Watoor -40-degree-freezer bug

[shirasu893]

Here's a test for you if you have a Watoor -40-degree freezer. If your freezer is set below 0 degrees, unplug if for a minute, then plug it in again. Come back in an hour or two and check the temperature on the display. You'll probably see that it's risen above the set-point.

What I found for my Watoor is that a brief loss of power causes the freezer to stop using the set-point and instead use its default set-point of 0 degrees F. But, if you press and hold the +/- buttons, it will again start using your specified set-point. When I reported the issue to Watoor, they shipped out a replacement (and said to keep the original), but the replacement exhibited the same behavior. Watoor refunded my purchase price and didn't want the freezers back. I just wish the freezers themselves were as reliable as Watoor's customer service.

I'm guessing that the Watoor is private-labeled, as there are several look-alike units sold by other companies, and I suspect the look-alikes have the same bug. Or maybe it's just the current-production units. But I hope someone else here will do the test and report back.

Question: Are there any other reasonably-priced low-temperature (at least -20-degrees F), compact chest-freezers?

 

[Chili777]

I don't have one, but I've been looking. The coldest standard freezer I've seen is -11F or -20C. Most freezers that indicate they are -20 use Celsius, and they also use that temp when referring to peptides in long term storage. I am looking at a Whynter 1.1 Cu. Ft. Upright Freezer with Lock, which retails under $200 and has a standard 110V AC plug-in and reaches down to -11°F with a internal mechanical thermostat dial.

If you want a true lab freezer, then you're talking about something like Stirling and those retail in the thousands, and even used are around $1000. I haven't spent a ton of time, but that's what I've found so far.

 

[BNLFL]

My garage fridge/freezer is usually around -4 to-9 this time of year. Lowest temp inthe memory is-13, and that was likely last winter when we had some actual freezes here about 30*. I reset the memory to see what it says.

 

[shirasu893]

I found this 2.1 cu ft chest freezer selling at Costco, with free shipping. According to the manual I downloaded, it maintains -7 to -11 degrees F when the dial is at 7.

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It's also sold at Home Depot.

 

[nighthawk98 45567]

From appearance that is the same as the Northair series I was looking at? Hm. I was considering one of the 1.8cf versions (something I can keep under my desk). I bet one of my Cyberpower UPS can keep it up through temp power loses. Not a lot of options for -40f out there outside this "rebadged by everyone" series.

 

[Flash-BCR]

I got a small 2.0 cuft top load chest freezer offa Amazon during prime days...$160....I put a digital temperature monitor in it and it runs -22C all day long. No defrost cycles...

 

[nighthawk98 45567]

Did buy the 1.8cf northair. Guess my un-AC kitchen is a bit warm (80 to 84F currently) as it was running CONSTANTLY to get to -30F and running a lot to maintain the current -15F setpoint. So environment matters people. May just set it to -10F can call it good until winter rolls around. Not what I wanted though.

PS, freeze in your regular freezer first until you get some thermal mass in these things.

 

[Chili777]

I went with the Whynter 1.1 cu ft model. It's in my bedroom so outside temps are constant and it's quiet enough that I don't know it's there.

Whynter Upright Small Freezer... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00M7GMEYK

It fits my 2 large cases and another 15 kits on the bottom tray with room for a few small grocery items. I set it to one notch above max and it's holding pretty cold. I also got the Mocreo temp monitor to keep an eye on things. It works well.

MOCREO WiFi Freezer Thermometer... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FH1LS778

 

[jmk909er]

I'm just curious, why do you need it to go that low? Zero is 32 degrees below freezing. Do peptides need that low of temperature?

 

[Chili777]

I'm just curious, why do you need it to go that low? Zero is 32 degrees below freezing. Do peptides need that low of temperature?

Peps will keep in the fridge for a couple years just fine, but freezing them will keep them in optimal condition long term. Everything I plan to use in the next year is in the fridge. Everything else is in the freezer.

 

[BNLFL]

I went with the Whynter 1.1 cu ft model. It's in my bedroom so outside temps are constant and it's quiet enough that I don't know it's there.

Whynter Upright Small Freezer... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00M7GMEYK

It fits my 2 large cases and another 15 kits on the bottom tray with room for a few small grocery items. I set it to one notch above max and it's holding pretty cold. I also got the Mocreo temp monitor to keep an eye on things. It works well.

MOCREO WiFi Freezer Thermometer... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FH1LS778

You're going to make me spend more money aren't you? How long have you had it?

Does the big case fit OK?

 

[Chili777]

You're going to make me spend more money aren't you? How long have you had it?

Does the big case fit OK?

I've had it almost a week. Yep, both the big one and my 100-count case fit on the top shelf and there is still some room left. The rest of my kits fit on the bottom tray like it was made for them, and it locks. It's a hex lock, but it works. Sorry, man.

 

[4StrandKnot]

A 1000w CyberPower type UPS should back these up fine. Choose a model with a pure sine wave because this is a compressor, and AVR to protect the compressor against brownouts/undervoltage conditions.