Drying in a fridge

pahpah-cee

Well-Known Member
28 seems to be the biggest. I’ve seen a few “32’s” but they’re rarer.

so here’s my advice on hunting a wine fridge. You’re looking for terms like “semiconductor, “peltier, and freestanding.” 90% of the larger fridges are compressor. Other giveaway is how cold they claim it gets. If it gets below 50F then it’s most likely a compressor fridge. Lastly, just look at the thing. Do you see a computer looking fan (some have two) inside and hanging off the back. The backside of the fridge should have some vents for the peltier to work.
 

TCH

Well-Known Member
Is thermoelectric the same as these options? Or is that one to avoid?
28 seems to be the biggest. I’ve seen a few “32’s” but they’re rarer.

so here’s my advice on hunting a wine fridge. You’re looking for terms like “semiconductor, “peltier, and freestanding.” 90% of the larger fridges are compressor. Other giveaway is how cold they claim it gets. If it gets below 50F then it’s most likely a compressor fridge. Lastly, just look at the thing. Do you see a computer looking fan (some have two) inside and hanging off the back. The backside of the fridge should have some vents for the peltier to work.
 

pahpah-cee

Well-Known Member
Is thermoelectric the same as these options? Or is that one to avoid?
Whoops forgot that term is also used for peltier. You’re good to go.


Another indicator is the power pull. Peltier/thermoelectric Wine fridges use less power and are often marketed as eco friendly because they don’t use refrigerant.


When looking for the little mini Dehum you need a thermoelectric design too. Luckily all the cheap ones are thermoelectric. I’ve noticed they usually pull around 30Watts or less.
 

TCH

Well-Known Member
Whoops forgot that term is also used for peltier. You’re good to go.


Another indicator is the power pull. Peltier/thermoelectric Wine fridges use less power and are often marketed as eco friendly because they don’t use refrigerant.


When looking for the little mini Dehum you need a thermoelectric design too. Luckily all the cheap ones are thermoelectric. I’ve noticed they usually pull around 30Watts or less.
Good deal. There is one on marketplace near me that is a 30 bottle capacity, thermoelectric, and it has 2 sides. Not sure if the 2 sides thing would pe a pro or a con. Temp range 46-66°F
 

pahpah-cee

Well-Known Member
Good deal. There is one on marketplace near me that is a 30 bottle capacity, thermoelectric, and it has 2 sides. Not sure if the 2 sides thing would pe a pro or a con. Temp range 46-66°F
The issue with two sides is they would need two Dehums, one for each chamber. I’m sure you could break/modify the barrier and turn it into one large chamber if you are determined.
 

TCH

Well-Known Member
The issue with two sides is they would need two Dehums, one for each chamber. I’m sure you could break/modify the barrier and turn it into one large chamber if you are determined.
I was thinking about that. I'll keep an eye out on marketplace. Thanks!!
 

pahpah-cee

Well-Known Member
Beautiful, there should be a thermometer tucked away under that grille above ur inkbird, try and get that out into the chamber as it will give you a more accurate reading
Will do!

So I loaded up like an ounce of fresh wet weed. It seems like the Dehum hasn’t kicked on once. The humidity started at 60% and over 12 hours it raised to 65%.

My question is; does the fridge peltier help regulate the humidity? Even though it’s a small amount of material I would have thought it still would have gotten up to 70% or more.
 

Blue brother

Well-Known Member
Will do!

So I loaded up like an ounce of fresh wet weed. It seems like the Dehum hasn’t kicked on once. The humidity started at 60% and over 12 hours it raised to 65%.

My question is; does the fridge peltier help regulate the humidity? Even though it’s a small amount of material I would have thought it still would have gotten up to 70% or more.
Yeah it does, not a huge ammount but definitely some.

I’ve never put a small ammount in mine so I cudnt say for sure but it would seem that the water in the air being cooled by the peltier will condense.

There is usually a catchment tray on the back of the unit, I’m sure mine has a drain in the floor I’ll check when I’m home. But if you check that then you should see some water but probably only a small ammount
 

pahpah-cee

Well-Known Member
Yeah it does, not a huge ammount but definitely some.

I’ve never put a small ammount in mine so I cudnt say for sure but it would seem that the water in the air being cooled by the peltier will condense.

There is usually a catchment tray on the back of the unit, I’m sure mine has a drain in the floor I’ll check when I’m home. But if you check that then you should see some water but probably only a small ammount
The air condensing could explain it. I have it on the lowest settings so it’s getting to 54F.

I have mine raised up on some 4x4’s with a container under where the water can get out. I didn’t use any tubing because it seemed unnecessary. When I checked before bed it only had a few drops in it.
 

Blue brother

Well-Known Member
The air condensing could explain it. I have it on the lowest settings so it’s getting to 54F.

I have mine raised up on some 4x4’s with a container under where the water can get out. I didn’t use any tubing because it seemed unnecessary. When I checked before bed it only had a few drops in it.
Yeah those few drops will probably be all you ever see, even with mine on full and 4 shelves packed with wet buds I only ever see a small amount of water, It usually evaporates into the surrounding air once it leaves the unit
 

Fallguy111

Well-Known Member
I recently watched a YouTube diy Coca-Cola mini fridge using 2" foam and all the parts that make it work. It came out looking amazing. I think if I was going to try the fridge route I'd build something similar but to a size that makes sense like an 8' cube using 4x8 sheets, or just insulate a small room and turn it into a walk in.
 

pahpah-cee

Well-Known Member
Yeah those few drops will probably be all you ever see, even with mine on full and 4 shelves packed with wet buds I only ever see a small amount of water, It usually evaporates into the surrounding air once it leaves the unit
Alright so I got home and started messing with it. Opening the door causes chaos. Water droplets form on the back wall and start running down (towards the sensor which I need to move) to the drain while the temp rises and the humidity spikes. Once closed the environment returns back to 54F/60% eventually.

My water collection reservoir has collected (eyeballing) around 3oz.
 

Blue brother

Well-Known Member
Alright so I got home and started messing with it. Opening the door causes chaos. Water droplets form on the back wall and start running down (towards the sensor which I need to move) to the drain while the temp rises and the humidity spikes. Once closed the environment returns back to 54F/60% eventually.

My water collection reservoir has collected (eyeballing) around 3oz.
yeah it’s crazy how eSy the environment can flip when ur dealing with so much water in such a small space, small changes make a much bigger difference, all that air in a drying room, that strips away terps, well it also acts as a buffer, and the bigger the buffer the more stable air parameters stay.
Now we’re working in tiny chambers there is much less of a buffer so it’s good to be vigilant.

I love that you’re trying this and hope all goes as expected.

how much are you planning on drying at a time might I ask? I grow much more than I can fit in my unit so I freeze and hash what doesn’t fit.
 

pahpah-cee

Well-Known Member
yeah it’s crazy how eSy the environment can flip when ur dealing with so much water in such a small space, small changes make a much bigger difference, all that air in a drying room, that strips away terps, well it also acts as a buffer, and the bigger the buffer the more stable air parameters stay.
Now we’re working in tiny chambers there is much less of a buffer so it’s good to be vigilant.

I love that you’re trying this and hope all goes as expected.

how much are you planning on drying at a time might I ask? I grow much more than I can fit in my unit so I freeze and hash what doesn’t fit.
I have three autos that are coming down at different times. The first one was just loaded in. They’ve been sitting in the corner of my grow room being neglected. It seems expensive to set up a whole dry room for 1-3 oz at a time so this made more sense.

In the actual room I have 7 plants - all different strain. So I'm going to outgrow it pretty quickly. I figure I can time things so I don’t have to have a full A/C and 50pint Dehum running for a whole month.

Freezing seems like a good idea too. I just got a bubble hash set up so this might be a good option for me.
 

Cannaclysmic Events

Well-Known Member
Hi all. I have been using the fridge for some time now, flavor is incredible. I use paper bags, branches tied off so buds are suspended inside it. They get a few days at room temps to knock some of the moisture down then into the fridge. The bags create individual "curing cells" with a continuous Flux of moisture and air. I leave them in there until stems break clean with a snap, buds are ready for jars at that point. Time varies, but it's hard to get it wrong with this method and it does a good job of preserving color and terps.
 

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Blue brother

Well-Known Member
Hi all. I have been using the fridge for some time now, flavor is incredible. I use paper bags, branches tied off so buds are suspended inside it. They get a few days at room temps to knock some of the moisture down then into the fridge. The bags create individual "curing cells" with a continuous Flux of moisture and air. I leave them in there until stems break clean with a snap, buds are ready for jars at that point. Time varies, but it's hard to get it wrong with this method and it does a good job of preserving color and terps.
Interesting, are you relying on the porous nature of the paper bag to allow the Vapor pressure to equalise at a slow rate, or are you opening the bag to let out moisture periodically?

glad you popped by
 
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