Soda machines - operate or decorate?

Unlike my jukeboxes and pinball games which remain turned off most of the time, soda machines were designed to run all the time.  Do most people leave their machines on all the time?  Do these machines draw a significant amount of energy?  Do they vary in terms of noise levels or are most of them quiet (like a home frig).  I'm not sure if this is a dumb question.  I also concerned about condensation - my CS-72 is going in a basement gameroom with carpet.  Should I place a board underneath the machine?   '>

[SIGNGUY]

All of my machines have working cooling systems, however I only run them a few hours each month to circulate the oil in the compressors. Once in a while I'll run one for a month or more with some bottles in it, but once I drink them and don't have more to put in.. off it goes and hibernates..  Some run very quite, some make some noise,, but that is just some fine tuning I have to do with Fan Blade mountings, vibration control and Thermostat adjustments. I am eager to read what others say....

[dr galaga]

Quote (collinsf @ Aug. 01 2006,4:04)

Do most people leave their machines on all the time?

I leave my machine on all the time.

Quote (collinsf @ Aug. 01 2006,4:04)

Do these machines draw a significant amount of energy?

Not anything noticable.  We already have a fridge, freezer and dehumidifier.  A machine is the same as one of these.

Quote (collinsf @ Aug. 01 2006,4:04)

Do they vary in terms of noise levels or are most of them quiet (like a home frig).

Most are not that noisey.  You hear it click on and then the sound just fades away.  You probably do not want to put it in an area that you want to be quiet.

Quote (collinsf @ Aug. 01 2006,4:04)

I also concerned about condensation - my CS-72 is going in a basement gameroom with carpet.

Just as long as there is a drip pan you are okay (you will almost always get a little condensation).  If it was going to be outside in the humidity and sun you will see some leaking, but as long as it isn't this way in your house you should be a-oh-kay.

 

[bubba]

I run 3 square top machines all the time. 1 indoors in the basement (with my luck it is also my loudest compressor '>  ), one in the garage, and one on the patio. None of them leave any water under them. I do have drip pans in all, and they evaporate quick enough. My 3 are all spec'd to draw about 6amps, but that is only when the compressor is on. Otherwise, the draw is minimal.

[sodaworks]

If you replace the fan motors then the draw will be minimal.

[MoonDawg]

Wow Terry, that makes sense. Worn bearings require more energy besides being loud.
      Never thought about that,      thanx

[Skeleton Man]

I've never measured the current draw on my machine..  I'd say at least 6A with the compressor and both fans running, and probably 1 or 2A with just one fan running (I have a lot of other stuff on the same circuit so when I have it plugged in for testing, the thermostat is turned down so the compressor never kicks in).

[Pat Pixley]

I have run a machine all year round  sence 1997 with my first
 machine. It like Brett said I have central Air ,freezer , fridge and a dehumidifier what one machine going to do.(if working right)

 Pat

[Kevin C]

Hello

At home in garage I run the V126 all the time & it sweats a lot this time of year. So I run a heated condensation pan to help evaporate the water.

One time I had 3 machines running in the garage & the electric bills for the house did seem higher. So now I just run the V-126 ( loaded with 1 row 12 oz gatorade, 2 rows dosani 16 oz water, 3 rows of cream soda, 7 rows of long neck beers)

I will use the Ideal 55 for parties or holidays because it does the best job getting beer to a nice cold drinking temp.

Here at my office I run a V-63 (Red Bull) all the time & the Royal 650 with a timer to shut it off between 730 pm & 630  AM.  The Lance machine stays on-line all the time.

Kevin

[cormy]

I have several old restored machines in my gameroom and almost never turn them on. I tried to make it a point since some haven't been on in a year or more. I wonder why I went to the trouble (and expense) to redo the cooling when I don't use them. I used to bottle my own and use my VMC 44 at parties, people really got a kick out of it esp. young kids. My sister used to call them "Botulism bottles " when her kids were using the machine. We moved about 8 months ago and all my stuff is in the basement, maybe I will get my room together this winter. '>