SMC Discussion Areas

Dumb question...but hold on.
Can it get too cold outside for the contents of a drink machine??
I started thinking about this when I was adjusting the thermostat of the new/old machine I have in our garage.
It only has bottle/can cokes in it right now and just a few of those.
I was wondering about putting bottled water in there. What if any of this stuff freezes and busts??
I feel stoooopid asking that, but the reality is IT CAN GET COLD OUTSIDE OF THE MACHINE!
So, what do ya'll do??
I can leave it running all time. Does it generate enough heat, without the compressor running, to keep the drinks from freezing?
Thanks!
Mark

Machines are utilitarian items made to use in hot or cold climates..
Soda machines are all over in NY, WI, ND - a lot colder than TN.
I would think that the evap fan would generate enough heat inside to keep it inline.
Play with the T-stat a little and see what happens or what freezes.
Whatever water, etc. does burst, all of it should just drain out into the drain pan anyway.

These machines were used outside most of their life and they were designed to be outside. There is so much insulation inside these machines and they are sealed really well. I highly doubt that you will freeze anything.

If I set my t-stat too low in 110 degree heat, my water bottles will freeze.

There should be enought heat generated from the evap fan to keep from freezing... however in one machine I had they had rigged up an inline Lightbulb outlet and put a low wattage bulb in it to help generate just enough heat to keep items from freezing... for the longest time I was wondering why there was a lightbulb socket inside the machine... but finally dawned on me on cold day in the garage and guessed this was the case.. not a bad idea if it there was truley a problem with freezing.

I have a freezer in the house and I want to put it in the garage so I can bring a machine inside.  I have wondered the same thing.  Can it get to cold for the unit to work?  I don't really think so with a freezer, but maybe with a reefer unit.  If it is 28* outside and the temp of the machine needs to be 34* how can the system remove the heat from the air inside?

This is probably a good question for Eric at global.  Surley he would know.

Marvin

P.S.  Mark,  It looks like you may be in Tennessee.  Which part are you in?  I'm in Memphis.

Marvin,
As I learned from a previous post - the heat generated by the fan motor is enough to initiate a cycle inside the machine.
Thermostat has a cut-in and cut-out setting.

I have an extra fridge in the garage, and last winter the compressor was not happy when it got too cold in the garage and it stopped working. My USS 64 sitting next to it had no trouble at all though.

       I'm in an area of California where the overnight temperature rarely drops below freezing
but when it does all the citrus ranchers use wind machines or helicopters to keep their fruit
from freezing.
       I'm thinking this same principal would apply to sodas in an enclosed environment. We
know that air blowing across the evaprorator coils keeps it from icing up.

I have made a light bulb set up to sit next to evap. coils to keep them from freezing up in the winter time. The Coke repair guys told me that little trick. I live in Southern Indiana

Thanks folks. I'll just have to leave it plugged up and see what happens.

Ok, it's 12 degrees outside and my drinks are nice and toasty inside the machine. That just don't sound like a soda machine "GOAL", but now I know fer sure, they will not freeze in there.. hahah
Mark

Some of the round tops with mechanical mech.s used heater elements to keep the mech from freezing up. Just a thought

If you don't have any problem in the warm weather, there should not be a problem in the winter.