how to check gel is expire at dry box?

[Aimevous]

How much does one dry cabi cost usually?

I got mine at 118. 30L Digicabi DB-036.

 

[TME]

I got mine at 118. 30L Digicabi DB-036.

WoW! That's quite expensive... I think there are cheap offers every now and then by Carrefour... One piece of advice, it's better to get dry cabinets with those analogue dials rather than with a digital LCD panel. The digital LCD panel requires a separate AAA battery. And it consumes a heck of power. I have to change the battery almost every 3 weeks. I use rechargeables, but it's rather inconvenient and a waste of power I feel.

 

[TME]

hi.. dry cabinet only use power supply?? or??? need power supply one ah?

Yes, a dry cabinet is electrically powered. There is a built-in dehumidfier. So it consumes power 24/7 but the consumption is very small. You can tune the level of humidity you want. The temperature read-out is simply indicative of the temperature inside the cabinet. It depends on the temperature in the room. Don't leave unit where the sun can shine on it. There are small dry cabinets, so space shouldn't be a worry. My 80L is also in my room. You can go online and google for Digi-Cabi or Am-Pro brand. The latter brand is cheaper.

 

[dswh123]

OMG! IT WORKS!!! yesterday night i try using hairdryer to heat up the slica gel.. it works!! become blue.. and i put in and try.. i wake up and saw its 42 degree.. is 42 degree acceptable???:bsmilie: btw when it just buy.. you need to heat up first then put in the dry box?

 

[Aimevous]

WoW! That's quite expensive... I think there are cheap offers every now and then by Carrefour... One piece of advice, it's better to get dry cabinets with those analogue dials rather than with a digital LCD panel. The digital LCD panel requires a separate AAA battery. And it consumes a heck of power. I have to change the battery almost every 3 weeks. I use rechargeables, but it's rather inconvenient and a waste of power I feel.

Hmm.. Most 30L first hand cost around the same. Actually the bulk of the cost is in the dehumidifier I suppose. Bigger cabinets just have more metal (relatively not as exp?) and a stronger dehumidifier (usually higher wattage).

Mine uses an analogue dial to control the humidity but has a separate hygrometer powered by 1xAA battery. So far has been 2 months and running leh, no sign of problem with the battery life. I think this kind dont use rechargeables. Rechargeables cannot hold charges for extended periods. Rechargeables are not meant for such slow discharges I think.

Yes, a dry cabinet is electrically powered. There is a built-in dehumidfier. So it consumes power 24/7 but the consumption is very small. You can tune the level of humidity you want. The temperature read-out is simply indicative of the temperature inside the cabinet. It depends on the temperature in the room. Don't leave unit where the sun can shine on it. There are small dry cabinets, so space shouldn't be a worry. My 80L is also in my room. You can go online and google for Digi-Cabi or Am-Pro brand. The latter brand is cheaper.

Mine says power consumption is 5W.
Do read up on which technology it uses to perform the drying. Don't use those with that electronically dries silica gel. Not that efficient imho.

OMG! IT WORKS!!! yesterday night i try using hairdryer to heat up the slica gel.. it works!! become blue.. and i put in and try.. i wake up and saw its 42 degree.. is 42 degree acceptable???:bsmilie: btw when it just buy.. you need to heat up first then put in the dry box?

Using hair drier is not very energy efficient. Massive energy losses. Just dump it in the oven and maintain between 100-125 degrees celsius. The plastic won't melt and it will have time for the moisture to evaporate. Btw, your unit of measure is wrong. Humidity is specified in terms of percentage humidity, not degrees.

 

[kokster]

OMG! IT WORKS!!! yesterday night i try using hairdryer to heat up the slica gel.. it works!! become blue.. and i put in and try.. i wake up and saw its 42 degree.. is 42 degree acceptable???:bsmilie: btw when it just buy.. you need to heat up first then put in the dry box?

dude how long did u heat it man? i tried mine for 2 mins. put it back, next day still 65%.

 

[dswh123]

haha.. until the slica gel become blue??? around 20 mins..

 

[kokster]

haha.. until the slica gel become blue??? around 20 mins..

whoa no wonder ! i heat it for 2 minutes only. hahas. okay i gona try it tmr.

 

[Treetrunk]

Is there a need to keep the switch on the dry box turned on always?

 

[dswh123]

huh?? what u mean by switch??:dunno:

 

[afipuffy]

Julian W told me once during the workshop to keep it from 45% till 50%. So usually more than 55% i will change or add in another pack of silica to maintain it to 45%-50%. Will usually change when it is really pink in colour.

 

[dswh123]

Julian W told me once during the workshop to keep it from 45% till 50%. So usually more than 55% i will change or add in another pack of silica to maintain it to 45%-50%. Will usually change when it is really pink in colour.

oh... er.. where u usually buy the silica at?? how much?? :bsmilie::bsmilie:

 

[sagiluck]

.. i nv reheat the gel before. >.> just change...

 

[afipuffy]

oh... er.. where u usually buy the silica at?? how much?? :bsmilie::bsmilie:

I usually bought it at NTUC at $3.90. If you buy from other shop might be either more than $3.90 or equal.

 

[TME]

Hmm.. Most 30L first hand cost around the same. Actually the bulk of the cost is in the dehumidifier I suppose. Bigger cabinets just have more metal (relatively not as exp?) and a stronger dehumidifier (usually higher wattage).

I actually don't remember paying so much for my first dry cabinet which was a 20L Am-Pro... I think there was a sale and it was way below $100... That was analogue. The 80L cabinet I use now cost only $159 or so, again a sale at Carrefour... Do the 30L cost >$100 now? I always thought they weren't so expensive...

 

[dswh123]

hi all.. .. hairdryer really is not effective.. i ytd night take my gel slica to oven to heat.. to blue.. and now its still maintain at 40 to 50 %.. still blue.. :bsmilie::bsmilie:

 

[cubicon]

I usually bought it at NTUC at $3.90. If you buy from other shop might be either more than $3.90 or equal.

anyone tried daiso b4 :bsmilie:

 

[VisionTechnik]

Most neightbourhood photo lab will sell the gel for approx $3.50.

For those who have problem reducing the humidity to <50% try to put more gels inside. In the past when I just started out, I usually put 2 handfuls of gels (just a guide) in to the container. However, it only last for the first time, after you open up the box again.

As long as you use your lense often, fungus will not grow. It's just like your leather wallet which will turn moldy in a month's time when not in use.

 

[Aimevous]

I actually don't remember paying so much for my first dry cabinet which was a 20L Am-Pro... I think there was a sale and it was way below $100... That was analogue. The 80L cabinet I use now cost only $159 or so, again a sale at Carrefour... Do the 30L cost >$100 now? I always thought they weren't so expensive...

Hmm.. I think its because you got it at a sale.. I remembered getting quotes from several vendors for various brands of 30Ls and 118 was the cheapest I got.

I tried hitting Carrefour but they dont seem to have drycabs anymore, only wine chillers (which got me excited when I saw them from far as they looked like dry cabs) :dunno:

 

[cubicon]

Hmm.. I think its because you got it at a sale.. I remembered getting quotes from several vendors for various brands of 30Ls and 118 was the cheapest I got.

I tried hitting Carrefour but they dont seem to have drycabs anymore, only wine chillers (which got me excited when I saw them from far as they looked like dry cabs) :dunno:

suntec branch have them in stock , 100 odd for the 30L one .... saw it on the 31st when i tried to hunt down a cheapo buy & throw away tripod for the fire works :sweatsm: