Higher humidity % at different levels of chamber

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STICKSTRING
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Higher humidity % at different levels of chamber

Post by STICKSTRING » Thu Jan 25, 2018 19:26

Hello all, so, I`ve noticed in my dry chamber the lower half of the chamber holds a higher humidity % then the upper half from moisture settling I am assuming. I have two separate hydrometer`s set up inside to verify my numbers. The upper have usually stays around the 77% mark while the lower half stays around 81-83% depending on the last time the fridge has turned on for a cooling cycle. I`ve also noticed the affects of this in my dry sausages. They hand from top to bottom in a long string of sausages. The lower half dries slower then the upper half. I haven`t had a negative effects due to this, but would love to even my numbers a tad bit more. Has anybody verified this in their chambers, and if so has anybody found a remedy to fix or even out this problem?
Thanks Nick
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Post by STICKSTRING » Thu Jan 25, 2018 19:51

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As you can see, running strings of 38-42mm cased sausages top to bottom are the norm in my chamber. I have exhaust fan (top left) and Intake (bottom right), runs 2 times a day for 10 min each time, A dehumidifier and the fridge pushes air around every time it turns on. I`ve noticed the humidity difference is worst when the fridge hasn`t turned on for a while. It has been pretty cold in my neck of the woods recently and I`ve noticed in the early mornings, the fridge will not have to turn on for 6-7 hours at a time!
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Post by Kijek » Thu Jan 25, 2018 20:30

Hmmm, I just finish my first batch in my newly constructed chamber and I battled a lot of the same issues.

To circulate air, I have a mini computer "like" fan, that turns on every 6 hrs for 10 minutes.
I rethinking that now, maybe should be 5 minutes every hours, because my sausages dried kind of funny shaped.
Although, I've see this before, mine was pretty severe and I think a lot of it had to do with what your dealing with.

Humidity differences and circulation, although, I still have much to learn.

I sorry I can't help anymore then that, would love to see what the pros say.

Oh, just pulled my sausage here is what I got, they are done


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STICKSTRING
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Post by STICKSTRING » Thu Jan 25, 2018 20:57

Your dried sausages look 👍🏻. I`m not too worried about the humidity difference as neither high or low number is out of my "acceptable" range. But I would love to tighten those numbers up and allow the most upper and most lower sausages to dry at a more equal rate
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Post by Kijek » Thu Jan 25, 2018 22:25

I'm guessing a computer fan may be perfect, my fan is much like a computer fan but moves the air just a bit more then I would like, I know you need just a smallair movement.
So, again would love to see what the pros have.

This learning curve stinks.
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Post by STICKSTRING » Thu Jan 25, 2018 22:50

I don`t think the learning curve ever ends. I have been drying sausages for a few years. Have never dealt with this specific issue until I built my most current dry chamber. My others did not seem to have this problem although this fridge is ALOT bigger then my past chambers
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Post by Kijek » Fri Jan 26, 2018 01:06

You are so right about the learning curve, I started out about 25 years ago with my father in-law an off the boat Italian, who taught all the old time stuff.
He's been gone for a long time now and I strive to do what he did, and now I'm learning all over again with new stuff, like cure #2 & #1, which he never taught me, or never heard about.

I'm holding my own, and slowly getting there.

I think I said it before, hang in here, this is the most down to earth, up front and honest place.

Everyone is super!
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Bob K
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Post by Bob K » Fri Jan 26, 2018 15:34

If you haven't had problems I wouldn't worry about it. Fans usually cause more problems. Easiest way would be to hang them in the top half, look like you have the room!
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Post by Kijek » Fri Jan 26, 2018 15:57

Hmm never thought that a fan for some circulation would cause problems. To add to my learning curve, what kind of problems?
Maybe that's why my sausage dried in funny shapes?
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Post by STICKSTRING » Fri Jan 26, 2018 17:37

Thank you bob for the response. 👍🏻
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