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Wine Cooler

July 18, 2017, 09:10:20 am

Preliminary:
This is my first RV of any kind and I've only taken my '87 GV out for a weekend trip.  Spend lots of time camping but using tents, backpacking, canoe trips with scouts.  Eventually plan to upgrade her or purchase another when I go FT in a few years.  Plan to drive all over N. America with lots of dry camping along the way.  Tow my truck with a SxS in bed to tour in.

My question is does anyone actually use their trash compactor?  Can't I get along with the "Foot Stomping" method?
If so, then has anyone replaced their trash compactor with a Wine Cooler to store beverages (mainly Beer) in?

Pro's
> Direct drop in replacement in space used by Trash Compactor.
> Increases refrigerator space for food by moving Beer to Wine Cooler so I don't have to cut the gorgeous wood work to install a larger unit.
> Refrigerator works fine and no need to replace.
> Low energy usage ~100 watts.
> Some units have "Heat Pump"  technology - no compressor - no noise.
> Helps during times when I travel with Kids & Grandkids.  Moves Beverages to conventional refrigerator.  Less time spent in RV frig.

Con's
> Wine Coolers operate at higher temperature than an normal Refrigerator.
> Have to run Genny or in RV park to use.

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Re: Wine Cooler

Reply #1 – July 18, 2017, 09:37:51 am

  I don't know about a wine cooler, we use the trash compactor as a good place to put a trash bag ( odor control ) I thought about pulling it out altogether but the re-purposing works just fine.

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Re: Wine Cooler

Reply #2 – July 18, 2017, 10:47:32 am

gif you buy a cooler for that space you will need to opt for a "built in model" which are more expensive.

Tried to not do that on a S and B application, unit made condensation (unseen) because I didn't have required clearances and cot a $25,000 total oak reflow in house.

Not much savings, thankfully the Insurance co picked up but aggravation cost off the charts.

you might get away with it, but my experience was not to ignore manufacturers minimum clearance requirements if you do swap out the trash compactor.

Tim Fiedler

http://www.gen-pro.biz

http://www.tcerdirect.com http://www.generatorgasproducts.com 630 240-9139
Gen-Pro

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Re: Wine Cooler

Reply #3 – July 18, 2017, 11:50:55 am

Have tried some of the thermoelectric coolers for keeping the wife's wine cold. Unless you are keeping the area around the cooler in the 70's, they do not work very well. Generally they will hold temps about 30 degrees cooler than ambient temp. Thermoelectric Wine Cooler Reviews - Wine Turtle

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Re: Wine Cooler

Reply #4 – July 18, 2017, 12:06:42 pm

Good info.

Already considered that I will need a Built In model.  Some are specifically made to replace trash compactor space.  Prices start at $370.

Good to know about thermoelectric limits.  Will have to consider environmental limits compared to efficiency.

Thanks,

Dan 

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Re: Wine Cooler

Reply #5 – July 18, 2017, 01:05:14 pm

We purchased a wine cooler 4 years ago to replace a inoperative built-in trash compactor in our house.  The cooler fit the existing under-counter opening perfectly.  The model we used is designed to work in free-standing or in built-in setups.  It is vented at the bottom front, and I left a little space at the top (under the counter) for air circulation.  It has been 100% reliable for 4 years.

I'm not sure how well this particular unit would work in a mobile application.  It has adjustable plastic covered wire shelves that can slide out, and there isn't really anything to keep containers on the shelves from rolling around.  I'm afraid it would be kinda noisy going down the road.  You would need to put some kind of padding around each bottle/can to keep them from clinking/clanking and possibly breaking.

We keep our house A/C set at 70 degrees, and the wine cooler set on the lowest temp setting, which is 38 degrees.  It stays about 40 degrees in the cooler under these conditions.  When it is very quiet in the kitchen we can hear the fan in the cooling unit running, but under normal conditions it is not obtrusive.  We have been real happy with it!  (link to cooler model if you are curious)

Koldfront BWR300BL :: 30 Bottle Wine Cooler

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Re: Wine Cooler

Reply #6 – July 18, 2017, 02:17:52 pm

The previous owner of mine removed it and replaced it with a drawer that holds a trash can.

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Re: Wine Cooler

Reply #7 – July 18, 2017, 02:49:45 pm

We have the built in unit to replace the trash compactor in our home.  Works fine.  Venting is on the bottom of the front.  Have had it for 10 years and it needed repair only once.

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Re: Wine Cooler

Reply #8 – July 18, 2017, 04:44:24 pm

Here's mine.  $99 at Lowe's. Had them build it in along with the flooring and cabinet work at MOT. There is a small muffin fan installed under the sink for cooling.

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Re: Wine Cooler

Reply #9 – July 18, 2017, 05:51:09 pm

I use it to hold a bag of dog food.

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Re: Wine Cooler

Reply #10 – July 19, 2017, 12:51:22 am

Very timely post.
My original 1995 compactor died. I was floored when I saw how much a replacement costs. I liked the compactor and would have replaced it had I not seen the cost. I also thought of the wine cooler to take up the space.
I have plenty of room in the residential refrigerator so I don't really need the wine cooler. I think I would have to remove the wine and bring it into the house when we were not going to be in the RV since the inside temp would get way to high for the wine and for the cooler to try to cool.
I will watch this thread to see what you come up with.

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Re: Wine Cooler

Reply #11 – July 19, 2017, 09:23:42 am

For clarification I am mainly concerned about keeping beverages cool and expanding my Refrigerator capacity.  I will stock this as needed with wine (wife), Beer (mine -Paulaner, Ayinger, Orval,) 1 liter beverages (kids), water bottles, etc...  Wine Coolers are the only frigs that I found that will fit the space requirements.

It seems like most do not actually use the trash compactor.

Dan

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Re: Wine Cooler

Reply #12 – July 19, 2017, 09:47:42 am

Have you considered the auxiliary refrigerators/freezers that mount under the coach in a storage bay?  Some members seem to like them.  Then you could pull out the compactor and install some storage drawers in that spot.  That's what we did when we removed our OEM ice maker.  The DW loves the additional (deep) drawer space for kitchen pots and pans.

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Re: Wine Cooler

Reply #13 – July 19, 2017, 11:05:33 pm

We like our compactor. Still works great and is really handy when boondocking. If it dies we will probably replace it. DWMYH aka "Do what makes you happy" since you're a newbie.

see ya
ken

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Re: Wine Cooler

Reply #14 – July 20, 2017, 01:04:59 am

 Two years ago our ice maker started leaking into the ice tray, as we were really not needing much ice
 John removed the ice maker and put in a 6 bottle wine cooler that we already had in storage. Needless to say it gets lots of use!

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