Last Updated: February 26, 2024
“Close, but no Cigar,” ask any Cigar aficionado, and they will share sordid tales of how difficult it is to preserve and maintain the freshness in Cigars. Cigars are produced out of tobacco, a tropical plant, in a carefully controlled environment, left exposed in a heated or air-conditioned room will turn them dry and stale — in less than an hour!
How Do Cigar Humidifiers work?
To ensure that your cigars deliver optimum smoking conditions, flavors, and pleasure, they must be stored appropriately in a controlled environment. A humidor is principally an elegant storage unit that keeps cigars at their optimal conditions mimicking that of a tropical isle. While the humidor does an excellent job of trapping the moisture, without something to preserve the internal humidity, the humidor is just a box. For the humidor to provide the optimal working condition, a humidifier is necessary to assist in its long-term operation.
The Humidifier generally comes with either reservoirs or water cartridges; however, modern devices usually employ cartridges. Humidifiers come in various shapes and sizes to accommodate, and it is essential to pair the humidifier according to the size of your collection and storage space. A smaller than required humidifier will be unable to maintain proper humidity, while a larger than needed humidifier might produce too much moisture, resulting in overly moist cigars.
While there are several Cigar humidifiers available in the market, Cigar Oasis is renowned for producing the best electronic cigar humidification systems. Cigar Oasis developed the first sealed electronic humidifier in 1997 for personal humidors. All of the Cigar Oasis products work on the same principle, where the sensor measures the humidity level inside the cabinet. When it falls below 70%, it starts a fan that draws air from inside the humidor, runs it through the water cartridge, which humidifies the air and pushes it back into the humidor. The fan stops working when the humidity reaches 70%. The fan will switch-on often to make up the loss of humidity to the outside atmosphere and every time the humidor is opened.
Review of Cigar Oasis MAGNA 3.0 Electronic Humidifier
Cigar Oasis MAGNA 3.0 electronic humidifier is well known as one of the most reliable humidifiers for large cabinet humidors, by cigar retailers and cigar enthusiasts. The Cigar Oasis MAGNA 3.0 accurately controls the humidity and keeps your cigar collections fresh and moist. The product can support large armoires and display cases from 10 to 60 cubic feet, capable of holding more than 1000 cigars.
The third iteration in the Oasis Magna series, this is a self-contained unit, featuring a state-of-the-art electronic system with a powerful fan in the upper section and an extra-large distilled water reservoir in the lower part. The humidifier will switch-on as soon as the humidity drops below the desired level and will shut off when it goes back up to that level. Cigar Magna 3.0’s carefully designed fans, evenly distribute moisture throughout units, while the replaceable filters work to keep the circulated humidity bacteria-free, allowing to keep your cigar fresh. The humidifier should be refilled using distilled water only, average refill time is 2-5 weeks)
The Cigar Oasis MAGNA 3.0 includes a 3M mounting lock that will hold firm wherever it is mounted inside the humidor. The MAGNA 3.0’s relative humidity (RH) comes pre-set at 70%, and is easily adjustable as per user preference, without worrying about over or undersaturation. Cigar Oasis MAGNA 3.0 comes equipped with a Large LCD remote that displays humidity, temperature, and current setpoint with soft-touch buttons.
The Cigar MAGNA 3.0 boasts built-in Wi-Fi capabilities that will enable you to monitor your humidor remotely with any iOS or Android smart device with a Smart Humidor subscription.
Additional features include:
- Large LCD with backlit humidity & temperature display
- Built-in Smart Humidor® (Wi-Fi) technology for remote monitoring & control (subscription required)
- Soft-Touch button control
- Micro-USB connection with streamlined ribbon cable connection
- The completely Sealed system only activates on sensors demand
- Transparent base to observe the water level
- Provides consistent, maintenance-free, long term humidity control
- Circulates humidity reaching each cigar equally
- Set humidity to the preferred level
Cigar MAGNA 3.0 draws less than 100mA (milliamps), which is a minimal amount of power. Since the units draw very little power, and the fan only runs for brief periods, the Cigar Oasis will not heat your humidor. Though the unit’s built-in hygrometer comes pre-calibrated from the factory, the option to calibrate and adjust it can easily be achieved by the end-user.
Conclusion
“Life’s too short for a cheap cigar.” The Cigar Oasis Magna 3.0 is everything you dream of for a cabinet humidification system. The sealed design makes it ideal for any size cabinet, while the enlarged LCD makes it easy to reads humidity, temperature, and a current setpoint from afar and without opening the humidor. Hence the Cigar Oasis Magna 3.0 should be on your shortlist for a hands-free, low maintenance solution to cigar care.
FAQs
Que. What are the dimensions of the Cigar Oasis MAGNA?
Ans. 6.5 x 12.7 x 6 inches
Que. Is the output voltage 110/220V or just 110V?
Ans. The unit is 110 or 220 compatible but comes with a US-style plug. Pick up a plug adapter to accommodate your outlet style, and you will be good to go.
Que. Is humidity pre-set at 70%?
Ans. The humidity comes pre-set at 70% but can be adjusted from 55-80%. The recommended setting is 70%.
Que. Does it regulate temperature?
Ans. Cigar Magna can only regulate humidity; however, it can read the temperature in Celsius and Fahrenheit.
Que. Does the unit make too much noise?
Ans. The unit comprises the same type of fans used in computers and is very quiet.
Que. How much power does it draw? Does it create heat in the humidor?
Ans. It draws less than 100 milliamps and does not create any heat in the humidor.
Que. How do I know when to refill or replace the water cartridge?
Ans. When you press the “sun” button on your unit, it will display H2O.
Que. When to replace the water cartridge?
Ans. The cartridge should be ideally replaced after 5 or 6 refills or about one time per year, to have the advantage of the antifungal agent protection, which gets depleted over time.
Que. How to refill the cartridge?
Ans. The best way to refill the cartridge is to submerge it in a bowl of distilled water for 4 minutes. When time’s up, take it out and let it stand on the counter another minute. Then turn it over the sink and let any loose water drain out. Dry off the cartridge and put it back together. There must be no loose visible water in the holes.
Que. Do I have to fill the cartridge with water when I unpack it?
Ans. The Cigar Oasis PLUS must be filled with distilled water before its first use. Please read the filing instructions carefully before starting the unit
Que. How is the Cigar Oasis powered, and will I have to modify my humidor?
Ans. The Cigar Oasis unit fits in virtually all humidors that store 50-1000 cigars and does not require to drill a hole or make any other modification in the humidor. The unit comes with a paper-thin ribbon cable, that slips between the cover and the base of the humidor and connects to the Cigar Oasis unit. The other end of the ribbon cable has a connector that plugs into an adapter that lets you plug it into any outlet.