Expert: James Yee - 8/30/2010

Question
Hi James,

so I finally got a Cigar Oasis to put in my new 150 count humidor.   So I set up everything as instructed and everything looked normal.   I have a glass top humidor so I can constantly check on the digital reading.

Anyways, I thought the digital reading would go out when I dont press any buttons but it remains lit (possibly because im using the AC adaptor).   It seems to take a reading every 15 seconds as the digital reading keeps changing.   

I always thoguht the readings would slowly go up, upto 70%, however I see it jumping.   For instance it would go from 69% to 73% 15 seconds later, and then jump down to 71%, then 69 again 15 secs later etc.

I think it happens more after ive opened the humidor and closed it.   Is this normal behaviour?

ive tossed in another digital hygrmoter which says its 75%.   The Cigar Oasis is more likely to be accurate yes?

the reading jumping seems peculiar.   I just saw it jump from 70% to 75%.   

Thank you for any help.

Answer
Hi Andy,

Don't worry, this is normal.  The way the Cigar Oasis works is that it will generate humidity until the sensor detects the humidity level inside your humidor to be at least 70%.  When this happens, the humidifier will shut off.  The residual humidity that the fan was circulating before it shut off will continue to increase the humidity level but this is only temporary as the humidifier has shut off and is no longer generating excess humidity.  

Whenever the humidity drops below 70%, the humidifier will activate again.  Because the Cigar Oasis sensor is very sensitive and constantly monitoring the humidity level (every 15 seconds), it's normal to show the humidity level fluctuating in real time.

It's also very normal for the humidity to quickly rise immediately after opening and closing your humidor.  What happens is that once you open your humidor, a lot of humidity escapes.  After closing your humidor, the Cigar Oasis will detect a loss of humidity and will activate to recover it.

The display also remains lit as it serves as a hygrometer display for you.  

With desktop humidors, it's normal for the Cigar Oasis to show the humidity jumping.  This is because the humidor is small and the humidity can fill up more quickly.  With large cabinet humidors, the humidity display will climb slowly rather than jump.

Hope this helps!

Regards,
James