[SvilleKid]

Terry, I have two of the "Lucky Seven's" from Thompson. First thing I'd check would be the seal around the plexiglass in the front door. It is probably loose enough to wiggle back and forth, which means it loses humidity around the glass. The analog gauges on mine run 10-13 rh below what the actual humidity is, so I use digital ones. I use a combo of drymist sticks and 65% heartfelt beads to keep mine in line, and could probably get by with less if I took the time to seal around the plexiglass. But since I have mine so I know what is needed, I haven't gone to the trouble of unloading it to seal around the glass. But the Lucky 7's do take more active humidification than ANY desktop type for the same reason chest-type freezers maintain temperatures better than upright freezers. Humidity, like cold air is heavy. When you open a door, that humidified air ALL flows right out of the door. When you open a chest type humidor, the heavier air doesn't all flow out. And, when you open the Lucky 7, and rummage around several or all of the drawers, you humidity for a good period of time. So, with this type of humidor, you just need to expend more effort in adding humidity back into the unit. I do this by having multiple drymist sticks to add humidity, and then the 65% beads to regulate that humidity.

As for 200 cigars..... Yeah, right!!! The claimed capacity is for robusto or smaller RG sticks. I probably maintain 125-150. One of the benefits of the drymist sticks for me is they are the size/shape of cigars, so it's easier to work them into the drawers and not lose as much space as with other forms of humidifiers.

Good luck.