Humidifier Recommendations Sought

[SethF]

Forgot to add the pics

Thank you!
Never would have found that float valve.
It's amazing how I can get obsessed with stuff like this.
I have now scoured the net and there isn't a reasonably price evaporative or ultrasonic humidifier with autofill capability. There was one, https://www.alzashop.com/bionaire-airtek-pcmh45-dw-d379438.htm, now discontinued.

Dumb question: If you connected the water line without the float, with the saddle valve turned down low to reduce the pressure, would it still leak? Would it overflow?

Also curious if your issue is simply an issue attributable to that unit.

I think I am going to go with an evaporative model, and may try to screw around with setting up an autofill.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0012KO7DS/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

This has 2 tanks, so I don't know if setting a waterline to only one would do the trick. I have to imagine that the system draws from only one tank, and then the other?

 

[mainshipfred]

Never tried the first question but I'm pretty sure it would separate the pieces once full and I don't think it's a function of the unit because it worked perfectly prior to farting with it. Since I'm only filling it every 3 days I think I'll let it go for now. My ambient winter humidity is 32 but in the summer it closer to 70+ so I may only have to fill it every 2 weeks. BTW, US Plastics is a pretty cool site.

 

[SethF]

So spent some time thinking about how these things work (I have a small ultrasonic one now).

I believe the water containers all act as if they are pet water feeders. Think about it. When you fill the container/bottle, and then invert it, it opens the bottom by the spring based mechanism, and the water stops "spilling" out once the water in the bottom reservoir reaches the opening in the bottle. The pressure and tension action retains this level as the water is dissipated. I'm an attorney, not a scientist so I did some googling:

https://www.google.com/search?q=how...rome..69i57.7312j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

More scientific explanation:
https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/88669/physics-of-the-inverted-bottle-dispenser

So you destroy that vacuum/pressure/tension scenario when you have the fill tube in place, and the valve causes an in flow. When you put the second hole, that permanently destroyed the scenario.

There are evaporative humidifiers that do not have "bottles" for filling, fill by pouring water in, and therefore don't rely on that pressure sequence.

https://aircareproducts.com/pub/sta...es/product-manuals/1B72811_831000_10-2018.pdf

In as much as I would like to eventually have this be trouble free/auto filling, I think I will go with one of these and then try your flow valve just below the fill line. I am going to try to find the smallest form factor for one of these.

And evaporative should mean less "dust" and mineral issues.

What do you think?

Seth

 

[mainshipfred]

So spent some time thinking about how these things work (I have a small ultrasonic one now).

I believe the water containers all act as if they are pet water feeders. Think about it. When you fill the container/bottle, and then invert it, it opens the bottom by the spring based mechanism, and the water stops "spilling" out once the water in the bottom reservoir reaches the opening in the bottle. The pressure and tension action retains this level as the water is dissipated. I'm an attorney, not a scientist so I did some googling:

https://www.google.com/search?q=how...rome..69i57.7312j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

More scientific explanation:
https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/88669/physics-of-the-inverted-bottle-dispenser

So you destroy that vacuum/pressure/tension scenario when you have the fill tube in place, and the valve causes an in flow. When you put the second hole, that permanently destroyed the scenario.

There are evaporative humidifiers that do not have "bottles" for filling, fill by pouring water in, and therefore don't rely on that pressure sequence.

https://aircareproducts.com/pub/sta...es/product-manuals/1B72811_831000_10-2018.pdf

In as much as I would like to eventually have this be trouble free/auto filling, I think I will go with one of these and then try your flow valve just below the fill line. I am going to try to find the smallest form factor for one of these.

And evaporative should mean less "dust" and mineral issues.

What do you think?

Seth

I think it's like you said before, you got obsessed with it, LOL!! But I do agree with you about the pressure sequence. I'm counting on you to come up with a solution.

 

[SethF]

I think it's like you said before, you got obsessed with it, LOL!! But I do agree with you about the pressure sequence. I'm counting on you to come up with a solution.

So here is what I bought about a month ago:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00WAC9VKQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Works great, water lasts for over a week, and I fill it with a 5 gallon bucket.

No powder residue, really quite.

Maintaining humidity like a champ.

I am going to run the condensate tube from the AC unit to the reservoir here, and see how long that lasts.

I may not bother with the water line. Easy enough to fill.

 

[mainshipfred]

So here is what I bought about a month ago:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00WAC9VKQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Works great, water lasts for over a week, and I fill it with a 5 gallon bucket.

No powder residue, really quite.

Maintaining humidity like a champ.

I am going to run the condensate tube from the AC unit to the reservoir here, and see how long that lasts.

I may not bother with the water line. Easy enough to fill.

Thanks Seth, mine is 6x10 so similar size. If you unplug it will it turn on when plugged back in or do you have to manually turn it on? I have an Inkbird humidity controller that kills the power when it's satisfied. I know this unit has a humidity control but I'd like to use the Inkbird as well. Also if you are getting over a week in the winter you'll probably extend that in the summer.

 

[SethF]

Verified it does NOT turn back on. Sorry.

If set at 60%, it will keep my room fairly stable between 60 and 70 with my cooling system (winter).

If set at 65%, it will run continuously. Haven't needed to do that.

 

[JoP]

Here you go. The humidifier is 2 parts, the base and the tank above. When we drilled the hole for the float and connected the water supply water leaked between the top and bottom section. When the valve was closed (full) there was no leaking. I thought water coming into the tank from the float created a pressure that separated the two parts. I drilled another hole high in the tank to releave the pressure but that caused the same leak as when it was filling. We then added a one way valve to equalize the pressure when filling but the same thing. Last we tried gluing the 2 pieces together but it still leaked when filling. I just bought the same one and now continue to fill it manually.

Float Mini Bobby® Float Valves with 1/4" Compression Nut | U.S. Plastic Corp.

One way valve 1/4" Polypropylene Standard Check Valve with Viton™ Diaphragm | U.S. Plastic Corp.

Humidifier https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KNBKJFW/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Hello mainshipfred and all,
I hope this thread is still monitored.
I'm also looking for a humidifier solution with water hookup and can't find the right one yet.
I want to have an evaporative humidifier that can be controlled by a humidity controller like the Engbird ITC-608T.
If anyone of you can recommend one, please let me know.
BTW, the above link for the humidifier on Amazon, does not work, what was the brand and model number?
Thanks