Written by Daddy Cappuccino
8-minute read
Feel free to skip ahead to Section 8: Conclusion for a concise summary of the key points covered in this article.
Raching’s electric climate-controlled humidors have quietly but surely become the hot ticket item in our store. Our close-knit partnership with Raching has allowed us to not only deliver their top-selling items in a jiffy but also to customize and order special units straight from the factory.
Now, any cigar aficionado will tell you, having a diverse cigar collection is not just about indulging in a variety of flavors. It’s also a smart move to guard against price surges and supply hiccups. But with the joy of owning a vast collection comes the duty of caring for these cigars, often for extended periods, through changing weather conditions.
This is where Raching steps in as the trusted brand for many. But the choice between the C series, a more wallet-friendly option, and the MON series, the flagship range boasting all the latest bells and whistles, often leaves folks scratching their heads.
In this article, we’re going to roll up our sleeves and tackle the burning question: is it worth shelling out the extra dough for a MON series humidor? (Spoiler alert: Absolutely!)
Table of Contents
- Raching MON2800A vs Raching C330A: What is There to Compare?
- Price
- Sensorization
- Humidification
- Cooling (and Heating)
- Air Circulation
- Extras
- Conclusion
1. Raching MON2800 vs Raching C330: What is There to Compare?
To make a fair comparison, we’re putting our top-seller, the MON2800A from the MON series, in the ring with the C330A from the C series.
At first glance, they might seem pretty similar, aside from the different color options. They share the same dimensions of 24″ x 24″ x 64″ (W x D x H) and the same effective volume of 330L (11.7 ft3). Both can comfortably house around 1200 to 1300 cigars (up to 1500 if you’ve mastered the art of Tetris). They both boast a backlit LCD touch screen and interior LED lighting. And if you skim through the specs, both models seem to maintain temperature and humidity within similar ranges.
So, what’s there to compare, you ask? Well, there’s more than meets the eye, believe me.
A humidor needs to constantly perform three basic steps to do its job: measuring the current conditions (mainly temperature and humidity), plus heating/cooling and humidifying according to the measurements to reach the desired ranges.
In the following sections, we'll delve into the key differences in how both series perform these tasks, how good they are at it and maybe a little more… getting slightly technical but not overly so. Let’s get started!
2. Price
Let’s tackle the most glaring difference first - the price. As of the time this article was written, there’s a noticeable $1000 gap between these two units. The most affordable MON 2800 model is priced at $3,399, while you can get the least expensive C330A for $2,399.
Indeed, while the price difference is certainly a consideration, it’s crucial to remember that your humidor is a long-term investment. It will be with you for numerous years, safeguarding thousands of cigars throughout its lifespan. Therefore, when making your decision, it’s essential to recognize that the investment made today could benefit you and your collection for many years to come. It’s not just about the cost, but also about the value it brings over time.
3. Sensorization
To effectively control and deliver the right temperature and humidity, your humidor must accurately measure and process many variables (humidification time, heating power, refrigeration time, water temperature and flow rate, air output, evaporation temperature, etc.). Why does this matter? Precision in measurements is crucial for maintaining stable conditions within your humidor. This stability helps prevent unwanted issues such as hollow cores, split ends, or uneven burning in your cigars - all of which can detract from your cigar experience.
It’s worth mentioning that the majority of electric humidors are equipped with a single sensor for both humidity and temperature.
The C330 stands out from the crowd with its 3 distinct humidity/temperature sensors. This results in variations in temperature and humidity that are typically kept under the 2% threshold.
However, the MON 2800 takes it a step further by incorporating 7 high-sensitivity sensors that intelligently collect and process a large amount of data in real time. This includes 5 temperature and humidity sensors placed at different heights, 1 water temperature sensor in the reservoir, and additional sensors in the evaporator (a crucial component in cooling and humidification that we’ll discuss later).
Indeed, the MON2800A’s extensive sensor array enables it to fine-tune the internal temperature and humidity using an advanced PID frequency conversion system. This system, a feedback-based control loop mechanism often found in the drone industry, ensures minimal fluctuations and maintains consistent conditions. The precision is remarkable, with variations as small as ± 0.1°C or ±0.18°F in temperature and ± 1% in humidity. This level of control contributes to a stable environment for your cigars, further enhancing the value of this humidor.
4. Humidification
Humidification plays a crucial role in the function of a humidor. It’s responsible for maintaining the optimal humidity level inside the unit, which is essential for preserving the quality—including the color and firmness—and flavors of cigars. Without proper humidification, cigars can dry out, losing their aroma and taste, or they can become too moist, leading to mold growth.
The C330A employs an s-shaped wet film with a 3D porous structure, housed within its water tank, to manage the humidification process. This design is a step up from traditional wet films, enabling the C series to attain a humidification rate that’s up to 20 times higher than the average humidor. However, one minor drawback is that this film requires annual replacement. Additionally, there’s a potential for the growth of moss and mold, which is a common issue in areas where water remains stagnant.
The MON2800A truly stands out when it comes to humidification. It utilizes an hydrophilic aluminum foil copper tube sub-evaporator in conjunction with a dedicated frequency conversion pump that circulates freezing cold water (at 2-5°C for avoiding moss and mold) from the reservoir to multiple hydrophilic fin layers on the evaporator. This innovative system generates 0.4-nanometer water molecules, resulting in a fog-free performance, strong penetration, lasting effect, and unparalleled precision. This advanced system surpasses the wet film method used by the C330A, as well as other common methods found in competing products, such as semiconductor, ultrasonic, and infrared humidification. It’s a testament to the superior technology and design of the MON2800A.
5. Cooling (and Heating)
Raching packs their humidors with high-quality PTC electric heating systems, ready to take on those frosty winter conditions when your room turns into a walk-in freezer. However, most of the time, your humidor will act as a refrigerator, lowering the temperature inside and keeping things cool, no matter how hot it gets in the room.
The evaporator plays the key role in refrigeration (and also in humidification in the case of the MON series as we explained in the previous section). It works by expanding the cold refrigerant at its low temperature of saturation and constant pressure to pull out the heat, cooling down the unit. This poses two risks. If the cold evaporator is in direct contact with the metal liner, condensation (and even frost) of the humid air inside your unit will take place. If the evaporator is in direct contact with the air inside the humidor, the air might get dry and experience a sharp drop in humidity (up to 20%).
The C330A model uses an air-cooled evaporator, which can lead to undesired dehumidification. This is counterbalanced with smart air circulation techniques, which will be explained in the next section. However, it’s not the ideal solution.
In contrast, the MON2800A model features a water-cooled evaporator. The cooling process occurs completely underwater, isolating the evaporator from the air in the humidor and preventing any condensation or drastic reduction in humidity. You can imagine how much this smoothens the temperature and humidity control process.
6. Air Circulation
Effective air circulation is crucial to maintain consistent temperature and humidity levels throughout the humidor, ensuring optimal conditions for your cigars, even when it's fully stocked.
Unlike traditional cigar cabinets equipped with a single duct, Raching cigar cabinets boast a multi-layered air duct design, enhancing airflow distribution.
Both the C330A and the MON2800A excel in this aspect. They are equipped with multiple turbo fans for vertical air circulation and noiseless axial-flow fans for horizontal air recirculation. This coordinated airflow system separates heating, cooling, humidification, and dehumidification air flows, ensuring maximum performance.
7. Extras
The MON series not only excels in the core functions essential for a humidor but also in numerous small details that streamline your experience.
Following storage in a high-humidity environment, your cigars aren't immediately ready for smoking. That's where the MON series steps in with its distinctive feature: a dedicated dehumidification drawer situated at the bottom. Outfitted with its own sensors and independent heating system, this drawer is meticulously designed to bring your cigars to the optimal temperature and humidity levels for immediate enjoyment, ensuring you can savor your cigar without any additional hassle.
Moreover, the MON series boasts full Spanish Cedarwood lining and shelving. Spanish cedarwood is favored for cigar humidors due to its innate ability to regulate humidity, its natural repellence against insects, and its knack for enhancing the flavor of cigars. Beyond its functional benefits, cigar aficionados also admire its visually striking appearance and renowned resistance to warping and cracking.
One beloved feature among our customers is the Ammonia Removal system, which comes standard in select MON series models and is available as an option in others. This groundbreaking system operates by generating approximately 480 billion free OH radicals per second—highly reactive water ions that undergo chemical reactions with the unwanted ammonia gas (NH3), effectively eliminating its potent odor and potential toxicity by up to 99%.
Perhaps it's time to revisit my high school chemistry textbooks and craft an in-depth article elucidating this remarkable technology further.
8. Conclusion
| C330A | MON 2800A | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price (base model) | $2,399 | 🏆 | $3,399 | |
| Sensorization | 3 sensors | 🏆 | 7 sensors + PID frequency conversion system | |
| Humidification | S-shaped wet film with a 3D porous structure | 🏆 | Hydrophilic aluminum foil copper tube sub-Evaporator | |
| Heating/Cooling | PTC electric heating + Air-cooled Evaporator | 🏆 | PTC electric heating + Water-cooled Evaporator | |
| Air Circulation | 5 turbon fans + 3 axial-flow fans + 1 cross-flow fan | 🏆 | 🏆 | 4 turbon fans + 5 axial-flow fans |
| Extras | - | 🏆 | - Dehumidification Drawer - Spanish Cedarwood lining and drawers - Optional Ammonia Removal System |
|
So, wrapping it up, after the C330A versus MON2800A showdown, it's clear that the MON series packs a serious punch. Sure, there's a $1000 difference in price, but when you're talking about an investment that'll be with you for years, safeguarding your prized cigar collection, that difference is peanuts.
The MON series offers advanced features such as superior sensorization, precise humidification technology, and innovative cooling mechanisms, making it the optimal choice for safeguarding and preserving your cigar collection over the long term. Plus, with added perks like the dehumidification drawer and Spanish Cedarwood lining and drawers, the MON2800A goes above and beyond.
So, if you're serious about your cigars, the MON series is where it's at. For discerning cigar enthusiasts seeking the utmost in quality and longevity, the MON series is without a doubt a sound and worthwhile investment.
If you've made it this far, congratulations! You're truly an authentic connoisseur of the finer things in life. Here's to your journey in finding the perfect humidor to accompany your prized cigar collection. 🥃 Cheers, and until next time!
