Issues using Thermoelectric wine cave in high humidity, low temp, natural rind.

[ArnaudForestier]

Hello,

Well, bummer.  I got a nice wine cave for $40, she indicated it had been infrequently used, and it looked like it.  Setting up a Tomme de Savoie cave, all natural, mucor and P. blanche molds, poils de chat/"cat's fur" everywhere.  Performing beautifully, a wonderful cascade to witness from yeasts to geo's to the beginning streaks of grey to large tufts everywhere.  Kind of fun to watch where they developed, too.  Interestingly, the first batch, brine-salted, the "hair" developed everywhere, but in patches that eventually spread everywhere.  The second batch, dry-salted, developed as a band on the sides, with the two faces being rather "bald" for awhile.

Environment maintained easily, really well.  Using fogger from House of Hydro and Inkwell controllers.  97% RH and 49F. 

Now the bummer.  I've never used wine caves before, always used refrigerators.  The condensation is insane.  Issue for me is that these are strict anaerobes, and they love a very confined environment.  I try to do a quick open-shut on days I'm not turning wheels/rubbing cat's fur into wheel.  On the other hand, I've lost two wheels.  The French materials describe "sticky" wheels after two weeks, one of the causes might be soaked wood, which I certainly have.  But these wheels weren't so much sticky (e.g., a yeast tackiness) as a completely overdone proteolysis at the surface, ruining the rind, slip skin, running goo - also described in the literature ("coule" or flowing, too short a press, too short a cook, insufficient acidification).

I don't think there's any make problems here.  I think it's the massive condensation and especially saturation of the wood.  I don't want to bring them out so much every day to switch them on to dry boards and dry the cave out, as that's a long time getting air (a ton of corynebacteria development on the discarded wheels, as well).

So, that's all background.  Anyone using a cave like this, is this something you experience?  I liked the t.e. wine cave aspect because of the low air flow throughout.  Ideally, I guess, I'd love to build a radiant cooler system with copper coolant running alongside the top of the cave, controlled with a discarded AC and icewater or coolant reservoir.

Anyway, Water.  Drops Big.  Everywhere. 

[Susan38]

Hi, I am a newbie so don't know if what I have to say will help, but I am interested in your dilemma...as I currently have a frig without extra humidifier and I am having RH readings kind of all over the place, depending on how much I have in the frig, etc...sometimes more than I want.  Also having condensation on the back wall, but so far not too big of an issue.

If I understand you correctly, you have too much RH but you are also using a fogger?  Have you tried monitoring without the fogger to see if that helps with your over-humidity issues?  Or do you want the 97% RH but without the condensation?  Would the fan that some folks use help?  Sorry I do not have any answers but am interested on how your situation can be resolved (by advice from others on this forum I would think).  Good luck.  --Susan

[mikekchar]

Condensation usually happens when warm, moist air hits a cold surface.  The air near the surface cools down and the moisture condenses.  I wonder if your cave is cooling via cold walls while your mister is evaporating water via warm air.  There may be nothing you can do...

[ArnaudForestier]

Hey Mike, thanks.  Actually the water reservoir is inside the cooler so it's the same temp, but thanks, as you make me wonder if the fogger itself is heating the mist up enough to create the issue.  I think what I'm going to do is take a flexible cutting mat, form an arch, and affix it to the top and sides such that I have a kind of vaulted cave.  We'll see.  Sand or some sort of moisture mat on the bottom too (clay - humidor?), but one thing at a time.

Yeah, sorta bummed I'm not looking at (these) solutions!