Total volume
The total volume of the wine cooler working chamber (chambers).
Although the main spec of such units is the number of bottles (see above), volume data can also be useful when evaluating and comparing different models. The fact is that with the same capacity, a larger volume means better air circulation and more efficient temperature distribution. On the other hand, an increase in volume also increases the price and dimensions — and there may simply not be free space for
a wide or
high wine cooler.
Controls
The type of control for wine coolers is indicated primarily by the type of control panel, and its location is also taken into account. According to these criteria, in our time, the following options are distinguished:
internal rotary knobs,
external rotary knobs,
internal push-buttons,
external push-buttons,
internal touch controls and
external touch controls. In details:
- Rotary knobs. The simplest type of control. It is quite rare due to poor comfort and tuning accuracy. And for wine coolers, which are not budget devices, this solution looks very doubtful.
- Push-buttons. A fairly convenient, practical and at the same time inexpensive way, suitable for both models with basic capabilities and advanced units; at the same time, buttons are simpler and more compact than rotary knobs and cheaper than touch controls. Therefore, this option is very popular in modern wine coolers.
- Touch controls. Such touch panels are somewhat more expensive than push-button controls, but this is almost imperceptible against the price of the entire cooler. Touch controls are made only electronic, so it is accurate and as functional as possible. At the same time, the touch controls give the device a technological appearance and do not accumulate dirt due to the
...absence of unnecessary slots and protruding parts. Note that this type of control is very convenient for coolers with thermoelectric cooling and is used in most of these models, although it is often found in compressor units.
It is worth noting that all types of controls can be both hidden and placed behind the door (internal) and available for settings without opening the door (external). The first option is more pleasing in terms of aesthetics. The second option makes it easier to configure the device.Energy class
The energy efficiency class characterizes how economically the wine cabinet consumes electricity. The highest class among modern units is A ++, then A +, A, B, C and further alphabetically.
Note that in this case, it is not energy consumption that is taken into account but consumption in comparison with units having similar specs (and the same type of cooling, see above). Therefore, a professional 80-bottle A++ wine cooler will consume more energy than a 15-bottle C-class unit. We also note that more economical devices have a higher price. However, they have a lower cost of maintenance during their life span.
Energy consumption per year
It is the amount of energy consumed by the wine cooler in a year during normal operation. Of course, the actual consumption will inevitably differ from this indicator in one direction or another, but these differences are usually not fundamental. So this indicator makes it possible to evaluate the efficiency of different models and compare them with each other. Recall that more energy-efficient units cost more on their own, but in the end, they can turn out to be more profitable due to energy savings.
Noise level
It is the approximate noise level generated by the device during normal operation.
The lower the noise level, the more comfortable the use of the unit and the fewer restrictions there are for its installation. The decibel used to refer to this parameter is a non-linear unit, so the actual loudness of performance is best judged by comparative performance. So, the quietest models give out up to 30 dB, and a similar unit can be installed even in the bedroom: 30 dB is the volume of a whisper, and the upper noise threshold is allowed by sanitary standards for living quarters at night. 40 dB, conversation at moderate volume is already a daytime limit. Such noise is allowed, for example, in a home kitchen or living room. 50 – 60 dB corresponds to a conversation in raised tones; these values are typical for large models used in restaurants and liquor stores. And the loudest modern units give out about 70 dB — this is comparable to a busy city street, and such a wine cooler is best to be installed in a separate room like a pantry.
