Thermoelectric wine cooler drying and curing - DIY

Quick update, I lowered the rh to 63, the temp is still set to 64f. As the dehumidifier runs the temp will creep up to 66, then quickly drop back to 64 once the dehumidifier turns off. After looking at the Cannatrol settings they recommend 68f, so I’m going to let it stay with these settings and see how it goes, it’s working just as expected.

One thing I did notice is that I had originally placed the cooler where it wasn’t quite level, and was leaning just slightly forward. The water coming off the dehumidifier was not running directly out the drain because of this. I just put a couple shims under the front feet and problem solved, just something to keep in mind when setting it up.

Hook Daddy said:

Quick update, I lowered the rh to 63, the temp is still set to 64f. As the dehumidifier runs the temp will creep up to 66, then quickly drop back to 64 once the dehumidifier turns off. After looking at the Cannatrol settings they recommend 68f, so I’m going to let it stay with these settings and see how it goes, it’s working just as expected.

One thing I did notice is that I had originally placed the cooler where it wasn’t quite level, and was leaning just slightly forward. The water coming off the dehumidifier was not running directly out the drain because of this. I just put a couple shims under the front feet and problem solved, just something to keep in mind when setting it up.

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Does the drain on the cooler just evaporate? Or do you have to actually drain it? Also, could this u it function in a closet? Or does it need a couple feet all around it?

TCH said:

Does the drain on the cooler just evaporate? Or do you have to actually drain it? Also, could this u it function in a closet? Or does it need a couple feet all around it?

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My last runs I didn’t ever drain the drip pan and it never overflowed, but since I was messing with it and leveling it this time it was sloshing around a bit. I just stuck a couple paper towels in the tray for a sec and dried it out, it is fairly easy to reach even from the front leaning over it. I’m going to watch it closer for the next day or two. On the cannatrol they say the first couple days to drain it, after that it evaporates faster than it fills.

I don’t think it needs as much room behind it as a compressor model would. I think it should do fine in a closet as long as it wasn’t too hot in there. I would leave at least a few inches behind it, other than that should be fine.

TCH said:

Just got delivered about 15 minutes ago. Should work just fine, but I'll just have to sacrifice one of the several spare cubes laying around. No big deal for me.

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Got all my shit the other day. Just now getting time to start messing with it....

@Hook Daddy, did you mount the dehuey, with the fan facing up?
Also, how did you fit all five shelves, with the dehuey at the bottom?

Hollatchaboy said:

@Hook Daddy, did you mount the dehuey, with the fan facing up?
Also, how did you fit all five shelves, with the dehuey at the bottom?

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I just set the dehumidifier in there after removing all the bs, I think it’s right at the beginning of the post how I took it all apart. Then I just set it in the back of the cooler with the pointed fins in the drip channel along the back. Those pointed fins is where the water will condense and run off, going out into the drip pan. The fan is facing forward toward the door of the cooler. I did cut the bottom shelf to fit the dehumidifier, this last one I just removed the last bar, leaving the side rails all the way back. Then when I cut the mats I just cut around where the dehumidifier sits.

Edit: My first cooler is about done with a load, once it’s finished I’ll take some more pictures if that’s not clear.

Ok, I think i'm done.... for now. I still gotta wrap 1 more shelf, cut the bottom shelf, and wrap that one also. Not exactly sure which outlet to plug the dehuey into the Inkbird. I haven't read through the instructions yet. Lol

I may eventually take it back apart, and mount the Inkbird and all the wiring, inside the back panel, so nothing is exposed. I'd also like to figure out a way to mount the dehuey. That way it could be moved without it sliding around.

Looking good. Plug the dehumidifier into work 2 on the Inkbird.

Hook Daddy said:

Looking good. Plug the dehumidifier into work 2 on the Inkbird.

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Good lookin out. I already feel like it's gonna work great. The lil fridge seems pretty decent quality.

Hollatchaboy said:

I may eventually take it back apart, and mount the Inkbird and all the wiring, inside the back panel, so nothing is exposed.

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I just leave my Inkbird on top or the side of the cooler. Mounting it inside would look much cleaner, but it is nice to see it sometimes. The app updates about once a minute and plots a graph once every 15 minutes, but occasionally it is nice to watch the readout since it is real time. It’s only useful to watch the first couple days, and after a few runs you may decide it’s not worth looking at all.

Hollatchaboy said:

I may eventually take it back apart, and mount the Inkbird and all the wiring, inside the back panel, so nothing is exposed. I'd also like to figure out a way to mount the dehuey. That way it could be moved without it sliding around.

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Wouldn't it be beneficial to have the inkbird accessible to make adjustments without having to move things around or remove the back panel?


ETA: I just realized you guys have the wifi version so you can probably adjust it via the app.

Hook Daddy said:

I just leave my Inkbird on top or the side of the cooler. Mounting it inside would look much cleaner, but it is nice to see it sometimes. The app updates about once a minute and plots a graph once every 15 minutes, but occasionally it is nice to watch the readout since it is real time. It’s only useful to watch the first couple days, and after a few runs you may decide it’s not worth looking at all.

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Yea I've thought about that. I figure after a while I'll learn it, and won't really need to have access, but I will need to keep wifi outage in mind.

During winter I kept my fridge in the garage. I got Great results at 50degrees F.

I’d prefer a “cold cure” over whatever is the opposite of that.

Is there such a thing as uncured terpenes? I googled it, but I couldn't find anything.

pahpah-cee said:

During winter I kept my fridge in the garage. I got Great results at 50degrees F.

I’d prefer a “cold cure” over whatever is the opposite of that.

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Actually my first couple runs were a little cooler, then I read the Cannatrol cures at 68 which got me curious. I decided to split the difference and run at 64 this round and see how it comes out. I don’t expect much of a difference but worth trying. I’m trying to pay closer attention to VPD now, so 60/60 is about .6 VPD which is ok but drys fairly quickly. I’m shooting for a VPD of .75 or so, so 64f and 58 RH should be about perfect.

Hollatchaboy said:

Is there such a thing as uncured terpenes? I googled it, but I couldn't find anything.

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fresh frozen hash/rosin never even got a chance to cure yet it fetches the top dollar. So there is no logic in this.

pahpah-cee said:

fresh frozen hash/rosin never even got a chance to cure yet it fetches the top dollar. So there is no logic in this.

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I kinda had a feeling.

Hook Daddy said:

Actually my first couple runs were a little cooler, then I read the Cannatrol cures at 68 which got me curious. I decided to split the difference and run at 64 this round and see how it comes out. I don’t expect much of a difference but worth trying. I’m trying to pay closer attention to VPD now, so 60/60 is about .6 VPD which is ok but drys fairly quickly. I’m shooting for a VPD of .75 or so, so 64f and 58 RH should be about perfect.

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I appreciate you running experiments with this. I went a different route and went slow and cold. I keep it at 58F and only work the RH down 0.5% a day. Usually it’s done in about 2 weeks if the fridge is fully loaded.

what we really need is someone to build us a Adurino controller that will automate the dehumidifier to run specific parameters.
the Cannatrol does some funky shit according to their patent. I’ve concluded that they don’t use a Dehum but an actual heating element to control it. I think our concept is better since it adds heat and rips moisture out of the air.

pahpah-cee said:

I appreciate you running experiments with this. I went a different route and went slow and cold. I keep it at 58F and only work the RH down 0.5% a day. Usually it’s done in about 2 weeks if the fridge is fully loaded.

what we really need is someone to build us a Adurino controller that will automate the dehumidifier to run specific parameters.
the Cannatrol does some funky shit according to their patent. I’ve concluded that they don’t use a Dehum but an actual heating element to control it. I think our concept is better since it adds heat and rips moisture out of the air.

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I only chopped about a third of my plants, so next week I will probably run another load at 58f as well. I was thinking the same as you with a controller. When you set the dehumidifier low in the beginning the cooler rises in temp before the dehumidifier shuts off. If you could program the cooler to kick on before the temp starts rising that would help. I’m also thinking it might be beneficial to shorten the difference rh on the Inkbird to only one or two %RH. In fact I might go try that right now just to see what it does.