Thermoelectric Peltier Wine Cooler Refrigerators- Are They Good?

If you have only a small space for storing your wine collection consider buying a thermoelectric wine cooler refrigerator. Peltier thermoelectric cooling technology ensures silent operation as opposed to the compressor or absorption technology used in some models, which can be noisy. Peltier wine cooler refriegrators are also more eco-friendly, another benefit since they do not contain cooling agents such as CFC or HCFC (chlorofluoracarbons) that are known to be partly responsible for the thinning of protective ozone layer in the stratosphere.

How a Thermoelectric Wine Cooler Works?

Thermoelectric cooling technology is based on a scientific discovery: the Peltier effect.

Peltier, a 19th-century French scientist, found that when electric current goes through two different metals, semiconductors, temperature difference occurs.

In thermoelectric wine coolers/refrigerators pairs of semiconductor metals of different shapes ("N" shape and "P" shape) are connected electrically between two ceramic plates. When electricity passes through the conductors one type of the conductor becomes hot and releases heat while the other type absorbs the heat and cools down. So the semiconductors work as heat pumps driving heat from one surface to the other.

TIP: Search for and compare the best selling thermoelectric wine coolers.

A fan forces out the generated heat from the inside of the wine cooler, that's the only moving part in a thermoelectric wine fridge.

What are the advantages of a thermoelectric wine cooler refrigerator?

Another advantage of thermoelectric wine coolers over compressor fridges that the fluctuation in interior temperature from the bottom to the top is only +/- 1-2 °C (in compressor-operated fridges it can be as high as +- 5 °C) which provides more constant storage environment for your wines. Peltier coolers don't have moving parts – only a fan to circulate the cold air within the unit and pushing out the hot air througth the vents - that's why they operate more silently.

Another great strength of thermoelectric wine fridges that they work without causing vibration. Even slight vibration if going on for a long ime can disturb the natural sedimentation process in wines and spoil the the taste and consistency of the wine.

With a thermoelectric wine cooler you can rest assured that your favorite wines are stored in a vibration-free environment. Compressor-operated high-end wine coolers for example Marvel wine refrigerators are equipped with special vibration dampener systems.

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An Eco-Friendly Wine Cooler Refrigerator

Thermolectric wine coolers don't contain freon or other CFC-s or HCFC-s (an abbreviation for chlorofluorocarbons, carbohydrogens contianing chlorene or fluor), hazardous materials that are responsible for the thinning of ozone layer in the air.

If placed and operated according to their manual thermolectric wine coolers use less electricity than compressor-operated fridges adding another score to environmental friendliness.

Lesser moving parts also means less chance of breaking down and less maintenance.

If environmental friendliness is an important factor for you when you buy products than you'll love thermolectric wine fridges.

You'll find eco-friendly compressor-run wine refrigerators, too. Liebherr wine refrigerators and wine cabinets are considered to be the greenest wine storage appliances in the world.

What to Pay Attention to When Buying a Thermolectric Wine Cooler?

One thing to keep in mind when buying a thermoelectric wine cooler is the ambient temperature. The cooling effectiveness of these fridges depends highly on the temperature of the room they're placed in.

The temperature in the room where the cooler is placed shouldn't fluctuate to a great extent. Most manufacturers tell that room temperature (max. 77 °F - 25 °C) is required for proper operation of a themoelectric wine cooler. Furthermore, to achieve the desired cooling temperature inside the device the difference between the ambient temperature and the set cooling temp. shouldn't be higher than 13 degrees.

Many of the small capacity wine cooelrs are only for freestanding use, meaning that you have to leave enough clearance (cc. 5 inches) around the sides and at the back of the wine fridge for proper air ventilation.

Some people are concerned about the longevity of the conductors because they're exposed to contraction/expansion stress due to the temperature changes that might caused them to break. This is however only a theory and this type of failure hasn't occured in thermoelectric wine coolers yet.

But it's a good ide to check how long warranty is provided for the wine cooler you plan to purchase. Always ask about what's included in the warranty. Being the only moving part it's usually the fan that tends to break down.

Note many people complain on the low quality of cheap, thermoelectric wine coolers by brands Avanti, Cuisinart, Danby, Chambrer, Edgestar, Emerson, Haier, Koolatron, Magic Chef/Ewave, Vinotemp, Sunpentown and Sunbeam. Reviews provided by owners of these wine coolers often mention:

• early failures-break downs (within a couple of months, a year or just after the warranty period),
  
  
• noise and
  
  
• bad customer service (in case of some brands).

This doesn't mean that each and every unit by these brands is of low quality but the frequent complaints mentioned in reviews should make one extra cautious before buying any of these units.

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Recommended Thermoelectric Wine Coolers & Wine Refrigerators

All major wine refrigerator manufacturers have thermoelectric models: Avanti, Cuisinart, Danby, Chambrer, Edgestar, Emerson, Haier, Koolatron, Magic Chef/Ewave, Sunpentown, Sunbeam, Vinotemp and Wine Enthusiast.

Lots of Complaints on Cheap Thermolelctric Wine Bottle Coolers

Keep in mind though many people complain on the low quality of small, cheap, wine coolers by these brands. Reviews provided by owners of these wine coolers often mention:

• early failures-break downs (within a couple of months, a year or just after the warranty period),
  
  
• noise and
  
  
• bad customer service (in case of some brands).

This doesn't mean that each and every unit by these brands is of low quality but the frequent complaints mentioned in reviews should make one extra cautious before buying a wine fridge from any of these brands.

TIP: Search and shop for the most-popular and best-value thermoelectric wine coolers.

If you're tight on budget consider buying an Avanti Thermolelectric Wine Cooler that costs around 160-220 $ without shipping, The largest one, that holds 28 bottles, is around 220 $.

Visit our page about Haier Wine Coolers for more affordable thermoelectric wine coolers.

Vinotemp also offers a wide choice of thermolectric Peltier wine coolers both for freestanding and built-in use.

Another good choice are Wine Enthusiast Silent Wine Refrigerators stressing the noiseless feature by using "Silent" in the brand name. The Wine Enthusiast 28-Bottle Wine Cooler is an attractive, freestanding unit that costs around $300 and holds 24-26 bottle sof wine depending on bottle size and shape.

For space-efficient, affordable wine bottle coolers read our review of EdgeStar wine Cooler Refrigerators.

Koolatron Thermolelectric Wine Coolers offer wine storage units in 4 sizes: 4-bottle wall-mountable unit, 6-bottle and a 12-bottle models.

The Eurocave Le Petite Wine Refrigerator uses double Peltier cooling technology. It is a compact cabinet with narrow, 12" width that accommodates 10 bottles horizontally and you can also keep in it 2 opened bottles of wine for preservation.

Most slim wine cooler refrigerators also apply thermoelectric cooling.

Take also a look at our pages about single bottle wine coolers and dual-bottle wine chillers.

TIP: The Haier 18 Bottle wine cooler tower is a narrow, 11" -wide thermoelectric unit perfect for tight spaces.

Dual-Zone Thermoelectric Wine Cooler Refrigerators

For those who prefer to have a nice selection of both reds and whites at hand a two temperature zone wine cooler might be the right wine storage solution.

Dual-zone wine coolers have 2 independently controlled compartments: one for storing red wines and another zone for chilling whites. You can find more information about Two-Zone Wine Refrigerators here.

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