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Old 09-22-12, 09:25 AM   #1
Xringer
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Default Moisture Absorber Ideal for Small Spaces



When the beads change color, you plug it into 120vac to dry it out, for reuse.

Here's the newest version..
Eva-Dry 333 Mini-Dehumidifier


Found some older models (lower cost) models on Ebay.
Eva-Dry EDV300 Mini-Dehumidifier - 5 Pack | eBay

If these work, they will pay for themselves in about a year,
since I'll be able to turn off my 40 watt plug-in dehumidifier.
(Which eats up about $60 a year in electricity).

Edit:
I am now officially horrified!
Just measured my "40 watt plug-in dehumidifier" and it's using a horrific 62.5 watts!
1.5 kWh per day! @ $00.1633 /kWh, that's 24.5 cents a day! (more than we use for hot water)!
It's freakin $89.42 per year! It's been running for over 20 years

My DIY "40 watt plug-in dehumidifier" power use was based on labeled wattage requirements, and never measured until today..

Better late than never!
It's going off-grid today (using Solar back-up) and will be ripped out when the new dehumidifiers get here.
And, when those Eva-Dry EDV300s need to be plugged in?? Yes, Solar!!!

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Last edited by Xringer; 09-22-12 at 10:01 AM..
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Old 09-22-12, 11:44 AM   #2
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Interesting device. I assume you have to plug it into somewhere where you want the moisture to be dispersed?

It can't do a large area, 333 cubic feet (which is probably optimistic). So, that is a 6.5'x6.5'x8' room. However, a couple might do the trick.

It would be great to find a source of a more efficient de-humidifier. Those things really suck a ton of power. When I had mine going I think it used up as much power as my refrigerator which is 1-2 kWh per day!
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Old 09-22-12, 01:35 PM   #3
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I'm getting five of the EDV300 units to place inside of storage cabinets and lockers down in the basement,
where I keep Ham radio equipment and other gear that I don't want exposed to too much moisture.

My basement is always damp, and I've had problems with rust for years.
I use spray lube on my Chinese machine shop tools, and they still get surface rust.
I'm hoping that rust process might slow down a little with the AirTap running..
But I've already noticed the condensate isn't being absorbed into the
bottom of the sump very fast. Some of it is recycling back into the basement air!
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Old 09-26-12, 11:58 AM   #4
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Nice! They sent me the 333 models. I've installed a few and they seem well made.
They are tightly sealed in clear plastic. (Not the real thin stuff either).
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Old 10-22-12, 01:13 PM   #5
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Any feedback on how these are working out for you?
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Old 10-22-12, 02:47 PM   #6
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They seem to be working pretty well so far. Some of the units soaked up water
at a faster pace than the others.
It looks like all of my storage containers need to be sealed up a little tighter.
I've been working on the problem areas, and monitoring the results.

Once things are tightened up.. When the units only need to be plugged in for a dry cycle
once a month, then I'll be happy. Now it seems like they get filled up within 2 or 3 weeks.
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Old 10-23-12, 07:00 AM   #7
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It really needs to be tested, how much dehumidification you get vs the energy used. And these units need to be removed from the environment, while plugged in, otherwise you will just cycle the moisture between the air, and the silica material.

One other issue, which needs to be researched about regarding silica, is how it affects the air, with regard to corrosion. The typical dehumidification "salts" you can buy in a supermarket, are not suitable in environments with "unshielded" electronic devices. The air from these silica has a salty kind of content, which over time promotes corrosion. I am thinking of the mention of ham equipment - I would seriously be worried about using chemicals to dehumidify the air, if they just corrode in other ways.

For aircraft and R/V's parked over a longer time, those silica to provide a passive dehumidification are seem to work well but, although a tempting solution ... be aware that they kill the electronics over the years, just like cars in coastal areas corrode faster ... so I have been warned previously about using these "moisture absorbing salts".

This is why any dehumidification based on silica/desiccants need to be properly researched for these side effects.
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Old 10-23-12, 07:40 AM   #8
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I've seen those little 'Do Not Eat' bags in electronics packaging for decades (it seems).
Pretty sure they don't out-gas corrosives.

I looked up how they make the stuff used in these little units..

A solution of sodium silicate is acidified to produce a gelatinous precipitate that is washed, then dehydrated to produce colorless silica gel.[5] When a visible indication of the moisture content of the silica gel is required, ammonium tetrachlorocobaltate(II) (NH4)2CoCl4 or cobalt chloride CoCl2 is added.[5] This will cause the gel to be blue when dry and pink when hydrated.[5] An alternative indicator is methyl violet which is orange when dry and green when hydrated.


Blue and Pink is what we got..

~~~

If these units aren't up to the job, they can always be used in the upstairs closets.


One idea that I've been thinking about is using a heated element (red-hot)
to dry air out and pump it into the storage containers using small hoses.
This Dry Air unit would be powered up every day when there was good solar.
PV use makes the power cost minimal.

I'll have to look at some of the designs used for dry air for SCUBA etc,
to figure out if this can done as a DIY project.

Edit:
Just looked on Ebay and they aren't cheap..

But, another idea just occurred to me. I have a good source of (free) dry air in the basement already.
http://ecorenovator.org/forum/geothe...-heater-8.html

I could tap into the dry air coming out of the AirTap A7 ASHP (hotwater heater).
There is a 120Vac accessory socket on the A7 that is powered while the compressor is running. Plug-n-play!
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Last edited by Xringer; 10-23-12 at 07:51 AM.. Reason: A7 idea.
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Old 10-23-12, 08:49 AM   #9
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Is that a suitable desiccant for breathing? I'd hate to hear of a story where someone dessicates their lungs when some minuscule powder lets loose from the packet and gets inhaled.
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Old 10-23-12, 01:34 PM   #10
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The beads look almost like glass. No dust in the beads I've seen..


I think this stuff powdered form might not be good in the your nose and lungs,
or if you didn't see the 'Do Not Eat' and ate some..

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