Cannatrol Cool Cure

[Olderfart]

It measures dew point… nobody said anything about magic.

I apologize for the term magic, which I admit may have been a bit unwarranted. I was reacting to the extended focus on how the cannatrol measures vapor pressure rather than relative humidity, implying that the measurement of vapor pressure directly was the reason that cannatrol was so different from alternative systems. I respectfully disagree with that characterization. The cannatrol does not measure vapor pressure directly, nor dew point directly. It most likely measures capacitance across a sold state sensor like this:

"Capacitive Metal Oxide – They have built in a layered structure sandwiching together a substrate base layer, a lower electrode, a hygroscopic metal-oxide middle layer, and a water permeable upper electrode. The capacitance across the upper and lower electrode changes base d on the amount of water vapor absorbed by the metal oxide layer (the dielectric of the capacitor), which is a function of dew point."

My point is that the machine does not do anything unusual to measure the humidity environment, and the extended explanation on how the reason the Cannatrol is special because it measures vapor pressure, not relative humidity is just hype. The same measurement would be used to calculate either from some sort of resistance, capacitance, or other data to calculate whichever variable was used for the control system involved.

What the cannatrol does is simultaneously control both temperature and the amount of water in the air in the cupboard, which permits the maintenance of humidity conditions in which cannabis will equilibrate to the desired water activity. The target water activity is for commercial purposes the level at which shelf stability is achieved, but bound water (weight) is not lost, thereby increasing profits for a product sold by the gram.

The cost of the unit is understandable if the unit is designed to operate in all potential environments. it must not only be able to measure the conditions effectively (both temperature as well as humidity whether expressed as VP, RH, or whatever), and more importantl it must be able to move either variable in either direction. Since it might have to achieve desired conditions in summer in Texas, or in winter where I live, it must be able to dehumidify, humidify, heat, or refridgerate, all in the same cupboard.

Anyway, I apologize if my original post offended. The Cannatrol seems to have intelligently imported and modified control systems common in the food preparation industry. However, I find the implication made in the company material that the device is successful because of the way it measures humidity to be disingenuous. The "magic" has nothing to do with the measurement sensor, it is the ability to simultaneously measure both humidity and temperature, and if necessary move either independently in either direction. The process would work identically with either dewpoint, vapor pressure, or relative humidity - the difference between these is just arithmetic.

For perspective, if I try a diy in this direction, my task would be far easier because I would only have to heat and humidify, my winter environment is always too cool and dry, so the system would not need dehumdification (I would just move more dry air into the box), or refrigeration (I would only have to add heat, never cooling).

The only reason I would consider DIY is because I am jealous. But too cheap. And too fond of my dearest's tolerance of this mischief - so far.

 

[Frankthetank]

The process would work identically with either dewpoint, vapor pressure, or relative humidity - the difference between these is just arithmetic.

Then why does it matter?

would not need dehumdificatio

Yes it would….. you would never get a box of wet buds, down in time before it molds. This unit, full of buds, spikes the humidity above eighty percent, and takes a day or two to get down…. Regardless of ambient humidity.

because I am jealous.

Ah…. That explains it….

Just understand….. the “magic” …. If you want to call it that…. Is in the control box. I think the folks that are assuming this is an easy diy, are underestimating the controller. I don’t even see how you would DIY something like it….

Just so everyone is clear….other things the inventor of this has patented….. boiler control systems, one of the first programmable home thermostats, a launch system for sidewinder missiles, some drying/curing systems for the culinary industry…. And now the Cannatrol.


If it’s so easy to DIY…. Prove it.

 

[Olderfart]

Then why does it matter?

It does not matter, which was my point. Since it does not matter, why all the hype about vapor pressure? Other than marketing effort to convince buyers that they were getting something unusual in the business of measuring water content of air, which is not the case. Why not market honestly by saying that the reason that the unit works is that it can completely control both humiditiy and temperature to target the specific combination that works best for weed? It is the marketing hype that bugs me, not in any way the performance of the unit which as far as I can tell without owning one is very effective, and the only such product available at the moment as far as I know.

If it’s so easy to DIY…. Prove it.

I might do that, although I have to add that there is no way that I can make something that size and with full capabilities of the cannatrol, and that is not my intent. Packaging the necessary refrigeration, humidification, dehumidification, and heating into something that size is well beyond anything feasible for me. OTOH, I may be able to put something together that can heat and reduce humidity via an inkbird controlling a low wattage heater on one hand, and an extraction fan that would suck dry air into the box when dehumidification was needed. I have already tried this, and early humidity was not the problem, the problem was that I underestimated the need for humidification. After the initial dry started, I could not keep the humidity up high enough by merely sealing the box, and I had not set up any kind of humidity source. I thought the drying bud would provide all that I needed as long as I could seal the box. However, once the initial dry was started, the Inkbird humidity control had no way of raising humidity. I ended up pulling the weed, finishing the trim, and finishing the process with brown bags and Groves, as per usual.

The other detail is that I was trying to do a fair amount of bud on hanging branches in a larger box, so I think the process would have worked better if the containment was smaller volume so that moisture from the weed would have had more influence. If I do another try, it will be with shelves, wet trimmed bud, and relatively small containment of some sort. And I will have to incorporate a water source to keep the humidity up as needed later in the dry cycle. This latter task might be accomplished by something as simple as adding wet sponges or whatever to add evaporation inside the box. That at this point is the wrinkle that I have not yet worked out. The heating and de-humidification is easy, at least it is in the winter where I live.

Anyway, if I give it another shot, I will document for everyone's amusement.