Bought Commercial Cooler..Thoughts?

[wellsk]

Just bought this for $100 and am trying to get info on it . it is an older Perlick that came with the building these people bought. It supposedly worked when it shut down 4 years ago. I know nothing about Kegerators, should I just plug it in and see what happens. I dont even know how to turn it on, are these 220V? Was this a good buy or no? Any input good or bad is welcome. Thanks!

http://topeka.craigslist.org/app/5681331359.html

 

[microbusbrewery]

Wow, you talked them down from $450 to $100?!?! That's some great negotiating skills and it seems like a steal if it works. Look for the little badge that gives you the model number and other vital stats like voltage. When you get that, you can probably find more info on Perlick's website. I don't have any experience with that model, but normally you just plug them in. If you have to lay it down for any reason, let it sit upright for at least a few hours before plugging it in.

 

[JohnSand]

If it's 220, it should have a different style plug. I'm not an electrician, but it may want higher amps than some of your sockets. Let us know what happens.

 

[dmcman73]

Working in the food business for many years, usually refrigeration units that size do not have an "on/off" switch. Most times they are hard wired (no plug) and there is an emergency cut off switch somewhere in the vicinity. Being that size system in a commercial setting, I would say it's a 220v system, but you won't know until you look at the connections.

If the unit is 220 volts and it is hard wired, you probably can retrofit a plug onto it, just make sure the wire you use for the plug is rated at or higher than the AMPS this sucker draws. As for on/off, just unplug it when not in use or install a 220v cut off switch like they have for AC compressors.

It looks like the unit is an "all in one" meaning the compressor is built inside of it (good thing), I see the compressor vents under the ice maker. If it were a remote unit where the compressor was separate (usually in the basement of a bar) you would have had one big headache on your hands and a bigger cost.

As with any refrigerant device, once you get it to where it will reside, give it a few hours for the refrigerant oil in the system to settle before plugging it in.