Cellar Conditioners

[asajoseph]

All,

Just wondering if anyone has any experience with cellar conditioners here? I'm starting a home-cellar build project in a few weeks, and was wondering if anyone had any tips?

The project is above ground, in an existing under-floor space previously used as a rudimentary cellar. 3 walls are double-brick, none of which get any / much sunlight, and a fourth stud wall will need to be constructed, before insulating the whole lot. It'll be a bit of a DIY project, in the main (hopefully will extend the whole property in a few years, so will likely put in something more permanent then), but will be prepared to spend a bit on racking & a conditioning unit. I don't think it gets especially hot down there, but a conditioner is probably worth the investment nonetheless.

I've been looking at the EuroCave INOA, but I assume there must be other options. Cosmetics not a concern, so a wall-mounted solution seems fine & less complicated than a ducted system.

Any thoughts / experiences?

[Scotty vino]

check out this thread..

http://forum.auswine.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=14068

[ticklenow1]

I used a standard refrigeration unit that any fridge mechanic should be able to fit. Looks like a bigger version of what's on a standard fridge. Cost me less than $2000 installed. It was installed on an outside wall and is fairly quiet. The neighbours have even commented that they never hear it. Keeps the temperature very constant and the humidity has only been a problem when it rains for days and days straight. I just chuck one of those damp rids in there during long rain periods and I've had no problems. You can leave a bucket of water in the corner with an old towel hanging of the handle if you have low humidity. The towel works like a wick. In 8 years I've used 2 damp rids and only topped the water bucket up a couple of times. Living on the Gold Coast means low humidity is rarely a problem. I use a humidity/temp digital reader I bought from a wine accessory company I found online for $50 and just check it periodically to make sure it matches the fridge unit's readout (which is outside the cellar door).

Cheers
Ian

[asajoseph]

Thanks Ian. What sort of temperature does that achieve? Is the room inside insulated as well?

[ticklenow1]

Thanks Ian. What sort of temperature does that achieve? Is the room inside insulated as well?

I have it set at 15 degrees. Fridge unit turns on at 17 degrees and switches off again at 15. I rigged up an empty bottle in the cellar and put the temperature probe from my humidity/temp monitor and the bottle temps don't move at all. It will adjust anywhere from 11 to 19 degrees as desired.

It's only a small cellar underneath my internal stairs and I have 50mm insulation (can't remember the name of the product) and it's then got a 8-10mm acrylic render applied and painted.

Cheers
Ian

[asajoseph]

Sounds like you've been reading Richard Gold?

[asajoseph]

Hi Ian,

Wondering if you've got any more specific information about the refrigeration unit you used? Most I find online seem to be a lot more expensive?

I was toying with the idea of putting in a regular AC unit, until I learned that they can only really cool 12 degrees vs the outside air temp - workable, but complicated to maintain 14-16 degrees, I suspect, even in a heavily insulated environment.

Cheers

[ticklenow1]

Hi Ian,

Wondering if you've got any more specific information about the refrigeration unit you used? Most I find online seem to be a lot more expensive?

I was toying with the idea of putting in a regular AC unit, until I learned that they can only really cool 12 degrees vs the outside air temp - workable, but complicated to maintain 14-16 degrees, I suspect, even in a heavily insulated environment.

Cheers

Not sure what brand it is. A refrigeration mechanic friend just ordered all the bits from a local supplier. It wasn't a complete unit, rather a heap of all different branded bits put together for the purpose. Sorry I can't be of more assistance.

Cheers
Ian

[asajoseph]

No worries - thinking about just paying the cash & taking the headache out of it at this point - appreciate your thoughts anyway!

[mps17]

Hi Everyone,

I'm also looking at converting a room to a cellar at the moment and read quite a few threads on this topic which have been very useful. I've come across a setup where a split system was paired with a Humidisk unit to manage humidity.

I wanted to know if anyone had come across this specific setup before and had any experience with it?

Thanks,

Mitch

[asajoseph]

Hi Mitch,

My project is starting in the next few weeks - essentially, I have come to the conclusion that it's not really worth short-cutting the proper solution. You can probably rig-up something that will theoretically (and maybe practically) do the job and maybe save you a little cash, but AC units are not really designed to do the job that you need. The value of the wine you're storing would likely be many times greater than the saving you'd make by not buying a proper conditioner - to me, seems a shortcut is probably not worth the risk of failure.

Asa

[mps17]

Hi Asa,

Thanks for letting me know where you landed, I hope your project goes well!

Mitch