Hello to you all, this is my first posting on BEE-L.
 
I wish to ask the question, what is the optimum relative humidity to 
maintain in a honey hot room if one wishes to reduce the moisture 
content in honey.
 
I currently have an insulated room 9 x 7 x 4 metres which I warm to 
+32°c (90°F) using two heat pumps coupled together outside which 
circulate refrigerant to an evaporator coil and fan system inside. 
With a timer I can make this go into reverse cycle there by 
temporarily chilling the inside evaporator to condense ice to it. A 
timed reverse back to warming cycle will cause the ice on the 
evaporator coil to melt which can then be caught in a tray and drained 
away out side there by it is hoped to drop the humidity in the hot 
room. The system is very cheap to run.
 
I know dehumidifiers are used in honey hot rooms in other parts of the 
world and I would be interested in what percent relative humidity 
other operators aim for. The lowest possible RH would mean more 
running costs where as a happy medium might be 50% RH. Any ideas and 
experience would be most welcome.
 
Barry Foster
Gisborne
New Zealand.
e-mail [log in to unmask]