Sunday, August 3, 2014

Vinotemp VT-12TEDS Thermo-Electric Digital 12-Bottle Wine Chiller, Black and Stainless

Vinotemp VT-12TEDS Thermo-Electric Digital 12-Bottle Wine Chiller, Black and Stainless
  • Freestanding wine chiller keeps up to 12 bottles properly chilled
  • Thermo-electric cooling system protects wine from unnecessary vibration
  • Ultra-quiet operation; does not use ozone-depleting chemicals
  • Energy-efficient dual-paned glass door; 3 pull-out shelves included
  • Measures 21-3/4 by 13-1/2 by 18-5/16 inches; 1-year limited warranty
  • Temperature range of 50-64 degree fahrenheit
  • Attractive wine cellar with black cabinent, dual pained glass
  • Pull out metal shelves for easy access to wine
  • For freestanding use only

VT-12TEDi stopped working after about six months; the common ticking sound from the controller board. After a little research, I found the 16V 1000uF 16mmx10mm capacitor (silver and black can) on the board (upper right corner) was bad. Visual indications are the typical "popped" top of the capacitor can. I purchased a higher quality replacement capacitor for less than $1 and replaced it. It was a very easy soldiering job that most people with a pencil iron could do. The unit works great now and I don't expect it to go out again anytime soon.

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I have two of these Vinotemp 12 bottle wine coolers and like another review said, they were good while they lasted. When it worked properly the temperature range was 50 degrees to 66 degrees. Within two years both failed for the same reason. The cooling module is defective and did not last. For those who already have one of these models, I figured out how you can make it work down to about 52 degrees, including the light. Remove the seal around the inside of the door at the top and then remove the three small screws. Push all three of the colored connectors in tight and then remove the top white and yellow wire connector. As soon as you remove this wire the panel light will come on, but the inside light will not work. Re-attach the yellow wire only and the inside light will work. Now re-install the front panel and insert the door seal so it is tight. Your wine cooler will work, but it will take longer to cool down, in fact it may take days, but if the door is not opened and closed often, it will cool down to about 52 degrees. I contacted Vinotemp and they were not helpful at all. Their response was to buy a new cooling module for about $45-50. Based upon my experience and that of others here, I would not waste any more money on this model. I am quite sure the fix I described will work well enough to keep at least red wine and maybe some white wine cool enough to satisfy.

Read Best Reviews of Vinotemp VT-12TEDS Thermo-Electric Digital 12-Bottle Wine Chiller, Black and Stainless Here

Mine broke about four months after I bought it. Instead of cooling my wines it heated them to over 90 degrees! Two bottles were ruined.

The company's warantee is only good for 90 days. I called and they said tough luck, not their problem. They do NOT stand by their product.

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Whatever number of bottles Vinotemp says its wine chillers will hold, don't believe it. They don't allow enough space between racks to store the fatter bottles of Champagne and Burgundy wines. As a result, you have to remove the racks and stack the bottles atop each other. The top middle spot is also useless unless you have a skinny bottle of Riesling because the light fixture prevents you from putting anything fatter than that there. It's a nice unit and quiet. Just don't count on storing as many bottles as it says it can.

I looked at the Cuisinart 6-bottle (3 rows of two bottles) and 12-bottle (3 rows of 4) wine chillers and the 6-bottle unit is about as wide and tall as the Vinotemp 12-bottle unit (4 rows of 3). The Cuisinart wire racks are also sturdier, has adequate space between racks for the fatter bottles, and also has a stop on the end of the rack to prevent you from accidentally pulling the rack all the way out (which can happen with the Vinotemp rack). The Cuisinart unit I saw was not plugged in and operating so I don't know how quiet or noisy it is. But to me, the Cuisinart wine chiller seemed to be a better thought out design than the Vinotemp. And I've heard that the larger Vinotemp units have similar design flaws too.

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I bought the Vinotemp at Pricesmart and was in love with it how it fit into my stainless steel themed kitchen. I was able to keep my red wine chilled correctly as here in the Caribbean most restaurants would serve you red wine at Caribbean room temperature.UGH! So I was happy for the past 11 months with my purchase until this past Saturday when I woke up to find the light off on my Vinotemp and a clicking noise coming from the back. I went into my office and called Vinotemp and was told to call back on Monday. So when I called on Monday and they told me I needed a new control board which would cost me $35 plus shipping. So while I wait for a quote on the shipping cost to me in the Caribbean I decided to do some research on the product and found all these reviews saying the same thing about it dying in less than a year and how they don't stand behind their product. So now I am shocked and horrified and wish I could find my Pricesmart bill and see if they had a one year warranty like Costco has in the USA as one reviewer said. Oh well as the old Confucious saying goes..."Cheap thing no good, Good thing no cheap!"

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