Today we will do Schmécké 400 Cigar Cooler Humidor Review, which entered the market about 2 years ago and many have not left indifferent with its technical solutions, and compare with the nearest competitor in this price range.
Specification
- Storage capacity: 400 cigars
- Total capacity: 70 L / 2.4 c.f.
- 3 in 1 Precise Cooling, Heating & Humidity Control
- Temperature range: 61°F-72°F
- Humidity range: 65-75%
- Wattage: 115V/60Hz
- Dimensions: 16.9 “x 17.7 “x 29.1”
- Rated Power: 95 W
- Power Supply: 115V / 60Hz
- Weight: 48 lbs.
Appearance
Unlike many models on the market, Schmécké is designed with a quiet, non-aggressive look. The silver smoked glass door with its stylish handle gives you a clear view of the cigar collection. All this beauty is emphasized by 6 spotlights on the right and left side of the humidor, which gives the effect of neon lighting Noise level Unfortunately the manufacturer’s instructions don’t say anything about the noise level of the humidor, and most often the problem is that you get a defective fan.
This happens very rarely, but if you do (we hope not), the manufacturer sends a free replacement fan. In general, the noise level of this coolidor is much quieter than the same Audew but louder than the Needone, but not so critical that it is somehow annoying and disturbing.
Trays and shelves
It is nice that they are made from quality cedar wood, but for such a big cooler humidor I would like to see more trays than shelves because mostly I want to store cigars in whole boxes, but one by one. Plus trays give more space and look more interesting visually (of course with cigars). The scary part is this. Many customers say that the bottom drawer shouldn’t be used because water will accumulate there and cigars will start to rot. But here the problem is the following: first, many people fill up with regular water, not distilled water, and secondly, they overfill the container a lot.
According to the instructions, there should be no more than ¾ of the container. This is where the problem with the bottom tray comes from. So don’t worry, there is nothing wrong here and you just have to follow the instructions.
Capacity
Total capacity is 70 L / 2.4 c.f. which corresponds to about 250-300 cigars (the size of the cigar is about 6 to 7 inches in length, with ring gauges of about 40), so the claimed 400 cigars should be significantly smaller.
But this problem is solved by replacing the shelf with a tray and then there is enough space. But it would be nice if the device would work out of the box and you don’t have to make anything up, don’t you?
LCD
Intuitive operation, you just need to get the hang of it. We have four keys: settings, temperature/humidity control, and up and down arrows. To start setting the temperature or humidity, you click on the settings and then on the combined temperature/humidity button. The first click will light up the left signal (temperature), and the second will be humidity. And with the up/down buttons, we adjust the parameters we need To turn on/off the light, you should press the settings and long press the combined temperature/humidity button. That is all, there are no questions and no claims.
3-in-1 killer feature
So, this cooler humidor can adjust the temperature. It has a heater (described in the manual), a compressor cooler, and a fan that helps move the air inside the humidor to keep the humidity down. But for the humidor to work correctly there are a few rules:
- This humidor must be transported upright. Do not turn it upside down, do not tilt it
- It has to be level
- Before the first power is on I recommend waiting 5-6 hours for the oil to drain into the compressor.
- After turning it on and adding distilled water to a particular container, let it stand for a few hours to even out the temperature
- And after that, you can use the humidor
If these rules are neglected the humidor will not work properly and will not regulate the humidity or temperature correctly. The fact that there is a compressor is a super advantage: It works like a refrigerator and it does not care about the ambient temperature: it will keep the set temperature at any time of the day or night. If the ambient temperature gets too low, the heating sensors will trigger and the humidor will ramp up to the set parameters. Once again if you follow the instructions, the humidor holds both the humidity and the temperature with 1-2% accuracy.
Comparison to nearest competitors
If you look at that Amazon, with a volume of 70 L comes a huge number of Noname brands, which have no reviews on the site itself or the internet. So let’s go a simpler way and I’ll show you how to compare this model with others. For example, the Needone Cooler Humidor Upgraded version 48 L is gaining popularity right now. In the Schmécké product line there is a 250-cigar product at about 43 L (1.5 c.f.) – so let’s compare these two models.
The main differences
The operating principle of the Needone thermoelectric humidor is based on the Peltier element, a plate-type thermoelectric converter.
When voltage is applied one side of the plate heats and the other side cools. The cold side is directed inside the refrigerator and the hot side is directed outside. The main advantage of such a system is that it requires neither liquids nor gases, which means no refrigerant. But it has a disadvantage – the efficiency (cooling capacity) of the Peltier element is much lower than that of compressor refrigerators with freon. In other words, the temperature inside the refrigerator depends on the temperature outside.
So, for winter time the humidor is not very suitable and in very hot summertime it can let you down. So this humidor is good for moderate seasons or for storage indoors, where the temperature is more or less stable.
The main advantage of Schmécké is the independence from ambient temperature because it works with a compressor. Models on standard linear compressors will cool the chamber to a set temperature and then turn it back on when the temperature rises. Even in the hottest heat, it will be as cold as it needs to be inside. And if it is very cold, the heating elements inside will raise the temperature.
But such a humidor may make noise, click and vibrate, but that is the price of a compressor. And you know what the most important thing is? The Schmécké 250 is only $50 more expensive than the Needone 48 L, but we get the more flexible and stable temperature and humidity control for the money. Well, if you want more control and capacity, welcome to the Raching humidor review.
Verdict
The Schmécké is a decent cooler humidor for your cigar collection for its money. If you don’t mind the long prep time for the initial startup and the little noise the cigar cooler makes, then choose your size and enjoy the great taste of your cigars.
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