During the time away from home...

8JUL2013
Forget the USB :) new network version of the controller is almost ready!  The TCP/IP stack for the controller is working and basic server application(for now only command line type of communication) for windows, that can handle as many as you like clients(controllers) is in operations. Configuration using windows server app.May be an ANDROID app in the future.

Still to come :
 - PCB for the new controller ;
- A lot of testing and debugging
- To add option like working with or without LCD(you may skip the LCD if you plan to use it only remotely)

I can't promise any release date cause this is my hobby project and I have a lot of other things to do.Will update with details here, in case there is at leas one person to read it...

Meanwhile during the time I am in Keflavik Iceland, the old controller but with the new software is handling good.

This picture was taken 30 days after I left the humidor at 21C and 70% humidity settings with only 2 stick of crystals for humidification.

The new software cool above dew point in case the humidity is within certain range of  the preset settings, so no moisture is lost in form of water formation on the heat sink of the cooler.

I left the humidor project for a little due to work in Saudi Arabia, but now I am back, and I developed a new circuit that will include 18F4550 . The software is still in dev. state, but this are some of the new futures:

• it will support USB boot loader - so software can be changed via USB cable
• totally re-design of the software
• software RTC - no need for additional IC
• I2C extender for the LCD and RPG controll
• 3 PWM channels for light - so RGB leds can be introduced in to the humidor
• future USB connection of the humidor to the PC.
• up to 2 TECs, separate control, 2 inner fans
• fully configurable - so you can choose to have for example a direction relay for the each TEC or just cooling, to enable, disable each sensor, water pump, TECs
• new software to handle all the faults, including abnormal operations, hardware faults, alarms etc.

For now there is no estimated date for the release of the new circuit but work is in progress :):):). This is my free time project, when it's ready it will be ready :).

The humidor is running :).

Tested in outside temp 22C - inside temp 12C :), when the heatsink is kept above dew point.

Tested also in cold conditions : outside temp 10C inside 20, 25, 30 40C...maintain the temp, but still some issues that can be avoided with the re-setup.(there is protection how much hot air is coming out from the inner heat sink, it was set to 5C, so it wasn't enough to compensate the heat leaking out from the humidor).

There is a few more bugs to clear...work in progress :)...

It's working?!

I managed to run the system but I have some issues with the RH spikes...Try to fix it...soon.

 First drops of water :).

The hardware is online :).

The project is alive :).

I had few problems with the LCD software. I am using 1 meter 16 wire cable and this caused some problems whit the parallel signals, but when I added 1-2uS delay at each step everything is working as it should.

The Humidity/Temperature  sensor (DHT22/THT-03) is working out of the box :).

Still I have to add programs to handle second humidity sensor, door opening and closing, humidity/temperature calibration and many many more, but the hardware is online, ICSP(with some issues ) is working, so after few days I am planning to assemble the unit and test it.

The main ideas that I will try to "embedded" in to the project.

• All in one hardware - I mean if you have broken electronics, you can discard it and build this one.
• Only need the fridge, inner fan and heat sink.
• All digital control - LCD display and rotary encoder.
• Possibility to use a water cooling for the outer side  - thus improving overall system efficiency and if you keep your humidor in the sleeping room like me...it quite :).
• Can support up to 2 separate TECs - for the big humidors.
• Monitoring the temperature of the inner heat sink(s) - 2 digital sensorts - to protect too cold or too hot air to go out of them in to the humidor, or protect of overheating the TEC element in case it's used for heating.
•  Monitoring the temperature of the outer heat sink(s) or water coolant - for better performance and system monitoring.
• Monitoring of the door open/closed .If you left the door open for a longer audio warning will sound, special precaution will be taken after door closed to return the humidity/temperature to normal.
• Monitoring of the inner humidity/temperature using relative cheap sensor DHT22(found in the arduino shops)  with possibility for calibration.
• Monitoring of the humidity outside the humidor. This way when the door is opened and then closed the MCU will know what type of air is entered in the humidor (Dry, colder, hotter...) and take actions to return the humidity/temperature asap to normal. 
• PWM controled LED lighting for illuminate the precious babies :).
• PWM controlled FANs.
• "Silent" option that will allow the user to select it in case the humidor is making a lot of noise - for example during the night.
• Real Time clock - so you can set up an schedule when to enable silent and more...
• Option to control via a relay a humidifier 110V, 220V or 12V supplied form the board.
• Option to decrees  the humidity using the condense method and inner fan not working(mantening  the temperature below dew point, only on the heat sink).
• Possible in near future adding a Bluetooth serial adapter and  Android software on the cell phone for monitoring and controlling.Also adding a http control option and disabling the LCD - but this is for the future...or in case some one wants to help with developing a separate controller( SPI  protocol ).
• Ready for 12V water cooling - there is a lot of  pumps, heat sinks in the PC market that can be used.
• Keep the price as low as possible!!!

And finally after so many pointless word :) the circuit. But this is only for explanation of the hole system. The real working one will be presented when everything is tested in this one, fixed and the re tested.

It's possible to use 40X2 charter  LCD or 20X4.

Temperature sensors are Microchip MCP9803 - very accurate, small and quick response.

The PCB looks like this :)

Right now I am on the way of building it and testing it.

A lot of the options like dehumidifiing are still not embaded in the software, but I need a bench where to test the software in more real environment :).

Hello World.

Few words for welcome :).

I created this blog to help to every one(and lets  hope you help me too) that share the passion for collecting cigars and keep them in nice condition and in same time doesn't want to pay a bucket of money for a last model humidor...

So let I start from the beginning. I am on the way of converting a broken 12 bottles wine chiller to a humidor, but not just normal simple one, that will keep the temperature of the cigars stable...no...This blog is for the project that will evolve. That's why I will be glad to receive any ideas, suggestions, comments from your side because I want to help to every one there to bring the hobby of collecting and keeping cigars in best possible condition.

The story of the project : few years ago I build similar project in term of maintaining a tropical environment in a terarium for a plants to grow, with specific temperature change during day and night, automatic light control simulating real intensity of the light etc.The project is located here.

So I have  background from where to start.

The plan for this project is very simple...take all the hardware in your old( or broken ) chiller out and build a self containing and self monitoring hardware that will keep the humidity and temperature inside of wine chiller at the right place :).

The project is focused around a TEC cooler humidor, that can use up to 2 TECs with a fans for inside and a fans or water cooling for the outside part. The hardware can cool/heat and I hope soon drop the humidity whit a help of the software subroutines and increase it using a ultrasonic or general humidifier.
The project is build around the idea of self monitoring because I am away form home a lot of time and I need a reliable place to keep my cigars ready for a nice smoke :).