Electricity usage on Wine Cabinets (as well as other related Q's)

WINE TALK
21

A lady in our Environmental Technologies and Energy Division just did a power consumption study of some of the wine coolers. I know here main conclusion was that the thermoelectric models, which not be feasible anyway for bigger units, used a lot more power than did compressor-based units. I can check tomorrow to see if she wrote it up as a report.

22

You married Victor? [stirthepothal.gif]

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They are probably related in some way [snort.gif]

24

Edison (I think you are dwp though) will tell you the estimated costs based on the amps of the unit. Obviously the amount it will be on fluctuates based on season. I had a dinky cabinet but saw no change in my bill.

25

Bought a Le Cache 3800 (464 bottles?) a few months ago. I think your electricity cost estimate may vary (slightly) based on how you do the temperature settings, the cabinet capacity, and where you place the cabinet (allowing for adequate room/clearance space to circulate air effectively rather than have it boxed in in an enclosed space)… again the variance could be small. That said, I’ve noticed it costs me less than what I expected when I gave up my wine locker- my bill only went up about $5-10 a month (I gave a range because some days I just use more electricity through no fault of my wine cabinet), and I programmed the temp to 54-58oF. Then again, my ambient house temp is around 62-64oF (I rarely turn on the heater in the winter)

26

So, what will you be storing in the Wine Cabinet if you don’t drink wine at home [scratch.gif]
As others have said, the electricity cost will be minimal. Buying a unit off of Craigslist could turn into a money pit if the cooling unit is questionable.
Buyer Beware. [swoon.gif]

27

When I go out with friends I drink wine. I just prefer grabbing a bottle from the cabinet on the way to work opposed to going to my locker and then heading to work.

28

I wish I could get my wife to focus on the electricity costs of my cabinets instead of the cost of the bottles flying in and out of the things each month.

29

She also doesn’t let me turn on the AC during the summer because it caused a $10 increase in the electricity, so you can see what I’m working with here.

If I were hot, I would turn on the AC and suggest that she sleep elsewhere.

And if I needed a wine cooler, I’d buy one. In fact that’s what I did. Then I bought another one. Then when I needed a cellar, I built one.

My wife is out of town now and the house is in the comfortable mid 60s. When she comes home, she’ll turn on the heat. I can see her hands are cold, so why would I complain about $10? She can see me sweat in the summer, so why would she complain about $10?

You’re talking about $40 over the year for AC? Nobody is worth that.

That said, your project is actually pretty cool. (Pun acknowledged.) I never really did the calculation but you should also include some soft costs.

For example, does she enjoy wine or is it you alone? And what is it worth to have the wine accessible at any time vs someplace that requires a trip and advance notice?

30

Sorry I just assumed everyone knew. She hates wine, she hates my hobby :smiley:. So it is taking some persuasion to go down this avenue. Tolerates the off site and wine as it’s my money not the money we put together.

Your heat argument doesn’t apply to us, we also don’t turn on the heater :smiley:.

I would give Ron a run for his money with his stories about Joyce cause I have some hilarious ones.

31

Do the manufactures of wine cabinets have an exception to the federal rules to clearly state cost to operate for a year?

32

Once it is up and running the operating costs will be fairly low, the key will be to make sure that the cabinet is at least 75% full. A fuller cabinet will cycle less and use less electricity. Also consider that it is mostly closed, compared to a refridgerator, where you may open and close the door dozens of times per day. Lastly, it is only lowering the temperature to 56-57 Deg., compare to a refridgerator which can be in the low '40’s and a freezer that is single digits.

33

Charlie, as one lawyer to another, some thoughts…

First, on electricity and cost of the cabinet, no issue… the cost is negligible compared to the locker. I had the Vinotemp 186 btl from Costco, and it cost about $20/mo. in the garage where it was stressed. I then built a wine room with 550 btl capacity with an oversized Breezeaire unit. It is on about 2-5 hours per day depending on the weather and I bet it costs less than $30/mo. and it is a big unit. (up to 1000 cu. ft).

Here is the real issue. Once you have more at home, the hobby she hates will be in her face. You are a newlywed. It was your money before – at some point she will think of all of the money as OUR money, and will not want to see $25,000 in wine in the house when you tell her no to a new couch, a Hawaii trip or some piece of jewelry.

My wife loves wine, and I still am chided about the WINE STORE in our house. My wife knows the $30K value thanks to cellartracker. It is in her face but since she drinks it too, it’s not as much an issue.

And, with it in the house,she will see you bring home the boxes of wine you buy (you may already get shipments at home).

You will drink wine when you have wine at home. Our consumption grew with the added inventory. Also, she may not drink wine, but what will happen when she has some friends over and you come home and see that she has opened a DRC or other expensive wine for them to drink, not realizing that all wine does not cost $2.99? How do you explain she just gave away $500+!

In your shoes, I’d keep the locker and buy a 50 bottle chiller for QPR and ready to drink wines at home. Open a bottle a week at home. At some point, she will try it. Hopefully like it at some point. Then, move up to the home cellar,

For now, wait… At least, until she learns to like your wine.

34

Can you spell “Dragon Lady”?
My condolences.
I’m not much better off as I’m married to an Italian…

TTT

35

Sorry I just assumed everyone knew. She hates wine, she hates my hobby > :smiley:> . So it is taking some persuasion to go down this avenue. Tolerates the off site and wine as it’s my money not the money we put together.

Wow dude - you have my deepest sympathy! I gotta assume you got into wine before you got into her? I’ve always wondered what it would be like if my wife didn’t enjoy wine too.

But you can also play the green card - driving over to the wine storage facility has out of pocket costs in gasoline and adds to your carbon footprint for each bottle you take out. Maybe you get some mileage out of that?

When you figure the electrical load for a fridge, you assume it’s cycling on and off so you divide the estimated consumption by three. They actually use more electricity than your wine cooler because you’re in and out of them more frequently and they need to be colder.

The electric company out here says that you can expect your fridge to use about $3 - $4 of electricity a month, whereas a fridge from the 1980s would use several times that. Also keep in mind that they become less efficient over time. But I can’t see that you’d add all that much to the electric bill.

I’d call a few mfgs and get the wattage of their models and then do the calculations. Here are a couple links for comparative purposes.

Good luck! [thumbs-up.gif]

http://www.absak.com/library/power-consumption-table

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Thought this might “dazzle” her, hope this helps.

37

You are approaching this all wrong. You are not spending money on electricity. You are saving money on gasoline.

38

also, does it matter if you place the cabinet on carpet or wood? I figure most don’t vent from the bottom right? (i have no clue). I think I’m cracking her down so now I just need to figure out where in the house it is going.

I contemplated the garage but I think it’d have to pull too much energy with the fluctuating weather.

39

Charlie, remember for later that the more full you have the unit, the less fluctuations in air temps inside. [cheers.gif]

Also, you could figure out how long the full trip to/from and while at the off-site over the course of a year and say that you could spend that time at home with her since you wouldn’t need this extra trip to make.

40

Charlie - the most prescient comment on this yet is Dietz’ saying you will need both. He is 1000% correct that will occur. You will end up with both home and off site. But remember also, what the wife doesn’t see arriving at home and you unpacking into the cooler won’t piss her off. Especially after you’ve said no to a vacation she wanted to take, or something SHE wants. Those arriving boxes in the fall will be a huge slap in her face and you will hear about it. Just get the off-site, enjoy the quiet at home, and the 24/7 cellar mastering, and the ability to expand when needed (and you will need it one day trust me!!)