Hydra and 3,000 count cabinet and beads -- HELP! - Page 2

md4958 · 01-10-2009, 09:52 PM

i dont have a hydra, but ill just throw this out there.. perhaps there is a clog of some kind, somewhere??

shilala · 01-10-2009, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icehog3

I don't have a Hydra....is the alarm designed to sound when the resevoir is empty, or when the humdior is below the set RH for a period of time?

Tom, the hydra doesn't know if it has water in it or not. It just assumes it's empty and sounds the alarm when the RH doesn't rise.
See, hydras are designed to work in a certain small environment. It knows it should run x amount of time until the RH%age rises. If it's run longer than x amount of time it assumes the RH hasn't risen because it's out of water.
The same thing that's happening to Ian happens when I use a hydra to condition beads in my cooler.
The beads suck up water so fast that the RH%age in the cooler doesn't rise fast enough and the hydra thinks it's empty. The squealing is enough to drive a guy nuts.

DavenportESQ · 01-10-2009, 09:58 PM

Do you have any boxes in yet? If not I would add some and see if that helps.

HK3- · 01-10-2009, 10:00 PM

Turn the alarm off so it will quit beeping.

-OR-

Put a bowl of distilled water in the humi and take out the dang hydra until the humi stabilizes.

Is 4lbs. of beads big enough for that size humi?

What are the dimensions Bengal?

shilala · 01-10-2009, 10:02 PM

Ian, you can get the RH up by adding a bunch of plates with wet sponges or wet paper towels.
If you want to season your beads with the hydra, place the beads and hydra in a tupperware container. It works great, I do it all the time.
I use a two gallon rubbermaid from walmart.
The small area won't let the alarm go off on the hydra and it'll stop making you crazy.
Once you've reconditioned the beads and you've alleviated the dryness in the cabinet with sponges, you can put the beads and hydra back in and it should keep up.
If it doesn't, your cabinet is leaking too badly for the stuff to keep up.
If I remember correctly you decided to use half the beads your cabinet calls for because friends of yours have gotten away with it. You may want to calculate your area again and make sure your cabinet has what it requires.

BengalMan · 01-10-2009, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icehog3

I don't have a Hydra....is the alarm designed to sound when the resevoir is empty, or when the humdior is below the set RH for a period of time?

When the it's empty

icehog3 · 01-10-2009, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shilala

Tom, the hydra doesn't know if it has water in it or not. It just assumes it's empty and sounds the alarm when the RH doesn't rise.

That's what I would have guessed, but didn't know for sure without researching it. Thanks, Scott.

BengalMan · 01-10-2009, 10:06 PM

Scott,

I ordered half the amount from you, I had more than the other half already from Heartfelt. I bought 2lbs from you, I have 4 in there. I will add sponges and plates tonight and see how things look when I wake up tomorrow.

Hopefully it's not leaking really bad. If it is, I just have to figure out how to seal the damn thing, lol

HK3,

You can't turn the alarm off, stupid design, lol.

HK3- · 01-10-2009, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BengalMan

Scott,

I ordered half the amount from you, I had more than the other half already from Heartfelt. I bought 2lbs from you, I have 4 in there. I will add sponges and plates tonight and see how things look when I wake up tomorrow.

Hopefully it's not leaking really bad. If it is, I just have to figure out how to seal the damn thing, lol

HK3,

You can't turn the alarm off, stupid design, lol.

Huh... Mine has a button on the side that says "Audible, ON OFF"

BengalMan · 01-10-2009, 10:14 PM

Indeed it does, but that only works when the alarm is actively going off. It's pretty much like the silent button for your cell phone.

BengalMan · 01-10-2009, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shilala

Tom, the hydra doesn't know if it has water in it or not. It just assumes it's empty and sounds the alarm when the RH doesn't rise.
See, hydras are designed to work in a certain small environment. It knows it should run x amount of time until the RH%age rises. If it's run longer than x amount of time it assumes the RH hasn't risen because it's out of water.
The same thing that's happening to Ian happens when I use a hydra to condition beads in my cooler.
The beads suck up water so fast that the RH%age in the cooler doesn't rise fast enough and the hydra thinks it's empty. The squealing is enough to drive a guy nuts.

This makes complete sense, thanks for the info Scott. So I guess my question is, why the hell isn't the humidity raising? I think that then puts us back to the two likely scenarios: leak, or humidor is absorbing the humidity of 4lbs of beads and a hydra faster than all that combined can put it out. Somehow I don't think the ladder is true.....

icehog3 · 01-10-2009, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BengalMan

This makes complete sense, thanks for the info Scott. So I guess my question is, why the hell isn't the humidity raising? I think that then puts us back to the two likely scenarios: leak, or .....

Unless the Hydra is defective?

Might be good to put it in a small container with a hygrometer to see?

Hope you get it figured out, Ian.

HK3- · 01-10-2009, 10:20 PM

Did you try closing the door?

Sorry, I'm no help.

BengalMan · 01-10-2009, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icehog3

Unless the Hydra is defective?

Might be good to put it in a small container with a hygrometer to see?

Hope you get it figured out, Ian.

So do I, lol.

I loaded the humidor up with all the beads I have, a charged Hydra, and 6 half sponges throughout and I'm going to see what it's at tomorrow morning. If things are still wacked then I'm going to have to look into the above issue and a leak I think.

Texan in Mexico · 01-10-2009, 10:24 PM

I will be honest and admit I dont know the first thing but Im rooting for you!

Travis

BengalMan · 01-10-2009, 11:02 PM

Haha, thanks Travis!

BengalMan · 01-10-2009, 11:07 PM

Ok, since adding the sponges and all the beads and setting the Hydra to 65, the hygro on the Hydra is now reading at 67.8 and the damn fan has turned off for the 1st time since I've owned it. I think at this point, the best thing to do will be leave the sponges in there and the Hydra on for the next 3-5 days at least and let everything in there level out. I will update the thread tomorrow when I wake up and see where things are at. Thanks again for everyone's help!

MikeyC · 01-11-2009, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BengalMan

How do you calibrate the hydra? Just take take the top off and lock it in a tupperwear and salt test like usual? I guess I could also put it in a container with 65% beads for a few hours and see what it reads.

It's hard to put the Hydra in a "sealed" environment like a plastic bag or tupperware since it has to be plugged in and the fan may fun and the alarm may go off while you're calibrating. Instead I just put a digital hygro that I know is calibrated correctly next to it in the humi and then adjust the Hydra to read the same after a day of sitting next to each other. Then I check them both a day later to make sure they're still in sink. I repeat this process until they consistently read the same RH %.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BengalMan

Ok, since adding the sponges and all the beads and setting the Hydra to 65, the hygro on the Hydra is now reading at 67.8 and the damn fan has turned off for the 1st time since I've owned it. I think at this point, the best thing to do will be leave the sponges in there and the Hydra on for the next 3-5 days at least and let everything in there level out. I will update the thread tomorrow when I wake up and see where things are at. Thanks again for everyone's help!

It does sound like the issue could be that the cabinet walls are still absorbing water. While I haven't dealt with a cabinet (yet

) I do have a large humi which I felt got up to the proper RH level more quickly because I wiped down the walls & trays a few times with D-H2O not just once.

thebiglebowski · 01-11-2009, 10:52 AM

i just wanted to say... we're all counting on you.

BengalMan · 01-11-2009, 11:23 AM

Ok, got up this morning, and guess what, NO ALARM. lol. Not only was there no alarm, but the cabinet was at 69% (Hydra is set to 65%) so not only was the humidity finally up, but the hydra fan didn't even have to run. I pulled 2 sponges out, and will continue to pull 1 sponge per day until all 5 are gone. It seems to be that like some have said, the cabinet was still absorbing humidity, and then when I filled it up, the boxes were absorbing the humidity as well and the hydra just couldn't keep up. I think by the end of the week everything will be stabilized and fixed. Thanks for everyone's help!

01-10-2009, 09:52 PM	#21
md4958 Captain Cannoli Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Moe Location: Suffield, CT Posts: 5,712 Trading: (62)	Re: Hydra and 3,000 count cabinet and beads -- HE i dont have a hydra, but ill just throw this out there.. perhaps there is a clog of some kind, somewhere?? __________________ "One fart can foul the air for everyone" - Esteemed philosopher "If avoiding the nasty $hit is being a snob, them I am guilty as charged."- Same esteemed philosopher.

01-10-2009, 09:58 PM	#23
DavenportESQ Vaya Con Dios Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: David Location: Chicago Posts: 787 Trading: (15)	Re: Hydra and 3,000 count cabinet and beads -- HE Do you have any boxes in yet? If not I would add some and see if that helps. __________________ I was gambling in Havana I took a little risk Send lawyers, guns and money

01-10-2009, 10:00 PM	#24
HK3- Cashmere Jungle Lord Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Boffa Location: The town so nice they named it twice Posts: 5,035 Trading: (48)	Re: Hydra and 3,000 count cabinet and beads -- HE Turn the alarm off so it will quit beeping. -OR- Put a bowl of distilled water in the humi and take out the dang hydra until the humi stabilizes. Is 4lbs. of beads big enough for that size humi? What are the dimensions Bengal?

01-10-2009, 10:02 PM	#25
shilala Dear Lord, Thank You. Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Scott Posts: 13,721 Trading: (252)	Re: Hydra and 3,000 count cabinet and beads -- HE Ian, you can get the RH up by adding a bunch of plates with wet sponges or wet paper towels. If you want to season your beads with the hydra, place the beads and hydra in a tupperware container. It works great, I do it all the time. I use a two gallon rubbermaid from walmart. The small area won't let the alarm go off on the hydra and it'll stop making you crazy. Once you've reconditioned the beads and you've alleviated the dryness in the cabinet with sponges, you can put the beads and hydra back in and it should keep up. If it doesn't, your cabinet is leaking too badly for the stuff to keep up. If I remember correctly you decided to use half the beads your cabinet calls for because friends of yours have gotten away with it. You may want to calculate your area again and make sure your cabinet has what it requires. __________________

01-10-2009, 10:06 PM	#28
BengalMan Have My Own Room Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Ian Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 1,280 Trading: (10)	Re: Hydra and 3,000 count cabinet and beads -- HE Scott, I ordered half the amount from you, I had more than the other half already from Heartfelt. I bought 2lbs from you, I have 4 in there. I will add sponges and plates tonight and see how things look when I wake up tomorrow. Hopefully it's not leaking really bad. If it is, I just have to figure out how to seal the damn thing, lol HK3, You can't turn the alarm off, stupid design, lol.

01-10-2009, 10:14 PM	#30
BengalMan Have My Own Room Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Ian Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 1,280 Trading: (10)	Re: Hydra and 3,000 count cabinet and beads -- HE Indeed it does, but that only works when the alarm is actively going off. It's pretty much like the silent button for your cell phone.

01-10-2009, 10:20 PM	#33
HK3- Cashmere Jungle Lord Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Boffa Location: The town so nice they named it twice Posts: 5,035 Trading: (48)	Re: Hydra and 3,000 count cabinet and beads -- HE Did you try closing the door? Sorry, I'm no help.

01-10-2009, 10:24 PM	#35
Texan in Mexico Feeling at Home Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Travis Location: Puerto Morelos, Mexico Posts: 958 Trading: (0)	Re: Hydra and 3,000 count cabinet and beads -- HE I will be honest and admit I dont know the first thing but Im rooting for you! Travis

01-10-2009, 11:02 PM	#36
BengalMan Have My Own Room Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Ian Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 1,280 Trading: (10)	Re: Hydra and 3,000 count cabinet and beads -- HE Haha, thanks Travis!

01-10-2009, 11:07 PM	#37
BengalMan Have My Own Room Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Ian Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 1,280 Trading: (10)	Re: Hydra and 3,000 count cabinet and beads -- HE Ok, since adding the sponges and all the beads and setting the Hydra to 65, the hygro on the Hydra is now reading at 67.8 and the damn fan has turned off for the 1st time since I've owned it. I think at this point, the best thing to do will be leave the sponges in there and the Hydra on for the next 3-5 days at least and let everything in there level out. I will update the thread tomorrow when I wake up and see where things are at. Thanks again for everyone's help!

01-11-2009, 10:52 AM	#39
thebiglebowski Jack White's Roadie... Join Date: Nov 2008 First Name: larry Location: music city, USA Posts: 665 Trading: (0)	Re: Hydra and 3,000 count cabinet and beads -- HE i just wanted to say... we're all counting on you.

01-11-2009, 11:23 AM	#40
BengalMan Have My Own Room Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Ian Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 1,280 Trading: (10)	Re: Hydra and 3,000 count cabinet and beads -- HE Ok, got up this morning, and guess what, NO ALARM. lol. Not only was there no alarm, but the cabinet was at 69% (Hydra is set to 65%) so not only was the humidity finally up, but the hydra fan didn't even have to run. I pulled 2 sponges out, and will continue to pull 1 sponge per day until all 5 are gone. It seems to be that like some have said, the cabinet was still absorbing humidity, and then when I filled it up, the boxes were absorbing the humidity as well and the hydra just couldn't keep up. I think by the end of the week everything will be stabilized and fixed. Thanks for everyone's help!

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