Haier Wine Cooler
- Thread starter edisonbird
- Start date
I wanted to add another note here. I was worried that I might have mistaken the Haier for a thermoelectric wine cooler. I looked it up on the net and it seems to be similiar to the one I have. I really wanted to get a thermoelectric unit. They are more expensive, but no moving parts except the fan and they have them in bigger sizes now and I think they probably would make the best cooler/humi you could get. There are even new models that have the temp. controller to set right at 65 and no condenser etc..many of the older models just have hot and cold cycles that you can get close to 65 with, but can't keep a constant temp.
I would venture a name for the thermoelcetric cooler/humi as "Peltierador", what do you think?
Also, In answer to the previous post, I haven't noticed any refridgerator taste and I don't think I will. I am already planning how I can rearrange my trays and boxes to fit more. Thanks for the inspiration!!!
I would venture a name for the thermoelcetric cooler/humi as "Peltierador", what do you think?
Also, In answer to the previous post, I haven't noticed any refridgerator taste and I don't think I will. I am already planning how I can rearrange my trays and boxes to fit more. Thanks for the inspiration!!!
Hey all. I have a setup with a traditional compressor in a Haier Wine Cooler. I have a pound of beads (from Heartfelt Industries) in the cooler along with some spanish cedar shelves I cut to replace the wire ones that were there already.
I have bypassed the cycling problem by using a beer fridge controller. I put the sensor right behind the cooling lines at the beginning of the cooling area. The sensor is kinda long and fits perfectly right behind the plate that contains the cooling coils. What happens is that the compressor will be on for only 42 seconds every 12 minutes or so (78F in the house and the cooler is in the laundry room next to the garage. And we live in Central Texas).
I have a datalogging temperature/humidity sensor and have monitored both. Humidity only decreases for only 3 minutes before it is back up where it should be.
I have a 12V fan on constantly set at the lowest possible setting using a 12V controller outside of the cooler.
With this setup, things work perfectly in the sense that if my wireless digital thermometer/hygrometer is inside a box with the top cracked open, then the temperature stays right on 70F/65%.
If anyone wants any more information on my setup, please feel free to contact me.
CarpeDNA
I have bypassed the cycling problem by using a beer fridge controller. I put the sensor right behind the cooling lines at the beginning of the cooling area. The sensor is kinda long and fits perfectly right behind the plate that contains the cooling coils. What happens is that the compressor will be on for only 42 seconds every 12 minutes or so (78F in the house and the cooler is in the laundry room next to the garage. And we live in Central Texas).
I have a datalogging temperature/humidity sensor and have monitored both. Humidity only decreases for only 3 minutes before it is back up where it should be.
I have a 12V fan on constantly set at the lowest possible setting using a 12V controller outside of the cooler.
With this setup, things work perfectly in the sense that if my wireless digital thermometer/hygrometer is inside a box with the top cracked open, then the temperature stays right on 70F/65%.
If anyone wants any more information on my setup, please feel free to contact me.
CarpeDNA
celticgent
Sick Boy
my first thought when i read this thread title was
"man if those Haier wine coolers are as bad as Bartles & James, this is going to be a bad review"
"man if those Haier wine coolers are as bad as Bartles & James, this is going to be a bad review"
sorry, i never saw this post...hikari said:
A - i ALMOST put cedar shelves in, then i bought my Aristocrat cabinet humidor. a budy of mine on CW (tornado) has a wood shop in his garage... just never got around to it.
B - no difference in taste to the cigars. they were all in cedar boxes anyway, and really not that cold (65* isn't that cold).
Here is what I have done to keep the temp in check and it ran me about $350.00
It is a wine cooler and here is the break down:
Avanti model EWC28 thermoelectric ( only type to get for better RH control) I got it off ebay from anythingforsale it is a scratch & dent model with only small dents to the lower rear corners for $169.00 delivered, If you get one of these make sure you read the discription of the damage.
Link
http://cgi.ebay.com/Avanti-28Bottle-Thermo...1QQcmdZViewItem
To get the correct temp, mine wouldn't go above 58 deg, I bought a Johnson controler from Williams Brewing for $54.16 delivered.
Link
http://www.williamsbrewing.com/CONTROLLER_P762C100.cfm
I bought Polymers from Watersorm 2lbs for $15.00 delivered. Get the craft stuff it has no dust
Link
http://watersorb.com/prices.htm
You can also buy 65% beads but at a cost of $65.00 for 2 lbs I'll stick with the watersorb
I have 2 Oust Fans I bought at the Grocery store on sale for $5.00 each, don't use the scents just the fans.
Link
http://www.oustodor.com/oust-fan/
I went to Rocker and bought Sp Cedar for about $70.00, I bought too much but will use the rest on the next Coolidor I'm building, you will need 1 pc. 5" x 48" and 1 2" x 48" to make 2 shelves. You don't have to get the Sp Cedar but it really makes the coolidor smell like a humidor ;D ONLY GET SPANISH CEDAR FOR THE SMELL AND IT HELPS CONTROL THE RH
Link to locations
http://www.rockler.com/retail/retail.cfm
I bought from Bargain Humidor 2 Hygrometer, 1 in the top & 1 in the bottom, also from them.(not in Photo)
link
http://www.bargainhumidors.com/bh/ProductI...id=ACC-CALIBER3
(I also bought cedar storage shelves but they no longer carry them)
So after all this I let it set for 5 days with the polymers in it to season and get the humidity to stabilize. It now sets at 68deg and 65% RH
I did also use a Cigar Oasis to help in the seasoning but it will cause condensation so I removed it once I put the cigars in it
It is a wine cooler and here is the break down:
Avanti model EWC28 thermoelectric ( only type to get for better RH control) I got it off ebay from anythingforsale it is a scratch & dent model with only small dents to the lower rear corners for $169.00 delivered, If you get one of these make sure you read the discription of the damage.
Link
http://cgi.ebay.com/Avanti-28Bottle-Thermo...1QQcmdZViewItem
To get the correct temp, mine wouldn't go above 58 deg, I bought a Johnson controler from Williams Brewing for $54.16 delivered.
Link
http://www.williamsbrewing.com/CONTROLLER_P762C100.cfm
I bought Polymers from Watersorm 2lbs for $15.00 delivered. Get the craft stuff it has no dust
Link
http://watersorb.com/prices.htm
You can also buy 65% beads but at a cost of $65.00 for 2 lbs I'll stick with the watersorb
I have 2 Oust Fans I bought at the Grocery store on sale for $5.00 each, don't use the scents just the fans.
Link
http://www.oustodor.com/oust-fan/
I went to Rocker and bought Sp Cedar for about $70.00, I bought too much but will use the rest on the next Coolidor I'm building, you will need 1 pc. 5" x 48" and 1 2" x 48" to make 2 shelves. You don't have to get the Sp Cedar but it really makes the coolidor smell like a humidor ;D ONLY GET SPANISH CEDAR FOR THE SMELL AND IT HELPS CONTROL THE RH
Link to locations
http://www.rockler.com/retail/retail.cfm
I bought from Bargain Humidor 2 Hygrometer, 1 in the top & 1 in the bottom, also from them.(not in Photo)
link
http://www.bargainhumidors.com/bh/ProductI...id=ACC-CALIBER3
(I also bought cedar storage shelves but they no longer carry them)
So after all this I let it set for 5 days with the polymers in it to season and get the humidity to stabilize. It now sets at 68deg and 65% RH
I did also use a Cigar Oasis to help in the seasoning but it will cause condensation so I removed it once I put the cigars in it
stogie_kanobie_one
SilverBack
Reflex,
This is an excellant post. I have a smaller unit that I am building and at times I go into information overload. I think I've read every forum covering building these TWICE. Just wanted to acknowledge your contribution here with putting all of this together in one post. Thanks.
So you don't actually use the Oasis huh? As for the Watersorb I didn't see much information on their website about the material and what it does. Will it release water as well as absorb it similar to what the beads do?
This is an excellant post. I have a smaller unit that I am building and at times I go into information overload. I think I've read every forum covering building these TWICE. Just wanted to acknowledge your contribution here with putting all of this together in one post. Thanks.
So you don't actually use the Oasis huh? As for the Watersorb I didn't see much information on their website about the material and what it does. Will it release water as well as absorb it similar to what the beads do?
stogie_kanobie_one said:
So you don't actually use the Oasis huh?
Yes I remove the Oasis due to the large amount of condensation I was getting with it in.
.
As for the Watersorb I didn't see much information on their website about the material and what it does. Will it release water as well as absorb it similar to what the beads DO
Yes the Watersorb releases water as well as absorbs it similar to what the beads do but greater. The photo below is 1 1/2 tablespoons of Watersorb expanded in a 5" x 3.5" x 2" container.
The only problem with the Watersorb is you need to mix Everclear or high proof clear alcohol to control mold. I haven't tried Polyglycol yet due to the Watersorb is so cheap, if it gets small black spot on it I throw it away and mix more. Just keep an eye on it for any black spots. I now have only 1 of these containers in my Avanti and it holds 67% RH.
I also built a smaller one for singles it also now has only 1 container of Watersorb
Container with 1 1/2 tablespoons of Watersorb expanded
stogie_kanobie_one
SilverBack
Thanks a bunch. Your second unit looks identical to the one I'm building now for myself. I have a pretty good model to go by now. This thread is always resurrected with good reason. Asked and answered!
Mister Moo
The Pinnacle of Style
Carpe - Reflex:
I've been having good luck with a large Oasis foam slab (PG/H20) and A419 temp controller but, so far, the house is pretty cool and the refrig hasn't come on very much. Like CarpeDNA, I'm keeping a narrow temp range and it doesn't look like the thing will be running too many minutes/hour, even with the house around 80f. It hangs around 66-70F and 66-70% now - brief drops to 61-64% during cycling. Nothing changes inside ciggie boxes.
Do you expect condensation problems when the refrigeration is running more often? I was considering a piece of spanish cedar with 2" holes, swiss cheese style, bracketed an inch off the back wall to serve as a moisture baffle.
I've been having good luck with a large Oasis foam slab (PG/H20) and A419 temp controller but, so far, the house is pretty cool and the refrig hasn't come on very much. Like CarpeDNA, I'm keeping a narrow temp range and it doesn't look like the thing will be running too many minutes/hour, even with the house around 80f. It hangs around 66-70F and 66-70% now - brief drops to 61-64% during cycling. Nothing changes inside ciggie boxes.
Do you expect condensation problems when the refrigeration is running more often? I was considering a piece of spanish cedar with 2" holes, swiss cheese style, bracketed an inch off the back wall to serve as a moisture baffle.
I havea haier wine cooler i've posted it a few times
Mine runs fine usaly 65% at 65F it may fluxuate 2+/-Rf
but holds nicely. Yes cigar boxes will hold it a bit more steady.
I myself have my cigars loose in cider trays
I use healtfelts beads have about 2.5lbs in there 1 at the bottom and 1 at the top and the rest scatered.
Also use 2 fans thats on a time to go off for 15min every hour.
1 facing the back to dispell the considrastion
the other facing fowards to move the air
also closed up all holes to make the unit more stable with a bit of plubers puddy.
FYi unit temp never gives good readings
I also have 3 remote meaters top,middle and bottom
Mine runs fine usaly 65% at 65F it may fluxuate 2+/-Rf
but holds nicely. Yes cigar boxes will hold it a bit more steady.
I myself have my cigars loose in cider trays
I use healtfelts beads have about 2.5lbs in there 1 at the bottom and 1 at the top and the rest scatered.
Also use 2 fans thats on a time to go off for 15min every hour.
1 facing the back to dispell the considrastion
the other facing fowards to move the air
also closed up all holes to make the unit more stable with a bit of plubers puddy.
FYi unit temp never gives good readings
I also have 3 remote meaters top,middle and bottom
I was poking around Target today and saw a Haier 12-bottle capacity Countertop Wine Cellar. I'm trying to get some additional info on it by doing some online searching, but does anyone have any personal experience with this model? You all are talking about fan setups and stuff like that on this thread, but it would seem that most of you have the larger models.
Or maybe it would be worth it to hold off for a larger cooler? I really like the idea of being able to control temp and humidity, especially with the collection growing and summer just around the corner.
Thanks in advance!
Or maybe it would be worth it to hold off for a larger cooler? I really like the idea of being able to control temp and humidity, especially with the collection growing and summer just around the corner.
Thanks in advance!
Hammerhead
2B1 ASK1
Uh, oh...TTgirl said:
Hammerhead
2B1 ASK1
Riiiiiiiight. Sure.TTgirl said:
Mister Moo
The Pinnacle of Style
I stumbled on a 49-bottle closeout at Sears ($140) which was very hard to pass up. It was not very hard to (gulp) fill up. Not sure I'd have paid the more typical $300-plus for this sort of thing, but now that I have it, and have "tuned" it, I like it a lot.TTgirl said:
What rationale for a small cooler like a 12-bottle which may not hold a high enuff temp without a controller add-on?
stogie_kanobie_one
SilverBack
Hey TT I have a Danby Millenium 17 bottle.
http://www.wineaccessory.com/danby.htm
In it right now I have 6 boxes spread around neatly. If I remove any shelving I can get twice that in there. It is small by comparison to most of these but it is very low maintenance. The moment of truth for you is the cost vs. the number of boxes it can hold vs. the number of boxes you plan to hold. I got this baby basically brand new for $25 off of eBay (Satan's site part Deux). So for that price for me it was VERY worth it. If you plan on holding more than say 4 boxes then wait until you can get something bigger. You've gotta be realistic with yourself though. Most people around here say whatever you want to hold... double it. But depending on your pattern of useage for it, it may be worth it. Only you can answer that.
Oh and since I've set mine up with those 6 boxes... only two have any stogies in them. I got a shipment of like 15 boxes from cbid. The rest of the boxes are just to help keep a stable enviro and add spanish cedar to it. The remainder are in an empty cooler I was planning for a coolerdor. So as you can guess I've OVER PLANNED big time. Realistically I thought I'd have that thing FULL by now
I hope this helps you make your decision.
http://www.wineaccessory.com/danby.htm
In it right now I have 6 boxes spread around neatly. If I remove any shelving I can get twice that in there. It is small by comparison to most of these but it is very low maintenance. The moment of truth for you is the cost vs. the number of boxes it can hold vs. the number of boxes you plan to hold. I got this baby basically brand new for $25 off of eBay (Satan's site part Deux). So for that price for me it was VERY worth it. If you plan on holding more than say 4 boxes then wait until you can get something bigger. You've gotta be realistic with yourself though. Most people around here say whatever you want to hold... double it. But depending on your pattern of useage for it, it may be worth it. Only you can answer that.
Oh and since I've set mine up with those 6 boxes... only two have any stogies in them. I got a shipment of like 15 boxes from cbid. The rest of the boxes are just to help keep a stable enviro and add spanish cedar to it. The remainder are in an empty cooler I was planning for a coolerdor. So as you can guess I've OVER PLANNED big time. Realistically I thought I'd have that thing FULL by now
I hope this helps you make your decision.
OK, the price seemed right at $90. I'm not ready to drop $300 just yet. And having had no experience whatsoever with these coolers, I'm not sure what their capabilities and limitations are - which is why I came here to the experts.Mister MaDuroo said:
All the ads I looked at didn't say anything about temp range on this particular model. What more can you tell me about it?
Mister Moo
The Pinnacle of Style
Shop harder and go larger is, maybe, good advice but I can't presume to speak for your objectives.
Some coolers (e.g. mine, an unbadged Haier) may run cooler than you wish when set for the highest possible temp. I don't know how you find this out in advance.
At advice of others I bought a pre-wired Johnson Controls A419 temp controller (it turns power on/off to the cooler according to the temp inside and bypasses the coolers own thermostat - is this clear?). It took about 2-minutes to install and works great. A controller as I purchased (if you need one), regardless of cooler capacity, is about $60-80. Plug it in - rock and roll.
I find my cooler so airtight that humidity stays pretty solid with a single brick-sized Oasis foam block w/ PG/H20. I add a little water to the foam once in a while but mostly just spray a few squirts of distilled water into the cooler before closing it up. Once I got the boxes stable at 65% they just stay the way.
Some coolers (e.g. mine, an unbadged Haier) may run cooler than you wish when set for the highest possible temp. I don't know how you find this out in advance.
At advice of others I bought a pre-wired Johnson Controls A419 temp controller (it turns power on/off to the cooler according to the temp inside and bypasses the coolers own thermostat - is this clear?). It took about 2-minutes to install and works great. A controller as I purchased (if you need one), regardless of cooler capacity, is about $60-80. Plug it in - rock and roll.
I find my cooler so airtight that humidity stays pretty solid with a single brick-sized Oasis foam block w/ PG/H20. I add a little water to the foam once in a while but mostly just spray a few squirts of distilled water into the cooler before closing it up. Once I got the boxes stable at 65% they just stay the way.