Knowledge Builders

how much does it cost to run a coolbot

by Brooke Barton Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

Cooling a space above 61 °F. A NYSERDA report found that a cost estimate of the CoolBot system (15,000 BTU/hr) is $750 installed compared to $4,400 for a conventional system. The operating costs of a CoolBot system are comparable to traditional refrigeration system.

A CoolBot will usually cost a few hundred dollars per month to run. According to a user on Steer Planet, running a CoolBot comes out to roughly $10 per day, which should end up being around $300 for 30 days of cooling.Feb 8, 2022

Full Answer

How much cheaper is a coolbot than a walk in cooler?

Together, a CoolBot and a standard A/C unit costs up to 70% less than a traditional walk-in cooler. They also use about 40% less electricity, which saves thousands on energy costs. The CoolBot drops the temperature of a well-insulated room to as low as 34ºF without freezing up the air conditioner fins.

How does the coolbot work?

The CoolBot transforms any well-insulated room into a walk-in cooler by harnessing the cooling power of a standard air conditioner. Traditional walk-in cooler refrigeration systems can cost several thousand with installation and electrical setup.

What temperature does the coolbot cooler cool my Room to?

The CoolBot comes pre-programmed to cool your room down to 42°F (5.6°C), however, you can set it to whatever temperature you want. Does the CoolBot Cooler Work?

How much does a walk-in cooler cost?

The CoolBot transforms any well-insulated room into a walk-in cooler by harnessing the cooling power of a standard air conditioner. Traditional walk-in cooler refrigeration systems sell for $7,000* with installation and electrical setup.

How much energy does a CoolBot use?

A 100 square foot cooler at 35°F with leaky construction and R16 walls uses about 1500 kWh per season.

How much is CoolBot cost?

A NYSERDA report found that a cost estimate of the CoolBot system (15,000 BTU/hr) is $750 installed compared to $4,400 for a conventional system. The operating costs of a CoolBot system are comparable to traditional refrigeration system.

How cold can a CoolBot go?

The °CoolBot does include a digital thermostat so you can set it to run at whatever temperature you want between 32°F – 65°F ( 0°C – 18°C ). However, the minimum recommended temperature is 34°F to avoid freezing up the A/C.

Does a CoolBot work?

The CoolBot works extremely well and efficiently. It cools down much quicker than our compressor unit did. It uses much less electricity then our compressor unit used. We are extremely pleased with the unit.

How much does it cost to run a walk in freezer?

A standard 8 x 8 x 8 walk-in freezer uses about 8,000 kWh per year in electricity and will cost you about $1,200 per year in energy costs to operate. You would need to replace 16 standard sized reach in chest freezers just to break even on energy usage and cost.

Why is my CoolBot freezing up?

NOTE: If your unit is on the "FAN ONLY" mode or "OFF (but still plugged into the wall)" and keeps icing the fins, the compressor might be stuck on the ON position. Try resetting your A/C unit from the plug and run again in the FAN mode. If the problem persists your A/C needs repair.

Will a CoolBot work as a freezer?

The CoolBot and the air conditioners it works with are not designed to freeze. If you need to freeze, buy a freezer! If you plan to use your walk-in cooler through harsh winters, be sure to touch base with us on A/C selection.

Can I use a mini split for a walk-in cooler?

All you need to create a DIY walk-in cooler is a well-insulated room, a CoolBot, and a standard window or mini-split air conditioner.

How do you set up a CoolBot?

2:323:30CoolBot Installation Guide - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe power supply. Into the electrical outlet to set the temperature on the coolbot. Press theMoreThe power supply. Into the electrical outlet to set the temperature on the coolbot. Press the checkmark button once the current set temperature will blink use the right or left arrow.

How does the CoolBot Pro work?

The CoolBot Pro uses 2 temperature sensors (ROOM and FINS), the HEATER cable (red tip) and a programmed micro- controller to direct your air conditioner to operate in such a way as to cool the room to a set temperature in between 33°F/0.5°C and 65°F/18°C without freezing up.

How do you adjust the temperature on a CoolBot?

Plug in your CoolBot Pro power supply. STEP 10 To set the temperature on your CoolBot Pro, press the checkmark button – the current set temperature will blink. Use the right or left arrows to set the temperature to the desired value. Press the checkmark to save the value.

How do you set up a CoolBot?

2:323:30CoolBot Installation Guide - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe power supply. Into the electrical outlet to set the temperature on the coolbot. Press theMoreThe power supply. Into the electrical outlet to set the temperature on the coolbot. Press the checkmark button once the current set temperature will blink use the right or left arrow.

Where is CoolBot located?

From its roots at the Huguenot Street Farm, we have sold over 50,000 CoolBots since 2006 to all corners of the world, changing the way people cool their produce, food, drinks and more! Kate and Ron Khosla started Huguenot Street Farm in New Paltz, NY in 1999.

How do I set the temperature on my CoolBot?

Plug in your CoolBot Pro power supply. STEP 10 To set the temperature on your CoolBot Pro, press the checkmark button – the current set temperature will blink. Use the right or left arrows to set the temperature to the desired value. Press the checkmark to save the value.

How do you make a walk in the fridge?

0:123:57DIY Walk-in Cooler for Small Farms - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd cool enough so I built a walk-in cooler my packing shed. It's 8 by 8. And gives me plenty ofMoreAnd cool enough so I built a walk-in cooler my packing shed. It's 8 by 8. And gives me plenty of room for what I did this year and a lot of room to grow into. Yeah. It's really easy.

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How does CoolBot work?

The CoolBot’s patented technology intelligently controls your air conditioner – so you can harness its cooling power and keep temperatures in the 30s without freezing up your air conditioner. The CoolBot uses multiple sensors, a heating element and a programmed micro-controller to direct your air conditioner to operate in a such a way to cool ...

How much does a walk in cooler cost?

Traditional walk-in cooler refrigeration systems sell for $7,000* with installation and electrical setup. Traditional systems use a “brute-force” approach to cooling: lots of coolant (which is bad for the environment), a big motor, a large surface area, and multiple fans (which can dry out your vegetables and account for up to 60% of the cost of operating electricity).

Does CoolBot shut off compressor?

Most importantly, when the air conditioner is close to freezing or when the room has reached the desired set temperature, the CoolBot is programmed to shut off the compressor on your A/C unit, so you do not pay for extra electricity that you won’t use!

Can CoolBot use 100% BTU?

CoolBot cannot give you 100% use of the listed BTUs on your air conditioner, so you will need to buy a higher BTU air conditioner than the BTU size you would buy on a traditional cooler compressor. However, the price of a larger air conditioner and a CoolBot is a fraction of the cost of a traditional walk-in cooler compressor, ...

Does CoolBot save electricity?

Most importantly, when the CoolBot begins to lose efficiency when accessing your BTUs of cooling power (when the air conditioner is close to freezing), it is programmed to shut off the compressor on your A/C unit, so you do not pay for electricity to make BTUs that you can’t use! That saves you money on your monthly electricity bill and helps the environment. As long as you sized your air conditioner correctly and insulate your cooler well, you’ll have no problem keeping your room as cold as you want it to be.

What is a coolbot?

A CoolBot it a small (roughly hand sized) controller that allows you to use a standard window AC to produce temps in the upper 30s (°F) – great for walk in coolers. From the CoolBot website:

What is the third wire on a CoolBot?

The third wire (labeled “Heater”) attaches to the A/C’s temperature sensor. The temperature sensor actually comes out of the A/C; on a new A/C the temperature sensor will be mounted on small plastic brackets in front of the fins. Wrap the CoolBot “Heater” wire up with that air-conditioner temperature sensor using a small 1/2 inch by 1 inch piece of aluminum foil (included) to ensure a good thermal connection. Allow this foil pack to hang freely away from any metal and out of the direct pathway of cold air.

Why Build a Walk In Cooler?

I run a produce delivery service and was struggling to hold my produce. We quickly ran out of space in our traditional refrigerators, and I had a hard time controlling the temperature. Some produce would freeze and some would spoil quickly due to temperature irregularities. I was losing hundreds of dollars in inventory weekly.

What is the best insulation for a walk in cooler?

Polystyrene is the best insulation to use for cooler applications. It’s what they use for commercial coolers. The down side it is hard to find and not cost effective to ship. After much research and pricing all the options, we decided to look into used walk-in coolers.

How to lower your heating and cooling costs?

You can lower costs by watching for sales and buying seasonally. (Wood cost changes weekly, A/C are more expensive in summer than in winter and so on.)

Can you plug a coolbot into a cell phone charger?

Plug the CoolBot into a standard outlet – the CoolBot uses no more electricity than a cell-phone charger, so no special electrical connections are needed.

Does Coolbot have a digital display?

You have to have an A/C Model with a digital display, because the Coolbot will not function properly without this feature. See “ CoolBot AC Unit Size and Brand Recommendations ” for more information.

How cold does CoolBot cool down?

These three features let the CoolBot cool down your AC units up until below -1.11 degrees Celcius without freezing.

How hot can CoolBots work?

After all, AC units connect with CoolBots. First of all, all ACs can’t function under 15.56 degrees Celcius of temperatures.

How to connect a temperature sensor to a CoolBot?

Use one layer of electrical tape or a wire tie to connect the secondary temperature sensor with the outer part of the aluminum foil. After that, find the “Fins”-labeled port in your CoolBot device, take the sensor, and pinch it lightly.

Do mini splits need ducts?

Mini splits are the AC types that are unlike traditional ACs that produce cold air at only one point and transmit the air through large-sized ducts. You don’t need ducts to make mini split ACs work.

Can you cool down under AC?

Even traditional walk-in coolers can’t make you cool down under an AC to some levels of temperatures. Unfortunately, such situations are right even if your walk-in coolers have extra fans and sturdy surface areas.

Can CoolBot run at minus degrees?

If your room is well-insulated, a CoolBot’ s presence can make your AC units run at 25% lower temperatures than usual. At some points, this device can operate at minus degrees without having to freeze the room.

Does CoolBot Pro have Wi-Fi?

CoolBot has two versions, the original CoolBot, and the CoolBot Pro. The CoolBot Pro can either use Wi-Fi or not. The CoolBot Pro that doesn’t use Wi-Fi connectivity will operate the same as the original CoolBot. On the other side, you need to set up the Wi-Fi through your device’s browser when using the Wi-Fi-powered CoolBot Pro.

What is a °coolbot?

The °CoolBot is not just a thermostat! The °CoolBot is a device which uses multiple sensors and a programmed micro-controller, which when attached to a standard off-the-shelf air conditioner, functionally replicates a more expensive conventional walk-in cooling system .

What delay to use for AC in Energy Saver?

If you do decide to run the AC in Energy Saver, we recommend to change the HEATER Delay setting up to “d3” from the default of “d1”.

How many fans does a refrigerator compressor use?

Although the °CoolBot-driven system is typically over-sized versus a conventional cooler from a BTU perspective, it saves so much energy as an air conditioner typically uses only one 300 watt fan, while a conventional refrigerator compressor uses 3, 4 or 5 fans, depending on the size. One major benefit to a one-fan system is that certain flowers and crops (e.g. delicate flowers or baby lettuce) will stay fresher for longer due to the reduced air movement in the cooler. The trade-off is that our recovery times back to the desired temperature can be slower than a conventional compressor if the door is left open and the cool air is allowed to escape.

How many volts does an air conditioner use?

Also, 18,000 BTU and 24,000 BTU air conditioners both run on 220 volts. That means you have less amps running on each leg of your power cord and your compressor will run more smoothly.

What temperature should an 8x8x8 room be?

For example, our recommendation for an 8x8x8 room is 12,000 BTU’s to be at 38°F or above. If you bumped up one or two sizes you’d be at 15,000 BTU’s or 18,000 BTU’s. In both cases, you get more surface area to transfer cold, so you could run in Energy Saver mode most of the time (it’s best to run in standard mode an hour before and after loading up and if it’s extremely hot outside) or run on the recommended Cool mode but have faster recovery times or colder temperatures than 37°F.

What is the temperature of an air conditioner?

Some A/C’s display the air conditioner's set temperature all the time, in most cases it will be 60F.

Can CoolBot be used for freezing?

No. Because of the design of the Air Conditioners that the °CoolBot works with, it is not possible to create an application for freezing temperatures. Additionally , the CoolBot can only be set to a minimum of 32°F (0°C) - we recommend setting the °CoolBot no lower than 34°F to avoid freezing up the coil of the A/C.

What is coolbot?

The thing about the coolbot is the frost sensor and heater that tricks the AC into not freezing solid. I have and 8x8 walk-in cooled by a 12000 unit controlled by a gen 1 coolbot and it has been flawless with continuous operation for 3 years until a few weeks ago and the fix was quick, easy and I was back up like nothing happened in a day. Ron, the designer, was extremely helpful and responsive in fixing the problem. Hassle-free customer service like that along with a great product is worth the cost in the long-term IMO.

How to control AC temperature?

Move the AC temp sensor to the outside of the cooled area. It will think it's still hot in the chamber when in fact it's only hot outside. Then control the AC with a ranco, aquarium controller or whatever you want. You can also trick the temp sensor with a night light or something to heat it up a little.

Is Coolbot a good product?

Honestly, I would just order the Coolbot and call it good. Too much research and development has gone into these products for me to second guess the results at the cost of a few extra bucks. Is it some bucks? Yeah. Is it worth to me when considering the extra hassle, work, missed brew days/sampling, meetings of not using a piece of technology such as the Coolbot? NO! My advice is to stick with proven technology. But that is just my advice. You have to make your decisions based off your needs/budget.

Can you use a second tstat to defrost coils?

You have to control frosting of the coils somehow. Using a 2nd tstat to defrost is the easiest way IMO.

1.CoolBots(TM): Inexpensive Cold Storage – UVM …

Url:https://blog.uvm.edu/cwcallah/2013/03/20/coolbotstm-inexpensive-cold-storage/

12 hours ago The CoolBot makes cold storage accessible for farms of all sizes. Depending on the size, a traditional walk-in cooler can cost between $6,000 and $10,000. In addition to this upfront cost, you also need to consider the operating costs (energy) and service, which usually requires a specially trained technician.

2.How the CoolBot Works | CoolBot Temperature Controller

Url:https://www.storeitcold.com/how-it-works/

29 hours ago How much does a CoolBot cost. Now, we know that a CoolBot is not only different from other walk-in coolers. Yet, we can’t deny the importance of budgeting. So, how much do these devices cost? On average, these cooling devices cost around US$300-US$500 per unit that excludes the shipping costs. Some CoolBot prices can even go up to US$1,200 per unit.

3.Build Your Own Walk In Cooler with a CoolBot Controller …

Url:https://commonsensehome.com/build-walk-in-cooler/

2 hours ago The °CoolBot does include a digital thermostat so you can set it to run at whatever temperature you want between 32°F – 65°F ( 0°C – 18°C ). ... quite a few universities as well as NASA’s SATOP program have contributed plans and support to °CoolBot, including some financial cost-share programs for small farmers who want to buy ...

4.Coolbot Compatible Air Conditioners [Each Variety …

Url:https://www.arlingtonairconditioningheating.com/what-air-conditioners-work-with-coolbot/

22 hours ago NO ADDITIONAL COST: You pay $0 for repairs – parts, labor and shipping included. COVERAGE: Plan starts on the date of purchase. Drops, spills and cracked screens due to normal use covered for portable products and power surges covered from day one.

5.Frequently Asked Questions - The CoolBot by Store It Cold

Url:https://www.storeitcold.com/faqs/

16 hours ago  · The thing about the coolbot is the frost sensor and heater that tricks the AC into not freezing solid. I have and 8x8 walk-in cooled by a 12000 unit controlled by a gen 1 coolbot and it has been flawless with continuous operation for 3 years until a few weeks ago and the fix was quick, easy and I was back up like nothing happened in a day.

6.COOLBOT Pro 34ºF Walk-in Cooler Controller for Air

Url:https://www.amazon.com/CoolBot-Cooler-Controller-Conditioners-Enabled/dp/B07C36LLC9

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7.Possible coolbot alternative for $35 - Homebrew Talk

Url:https://www.homebrewtalk.com/threads/possible-coolbot-alternative-for-35.323547/

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