Tag Archives: Wine Cellar Refrigeration Units

Wine Cellar Cooling & Wine Cellar Refrigeration Units – Installation Digital Controllers Wiring

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Wine Cellar Cooling and Refrigeration Units – Installation Digital Controllers Wiring (A Processed Video Transcription)

 

Installation of Digital Controllers for Wine Cellar Refrigeration Units
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Hello.  My name is Dan Philips, owner and technical adviser for US Cellar Systems.  Today we are going to be covering the installation of our DC Controller for wine cellar refrigeration units.

When you order a controller, items you’ll receive are the controller, the mounting clips and the temperature sensors.  Then if you want them, we have the option of a DCP mounting plate, which will allow you to mount it into a standard 20 or 23 cubic inch electrical box.

Digital Controller Wiring Installation - Wine Cellar Refrigeration Units

Digital Controller Wiring Installation – Wine Cellar Refrigeration Units

 

We also offer an optional 25′ wiring harness for your wine cellar cooling unit.  When installing the controller, you place it through the plate and then push your mounting clips onto the back of it.  That mounts the controller to your digital controller mounting plate.

Mounting the Wire - Wine Cellar Refrigeraion Units

Mounting the Wire – Wine Cellar Refrigeration Units

Then bring your wires in through the back of your electrical box wherever you have it mounted.  Be sure you follow code when you do this because this is a high voltage system and you’re wiring will most likely have to be run in conduit.

You’ll also want to bring your temperature sensor in through the back of it and be sure it does not come in at the same place as the high voltage electrical wiring because the magnetic field of the high voltage wiring can distort your readings on the low voltage wiring.  So when you’re making your connections at the back of the controller with the standard wiring harness, you’re going to have two black wires, a white wire, and a red wire.

You’re going to need a small screwdriver in order to work the screws on the back of the controller.  Your first black wire will go into the connection at number five on the back of the digital controller.

Your second black wire goes into number two on the back of the controller.  Your white wire goes into number four and the red wire will go in to number three.

Digital Controller - Wine Cellar Refrigeration Units

Digital Controller – Wine Cellar Refrigeration Units

Once those connections are made and tightened down, your wire for your temperature sensor will go in to number ten and number eleven.  The best location to put the sensor itself is as close to the return air as possible of your wine cellar cooling evaporator coil.

If the 5′ lead that it comes with is not long enough, you can extend this up to 50′ with 18 gauge thermostat wire.  Once all of your connections are made and the digital controller is slid into the box and the screws tightened down, that finishes the installation of the digital controller itself for wine cellar refrigeration units.  After that, we’ll be ready to go on to the wiring of the evaporator coil.  Thank you.

Functions and Features of Wine Cellar Refrigeration Units

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Investing in wines requires a proper storage room where temperature and humidity are regulated at constant levels, and light exposure is kept to a minimum.  A wine cellar creates the ideal environment for storing and aging wines for a long period of time.  Providing a dark and stable environment protects wines from the negative effects of external influences.

In order for a wine cellar to function properly, it needs insulation to prevent temperature swings and vapor barriers to keep moisture from building up and causing mold growth.  More importantly, a wine cellar should be supplied with a proper wine cellar refrigeration unit to achieve the desired climate conditions for wines to mature to their full potential.

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Wine Cellar Refrigeration Units by US Cellar Systems

Wine cellar refrigeration systems are specifically engineered to maintain the correct temperature and humidity in the wine cellar environment.  These cooling units come in multiple sizes and shapes that can fit various needs and requirements.  The three primary types of wine cellar refrigeration units are split system cooling units, through the wall self-contained cooling systems, and ducted air-handler cooling systems.

Split system cooling units consist of two separate components: the condensing unit and evaporator unit.  The latter is installed inside the wine storage room while the former is placed outside the room or outdoors.  This system is ideal for wine cellars with several limitations and constraints, such as the absence of a ventilation room.

Through the wall self-contained cooling systems are the easiest to install and the least expensive of all refrigeration systems.  Both the condensing and evaporator units are housed in one compartment.  Through the wall systems are normally mounted on an interior wall of a wine cellar, but there are some models that can be installed on an exterior wall instead.

Ducted air-handler cooling systems make use of air ducts to supply cool air into, and exhaust warm air away from, the wine cellar.  This type of setup removes the actual physical presence of the cooling system inside the wine storage room.

Building wine cellars is an expensive home improvement project, and not all wine enthusiasts are financially capable of adding this feature to their home.  However, there are alternative wine storage solutions available to the budget-minded wine geek.

Click here to read the features of this Refrigeration Unit

Wine Cabinets and Closet Cooling Units

Wine closets or wine cabinets function like mini wine cellars because they are also equipped with climate control systems.  Wine cabinets are affordable storage options and they come in various designs and storage capacities.  These cabinets are designed to control temperature and humidity, and they can match any room interior.

To ensure performance efficiency, wine cabinet manufacturers only use cooling units of the highest quality, such as the Cabinet Cooler (CC) Series by US Cellar Systems.  The CC Series is the unit of choice for wine closets or wine cabinets.  They are engineered to facilitate proper air flow in confined and restricted spaces.

Cooling systems for wine cellars and wine cabinets are essential to preserving the taste and flavor of wines.  These refrigeration units ensure that temperature conditions remain within 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit, and that the humidity level is kept within 60% – 75%.

To choose the right wine cellar refrigeration unit for you, click here.

Proper Sizing of a Wine Cellar Cooling System is Critical to its Efficiency and Longevity

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Take Me Straight to the Wine Cellar Cooling System - Heat Load Survey Form

Take Me Straight to the Wine Cellar Cooling System – Heat Load Survey Form

Most wine cellar cooling systems companies offer only a few sizes of wine cellar refrigeration units. These are often matched to a sizing standard of cubic feet. A very useful starting point when determining the volume to be a climate controlled wine storage area. However, this does not include ANY details specific to the Custom Wine Cellar.

The cubic feet method assumes basic standards in construction, usage, and operation. It assumes minimal insulation is used. Not more or NONE. That is generally the only consideration included. It does not account for many very common variables that can be incorporated into a Custom Wine Cellar which are calculated when using an actual heat load survey.

What are these variables that affect a wine cellar cooling systems choice and why are they important?

– Glass

Windows, doors, or walls are NOT considered when sizing by cubic feet.

Any glass in a Wine Cellar or Wine Cabinet is hugely important to compensate for when sizing. The insulation value of dual pane glass is ~R2. This allows a good deal of the cooling to be transferred through the glass. Increasing the amount of equipment required to keep the temperature stable. If it is not considered and smaller equipment is used the chance it will keep up with the needs of the space are slight. However, it is very likely that the equipment will run all the time. This will cause additional problems of very low humidity, extremely high cost of operation, or premature equipment failure not covered by the warranty.

Single pane glass should be avoided like the plague! The slightest leak in a door seal can cause your beautiful cellar to look more like a restaurant pie case. When the cold and warm air mix the water vapor instantly condenses to water droplets. This causes a ‘fog’ on the glass and can eventually lead to staining of the surrounding areas if left unattended. It is not the fault of the equipment and cannot be compensated for. It is a construction issue.

– Insulation

R value, above or below grade, ambient temperature all makes a difference.

Cubic feet estimates R11 insulation as the only factor in the equation. Obviously if there is no insulation to be used this estimate will be wrong. No company ever suggests it is acceptable to use no insulation in a Wine Cellar. Just the same it happens all the time. If a wine room like this is insisted upon by the client, even against better judgment, at least plan for it. Just the same as underestimating glass a larger system will be required or there will be problems.

On the other hand, if more insulation is being used a smaller system may be recommended. This is especially true if the Wine Cellar is to be below grade. Ground temperatures tend to be considerably lower than normal “ambient temperatures” or the conditioned air surrounding the cellar. Therefore much less equipment is required to maintain a stable temperature.

Over-sizing can create problems of a different kind. If the refrigeration system is too large it will only need to run a fraction of the time it should to keep temperature. This may sound great at first but it is not. Commonly known as “short-cycling” will damage the equipment causing failures that may not be protected under the warranty. In addition, the equipment running a predetermined cycle is how the humidity is balanced in the room. If the equipment runs too little the wine cellar’s humidity will increase. Condensation could occur especially if there are defects in the construction. If left alone labels could fall off bottles, water staining wood surfaces, and mildew and/or mold will grow.

– Lighting

Type, # of fixtures, hours used impact the heat of the Wine Cellar.

It used to be quite common to use can lights in a Wine Cellar. Anyone who has ever changed a light bulb knows lights can get very hot, pretty quickly. Imagine you intend to leave these on so you can show off your beautiful Custom Wine Cellar at a summer dinner party lasting several hours. Maybe you just want to leave it on to enjoy it yourself for a few hours each evening after a hard day’s work. Now think of that heat that the refrigeration has to overcome. This is another question in the heat load survey that should be answered as accurately as possible.

If in doubt USE LED LIGHTING! It produces so little heat it does not need calculated into the heat load. Modern LED lighting is now available in many designs, colors, and shapes. It does not have to look like a disco or a Christmas tree. Bulbs can fit in standard fixtures and even work with dimmers or remotes.

– Set Point

Activity, recovery and thermal mass are all things to consider when committing to a “Set Point” temperature for a Wine Cellar.

It is agreed by most experts that 55f is the ideal temperature to store wine, red or white. Both are SERVED at different temperatures. White wines or champagnes should be served preferably below 45f and reds at room temperature. Long term storage warmer than this can accelerate or damage the aging process, colder can slow or even stop it.

Wine Cellar Cooling Systems – Whites Wines & Champagnes

Some Wine Cabinets are designed with the intention of using a serving temperature for whites and champagnes. This would not be allowable with a cubic feet estimate alone. Especially since most Wine Display Cases like this are primarily glass and in hospitality locations. In a restaurant it is very possible that during peak hours the doors will be opened many times per hour. This requires a careful choice of which system is best suited to improve the recovery time and bring the Wine Storage Unit back to normal temperature.

Wine Cellar Cooling Systems – Thermal Mass

Thermal mass describes the temperature of the liquid within the bottles, cases, or even barrels stored in a Cellar. Thermal mass adjusts about 75% more slowly than air temperature does. If there is a lot of room temperature wine loaded into a cellar at one time it is perfectly normal to take up to several hours for the refrigeration to gently bring the temperature to where it is set. Once that is achieved the thermal mass reacts to changes slowly and will assist the stabilization in the room. The equipment will return to normal operation. Setting the thermostat to go colder WILL NOT make it go FASTER. It will put unnecessary stress on the equipment especially if a lower set point was not used in the heat load survey.

Sudden and drastic changes to the temperature of wine are far more detrimental than having it too cold or too warm for a short while.

– Additional features

Refrigerators, TV, Electronics, Fireplaces

Many designers like to add unique features to custom cellar designs. It is important to note that all appliances and electronics give off heat. These things should be considered carefully and are strongly discouraged.

H2: The USCS Heat Load Survey Form

Click here to go to the USCS Heat Load Survey Form. This information should be collected as accurately as possible and sent to us for a free load calculation and estimate. It will help us provide to you the correct equipment options for each unique design.

It will save you the money, time, and aggravation of improperly sized equipment.

Installing Wine Cabinet Cooling Units – How Rookie Mistakes Can Cost Hours

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Rookie Installation Mistakes – Wine Cellar Cooling Units

Even the most experienced wine cellar cooling engineers can make rookie mistakes. Being methodical when installing refrigeration equipment can save you time and

Summer time is the busiest time of the year. Old jobs need maintenance or need emergency service. New jobs need started and finished before the holidays begin. Everything is urgent. This is when strictly adhering to good procedure pays off the most. It is tempting to skip steps and double-checks to save a few minutes here and there. In the long run it is rarely worth it.

We recently had a refrigeration contractor in Memphis installing an LPQ 4600 wine cabinet cooling unit into a lovely glass cabinet with metal racking. It was an important job so he sent his “best” guy, knowing he is by far the fastest on his crew. He could send the others out on service calls. The technician installed the refrigeration system on his own in about 3 hours. Not a record, but certainly impressive. With 20 years’ experience it’s to be expected.

He pulled a vacuum found no leaks and charged the cooling unit up. A few minutes later the head pressure began to rise dramatically while the suction dropped. The technician spent the next 3 1/2 hours trying to find what could possibly be the problem. As a last resort he called our tech line. He was instantly on the attack, wanting a new refrigeration system shipped out overnight.

With some discussion and letting him ‘cool’ off a bit we asked him to check the most basic thing, were the lines reversed at the coil. He was offended at first, naturally, and hung up. No one likes to have their expertise questioned.

A little bit later he called back humbled and grateful for the suggestion. The lines were in fact reversed. The cooling system was running perfectly and he could not believe how easy it was to make such a rookie mistake.

This was a learning moment. We are always here to help, not just as a last resort.

Always follow good procedures. http://www.winecellarrefrigerationsystems.com/wine-cellar-cooling-units-diagnostics-standard-form.aspx

5 minutes spent double checking the most basic details can likely save you five hours of frustration.

Wine Cellar Cooling Units – How To Choose The Best

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Wine is a beverage that needs to be stored properly if you want to enjoy it at its best. Wine needs to be stored in ideal conditions with minimal fluctuations so that it can age tastefully. Besides a well-built custom wine cellar, you need a quality wine cellar cooling unit in order to achieve these ideal conditions. By making sure that your wine storage conditions are well-controlled, you can be sure that your wines will age properly so that you and your family and friends can enjoy them at their best.

There are lots of wine cellar cooling units available on the market. The challenge is finding the right one for you. In this post, you will learn a few of the qualities to look for when purchasing a wine cellar cooling unit.

Capacity To Cool Your Wine Room
When choosing a wine cellar unit that can effectively cool your wine cellar, it is important to consider the size of your wine storage room. The size of your cellar cooling unit is dependent on many factors including the size of the wine room. If you have a large room for instance, you will need a unit with a larger compressor and more BTUs. A cooling unit needs to be more powerful in order to properly cool a large room. Remember the ideal temperature for wine storage is 55 to 58 degrees Fahrenheit.

No matter how capable the wine cellar cooling unit is in cooling your wine storage room, there are other factors that can affect the temperature in the room. Other factors include such things as the way the room was insulated. If the storage room is not properly insulated, the temperature will never be kept within the ideal range all the time. Therefore the custom wine cellar should be properly insulated and ideally have a good vapor barrier in order to keep excess heat or cold out of the room.

Capacity To Control Humidity Effectively
Temperature is only one of the many variables that need to be controlled effectively in order for wine to be stored properly. Another variable that a good wine cellar refrigeration unit should be able to regulate is the humidity. The ideal humidity for proper wine storage is between 60% to 70%.

If the humidity is too high in the wine cellar room, wine corks will have the tendency to mold and this can lead to contamination of the wine inside the bottle. On the other hand, too little humidity can lead to wine cork shrinkage. If the wine cork shrinks, air can get into the bottle and spoil the wine inside.

Other Features Are A Bonus
Even if you live in California, once your wine cellar cooling unit is installed, you will want to be able to check the temperature and humidity inside the room. It’s not a good idea to constantly open the wine cellar room because this can cause fluctuations in the temperature and humidity levels. It would be a bonus if the cooling unit you buy has an accessory wherein you can check the temperature and humidity levels from outside the wine cellar room.

Another good feature would be something that would allow you to change or adjust the temperature and humidity settings from outside the custom wine cellar.

Should I heat my wine cellar?

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An uncommon question we get from time to time, about wine cellar cooling systems, that we believe is very important to address is: Should I heat my wine cellar?

The short answer is NO.

While this issue does not come up much in California in some parts of the US and Canada such as Maine, New Hampshire and New York all of which are prime wine cellar markets it can be a real concern.

It should be noted that the above answer and the explanation below are heatedly debated in the Wine Cellars Cooling Equipment industry.

Any outdoor components of a wine cellar refrigeration system should always be protected from weather.  For most of the country an outdoor enclosure is sufficient.  It keeps out foliage and critters like rodents or lizards in search of a warm place when the temperature dips.  In areas that will see temps below 40°F for more than a couple days at a time a Low Ambient kit should be added.  We install it prior to shipping and it will protect the condensing unit from harsher conditions.

For indoor components, some companies offer heating elements to go along with their wine cooling equipment.  This is an easy way to short cut genuine issues with the construction of a Residential Custom Wine Cellar or Commercial Wine Display Cabinet Enclosure.  Issues that can threaten the longevity of your investment in both a wine collection and the long-term operational cost of your cellar.  Northern areas with basement wine cellarsthat have little or no insulation can see temperatures below what is optimal for storage in the colder months of the year.  These wine rooms are likely to not have a vapor barrier.  In the long run not installing a good vapor barrier is far more risky.  Adding a heating element or “re-heater” is a band-aid on a gunshot.

Adding a “re-heater” does not address the very real problems associated with lack of insulation or a missing vapor barrier.  It may initially be cheaper to add a heater but in the long run it is very likely to cost significantly more.  Insulation will keep the temperature more consistent, consistency is more important than the temperature itself.  Temperature variance can be more damaging than absolute temperature.  The great thing about basements is they have so much thermal mass the liquid temperature barely budges!

For more info on temperature measurement see our wine cooling systems tech page.

Some experts go as far to say that cooler temps merely slow down the aging process, not change it or stop it.  This is more of an argument with white wines than it is reds.  Whites are slightly more fragile at very cold temperature for long term storage.  Even still it is widely agreed upon that sudden changes and stability matter far more than the annual gradual dip and slowing of the aging process.

CC Series Wine Cellar Refrigeration Unit Installed Dallas Texas

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For climate control of this custom wine cellar conversion, Wine Cellar Specialists installed a CC Series 2600 ductless split system. This Wine Cellar Refrigeration Unit was chosen as it was idea for the small closet space. The condenser unit was located in a convenient location outside of the house allow the internal unit to be hidden behind a wooden grill above the wine racks themselves.

Wine Cellar Cooling Units

CC Series Closet Cooling Unit Hidden Behinds Grill Dallas Installation

Wine Cellar Specialists are an experienced Custom Wine Cellar Design Company based in Dallas Texas and Chicago Illinois. They have been building and installing both residential and commercial Wine Rooms for many years and a GOLD reseller for US Cellar Systems.