Safe dehumidifer

ManChicken · May 8, 2005, 04:15 PM

I just recently got a Liberty safe (a Lincoln) and got a Goldenrod dehumidifier. Wondering what the best way to install it is, in the sense of the cord.

The safe is in a finished basement, sitting on carpet. I'm wondering, do you all drill a small hole in the side or back of the safe to run the cord out of, and how are you sealing it if so? My only other thought was to run it out one of the existing holes in the bottom where it was bolted to the pallette or where you would bolt it to the floor, but that might be a bad idea with the weight of the safe and the cord, even on carpet.. wouldn't want it to cut through somehow.

Just curious what everyone else has done.

Frenchwrench · May 8, 2005, 06:48 PM

I asked the same question Saturday while looking at safes.The Champion Safe has small space at right rear corner(as you look in the door).You poke a screwdriver or awl through and run the cord,then mount the plug.It's under the carpeting.Yours may differ.

BigBoreKindaGuy · May 8, 2005, 06:52 PM

A pound of cobalt chloride every three months or more depending on where one lives is the way to go. Better than a mechanical dehumidifier.

johnbt · May 9, 2005, 07:57 AM

There should be a hole near, within a foot anyway, the lower right corner of the back. I don't remember if mine was plugged, capped or just covered with carpeting, but I do remember needing to use a screwdriver to punch through the fireproofing.

I wouldn't use anything but a Golden Rod, unless I didn't have access to electricity.

John

moredes · May 11, 2005, 11:03 AM

I went to Home Depot and bought a grommet. After measuring it, I drilled a hole in a corner of the safe and cut an extension cord so I could thread it through. Then I spliced it back together, and installed a 5 watt bulb receptacle and "voila!". 5 watt bulbs are those teardrop christmas tree bulbs; they keep the 30cf safe around 70*, and I have to replace the bulb every 4 months or so. I used to have a Goldenrod, but the safe always got too hot; I was concerned about drying out my rifle stocks and some heirloom documents too much.

mrstang01 · May 11, 2005, 11:56 AM

BigBoreKindaGuy, where would one find a pound of cobalt chloride?

claude783 · May 11, 2005, 01:10 PM

I purchase dehumidifer packs at the hardware store. If I am not going to be getting into the safe for some time..will light a small candle to burn off all the oxygen in the safe.

No Oxygen, no rust!

johnbt · May 11, 2005, 02:47 PM

Are you certain the door seals? Close the door on a dollar bill and see if it slides out - that's also known as the refrigerator door gasket test. The safes I've looked at used an expanding door seal that required heat to work. The Golden Rod requires air circulation to work properly as opposed to the crystals that require an airtight container to work well.

My Liberty came pre-drilled in the back and I believe they all do.

John

ManChicken · May 11, 2005, 08:20 PM

Duh. OK, I just found the plug on the back right on the outside -- hehe, sometimes the obvious sails right past

Now the question is how to route the cord-- I don't want to just drill through the interior where the hole is, if I can avoid it.

johnbt · May 12, 2005, 10:15 AM

It's only 3 layers of wallboard plus the carpet. - "4 layers ceiling, 3 layers wall of 5/8" fireboard"

Just drive a phillips head screwdriver through it. It's been so long that I don't remember if I had to cut a slit in the carpet, but there was plenty of room to run two wires.

John

May 8, 2005, 04:15 PM	#1
ManChicken Junior Member Join Date: December 27, 2004 Posts: 14	Safe dehumidifer I just recently got a Liberty safe (a Lincoln) and got a Goldenrod dehumidifier. Wondering what the best way to install it is, in the sense of the cord. The safe is in a finished basement, sitting on carpet. I'm wondering, do you all drill a small hole in the side or back of the safe to run the cord out of, and how are you sealing it if so? My only other thought was to run it out one of the existing holes in the bottom where it was bolted to the pallette or where you would bolt it to the floor, but that might be a bad idea with the weight of the safe and the cord, even on carpet.. wouldn't want it to cut through somehow. Just curious what everyone else has done.

May 8, 2005, 06:52 PM	#3
BigBoreKindaGuy Senior Member Join Date: March 13, 2005 Posts: 175	A pound of cobalt chloride every three months or more depending on where one lives is the way to go. Better than a mechanical dehumidifier. __________________ BigBoreKindaGuy

May 11, 2005, 11:03 AM	#5
moredes Senior Member Join Date: September 7, 2001 Posts: 325	Youse guys ain't cheap enough.... I went to Home Depot and bought a grommet. After measuring it, I drilled a hole in a corner of the safe and cut an extension cord so I could thread it through. Then I spliced it back together, and installed a 5 watt bulb receptacle and "voila!". 5 watt bulbs are those teardrop christmas tree bulbs; they keep the 30cf safe around 70*, and I have to replace the bulb every 4 months or so. I used to have a Goldenrod, but the safe always got too hot; I was concerned about drying out my rifle stocks and some heirloom documents too much.

May 11, 2005, 08:20 PM	#9
ManChicken Junior Member Join Date: December 27, 2004 Posts: 14	Duh. OK, I just found the plug on the back right on the outside -- hehe, sometimes the obvious sails right past Now the question is how to route the cord-- I don't want to just drill through the interior where the hole is, if I can avoid it. Last edited by ManChicken; May 11, 2005 at 08:54 PM.

May 8, 2005, 06:48 PM	#2
Frenchwrench Member Join Date: January 19, 2005 Location: Indiana but my land is in Colorado Posts: 80	I asked the same question Saturday while looking at safes.The Champion Safe has small space at right rear corner(as you look in the door).You poke a screwdriver or awl through and run the cord,then mount the plug.It's under the carpeting.Yours may differ.

May 9, 2005, 07:57 AM	#4
johnbt Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 1999 Location: Richmond, Virginia USA Posts: 6,004	There should be a hole near, within a foot anyway, the lower right corner of the back. I don't remember if mine was plugged, capped or just covered with carpeting, but I do remember needing to use a screwdriver to punch through the fireproofing. I wouldn't use anything but a Golden Rod, unless I didn't have access to electricity. John

May 11, 2005, 11:56 AM	#6
mrstang01 Senior Member Join Date: February 10, 2002 Location: Central KY Posts: 102	BigBoreKindaGuy, where would one find a pound of cobalt chloride?

May 11, 2005, 01:10 PM	#7
claude783 Senior Member Join Date: August 21, 2004 Location: people's republic of California Posts: 386	I purchase dehumidifer packs at the hardware store. If I am not going to be getting into the safe for some time..will light a small candle to burn off all the oxygen in the safe. No Oxygen, no rust!

May 11, 2005, 02:47 PM	#8
johnbt Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 1999 Location: Richmond, Virginia USA Posts: 6,004	Are you certain the door seals? Close the door on a dollar bill and see if it slides out - that's also known as the refrigerator door gasket test. The safes I've looked at used an expanding door seal that required heat to work. The Golden Rod requires air circulation to work properly as opposed to the crystals that require an airtight container to work well. My Liberty came pre-drilled in the back and I believe they all do. John

May 12, 2005, 10:15 AM	#10
johnbt Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 1999 Location: Richmond, Virginia USA Posts: 6,004	It's only 3 layers of wallboard plus the carpet. - "4 layers ceiling, 3 layers wall of 5/8" fireboard" Just drive a phillips head screwdriver through it. It's been so long that I don't remember if I had to cut a slit in the carpet, but there was plenty of room to run two wires. John