. Beads will release and absorb humidity so there should be no problem there. I have a Hydra active humidification system and it has been working extremely well for me. When I did have beads they worked well too.

[Shelby07]

Over the winter when I really didn't smoke very much, my cooler got opened maybe once a week and this was just to pick out a smoke. RH was rock steady at 66% the whole winter. I could maybe see excess humidity being a problem if you are in a hot environment with a simple humidification system. Simple meaning simpler than beads. Beads will release and absorb humidity so there should be no problem there. I have a Hydra active humidification system and it has been working extremely well for me. When I did have beads they worked well too.

Actually, a drop in temperature will increase RH in a sealed unit such as a cooler. That's when you need the beads to absorb. You should put your cooler in a location with minimum temperature fluctuations as your RH changes with temperature change. Hotter = lower RH, cooler = higher RH as long as the water volume in the air remains constant.

[drew_goring]

Actually, a drop in temperature will increase RH in a sealed unit such as a cooler. That's when you need the beads to absorb. You should put your cooler in a location with minimum temperature fluctuations as your RH changes with temperature change. Hotter = lower RH, cooler = higher RH as long as the water volume in the air remains constant.

Yeah, I wasn't very clear with that. What I was getting at is that generally in a hotter climate, ambient humidity is much higher as opposed to the nearly 0% humidity we experience in the winter, which makes our humidification devices have to work just that much harder. If you just have a sponge with water in a climate with a high ambient humidity there is definitely a risk of over humidification. This makes the beads a very attractive choice because as long as you use them right, they can absorb and release water.

But yes Mark, you are right-in a closed system.

[bigwhiteash]

Beads are the ONLY option where I live... other than a whole house dehumidifier.

Ambient today is over 90% at 93* F.

[drew_goring]

Beads are the ONLY option where I live... other than a whole house dehumidifier.

Ambient today is over 90% at 93* F.

68degF and 51% here right now. Can't complain.

[Roger]

Thank you everyone for your input. I guess I may be just "too worried" about keeping them at the right RH. I will definitely give the beads a try for my humidification when I get that far. Looking for a nice cheap cooler to get started with.

[Cigarbear]

I'm actually struggling with keeping my cooler RH in the happy range. I even removed all the beads a couple days ago and it hasn't dropped below ~72%. When I open the cooler, the RH actually goes up. I'm wondering if the hygrometer and plan on reclibrating tonight as a test.