Frequently Asked Questions

All units are built to the same standards using the same material. All single temperature (V) models are suitable for the garage. All units will carefully look after your wine, in just the same way. The differences between the ranges are interactive features that benefit the cabinet owner, rather than the wine. *83/*59/PURE/Collection models are fully featured. V266, V166 & V101 are Premiere.

1. The solid door on a Premiere unit is black laminate. A Classic model features a solid black glass solid door with a steel T-bar handle.
2. Only the black framed clear glass door is available on the Premiere range. The Classic range comprises a choice of four types of clear glass door, including the most popular frameless clear glass door.
3. Classic features UV-free LED internal lighting. Premiere does not.
4. Classic features a hygrometer built into the display showing % humidity for monitoring purposes. Premiere does not. (All V & D prefix models maintain elevated humidity in the same way.)
5. Classic features a cassette of clay to add water (humidity) to internal environment if required. Premiere does not.
6. Classic features an internal fan to improve consistency of temperature throughout the unit and discourage mould. Premiere does not.
7. Classic features an illuminated enlarged back lit display, with icons and touch controls. The premiere display is a simple red LED.
8. Classic features a filter replacement countdown and reminder. Premiere does not.
9. The Classic range can be set at a single temperature between 6-19°C. The Premiere range can only be set at a single temperature between 9-15°C

Different Control Panels

up to 2009 – *83/*59

2010 onwards -*92/*83/*59

2010 onwards – *266/101

One of the most enjoyable features of EuroCave wine cabinets, and yet another factor that sets us above our competition, is our state of the art roller-mounted shelving. EuroCave shelving is unique, a pleasure to use and maximizes bottle capacity so you will get more wine in a EuroCave wine cabinet than any other.

Our understanding of wine and various bottle shapes and sizes has driven our superior shelving design, and with various shelving options, you can choose which EuroCave shelves you want in your wine cabinet to perfectly suit your collection and particular needs.

Do not settle for heavy, clunky shelving that might damage your labels, or overloaded shelving that is too heavy to open safely. Demand EuroCave perfection and enjoy safe, smooth, effortless viewing and selection of your wine.

All wine is stored at the same temperature and a single temperature EuroCave model is the same temperature at the top and the bottom inside the unit.

There is up to a 2 degree tolerance either way in the thermostat. This is measuring the air temperature within the cabinet. Over a 1 hour period, for a 1 degree change in air temperature there is a 0.1 degree change in liquid temperature. This is because far more energy is required to change the temperature of liquid as opposed to air. The liquid temperature is remaining virtually constant.

We recommend setting the dial/settings on your cabinet at 12ºC or above. If set too cold, during warm humid weather, you may experience excessive condensation.

Fill the cabinet from the bottom up, evenly spreading the wine out across all the shelves. Do not leave the bottom half of the cabinet empty as you may see fluctuations on the temperature display even though the bottle temperature remains constant.

Please see separate note for D283/D183 temperature settings.

If your unit is located in an unheated garage or outhouse, if the ambient temperature is within 4 degrees of the set temperature, the unit will not do anything. You may think it is not working, but it should be fine. You will need to wait for the ambient to get hotter or colder to tell if the unit is functioning well, if you have concerns. Units with a glass door kept in a freezing environment may drop a few degrees internally and this will recover when the ambinet gets above 4-5°C.

If you have a concern, we will need to know the exact temperature displayed on your screen as well as the set temperature.

EuroCave Premiere Wine Cabinet Shelving-Configuration (PDF)

EuroCave Compact Wine Cabinet Shelving Configuration (PDF)

EuroCave Classic Wine Cabinet Shelving Configuration (PDF)

Virtually all refrigeration products are driven by a compressor (motor). This motor, compresses the coolant which is a gas, and releases it into the evaporator (cold pipe). It is this expansion of compressed gas that creates cold, following Boyle’s Law, Charles’s Law and Avogadro’s Principle which state that temperature is directly proportional to pressure and volume.

The compressor contains oil, just as your car engine does. As the cooling system is a loop linked to the compressor, when the unit is moved, particularly if it is tilted, the oil can ‘fall’ into the evaporator. If the compressor is run, whilst there is oil in the evaporator, this oil can cause problems/blockages within the evaporator.

All refrigeration products should be left to settle before switching on and the design of the evaporator dictates how long a unit should be left for. EuroCave evaporators are long and thin, running top to bottom within the rear wall, so plenty of time should be left for any oil to drain back into the compressor.

On unpacking you wine cabinet after delivery, check for any obvious exterior damage (dents, malformation, etc.). Open the door and check that the inside of the appliance is complete and in good condition (walls, shelves, hinges, control panel, etc.). In the event of a problem, contact your dealer.

Move your wine cabinet to your selected location. This location should not be a confined space.There should be space to allow air to flow around the cabinet. (not placed in a cupboard, etc.)

• away from any heat source
• not too wet (wash room, utility room, bathroom, etc.)
• be on a flat solid floor
• have an electrical power supply (standard 13A plug connected to a 30 mA circuit breaker)

Never place your wine cabinet in a location liable to flooding.

Avoid splashing water onto the base of the appliance.

Place the clay humidity cassette (for 1 and 2-temperature models only), which you will find inside your cabinet’s “accessories” box) in the receptacle provided for it beneath the grid located at the base of the cabinet (see diagram page 20). When using the cassette for the first time, please soak the cassette for ten minutes in water, and let it drain.

Install the drip tray (which you will find inside your cabinet’s “accessories” box) on the compressor support at the back of the cabinet, locating it under the small pipe protruding from the housing, the lower part of the tank being placed under this pipe.

Take the power lead (which you will find inside your cabinet’s “accessories” box) and connect it to the socket provided at the rear bottom left of the cabinet. Unwind the power supply lead so that it can be accessed and place the appliance leaving a space between 8 and 10 cm (3” 1/8 to 4”) space between the wall and the back of your wine cabinet.

Place the power supply lead so that it is not in contact with any of the appliance’s components.

IMPORTANT – Wait 48 hours before switching on to allow the fluids contained in the internal circuits to settle.

Gently incline the wine cabinet backwards in order to adjust the front feet (screw adjustment) so that your wine cabinet stands perfectly level (we recommend using a regular spirit level).

Remove the protective items located inside your wine cabinet.

Install the carbon filter, which you will find inside your cabinet’s “accessories” box, by placing it in the air circulation hole located inside the cabinet on the top left hand side.

N.B.: when moving your wine cabinet, do not incline it more than 45°, and always toward side where the power lead is located.

The unit does not know that you have changed the filter. If you have a *59/*83/*92 model, an icon will appear on the screen to advise it is time to change the filter.

You may need to remove the top 2 levels of wine. Simply pull out the old filter and push in the new one. Do not use excessive force, or it will be difficult to remove next time. A light tap is sufficient. 1 size fits all cabinets. The charcoal filter should be changed every 12 – 18 months and be ordered via this website.

If this is not done, the cabinet may accumulate condensation due to limited air flow or develop mould.

We recommend you keep the condenser (heat exchanger) clean on the back of Classic and *56 model Compact units and the lower grill on the front of the *59 range. Doing so will minimise your electricity bill, noise and reduce potential service calls. The cleaner the condenser combined with good air flow around the cabinet, the less your wine cabinet needs to operate.

Cleaning the condenser on the back of the classic and older *56 models just requires brushing down the condenser using any type of duster to remove dust on the grid.

Cleaning the condenser on the front of the *59 range wine cabinet requires the removal of the two screws (using the alan key supplied with the unit) that hold the front grill in place, then simply brush/vacuum off any accumulated dust off the mesh covering the condenser.

Front grill

Cleaning of the condenser should be done when required, dependent on conditions and location of your wine cabinet. The cabinet should be disconnected from the mains power supply before cleaning.

Please visit EuroCave Shelves page

The problem with sliding shelves slipping off the cabinet wall supports or sticking is easily resolved.

1. Remove the offending shelf from the cabinet (remove the bottles, pull the shelf out to its fullest extent, lift the front of the shelf to 30º from horizontal, lift the shelf clear).
2. Observe that the platform of the shelf is attached to its runners by 2 (Comfort/Classic range) or 3 (Compact range) small bolts on each side.
3. Loosen the bolts (do not fully undo because they will be difficult to replace)
4. Spread the runner as far from the platform as the small adjustment area permits; expect no more than 1 or 2 mm movement.
5. Tighten the bolts taking care to prevent the act of tightening drawing the runner back in toward the shelf platform.

Replace shelf on the cabinet supports by slotting the wheels on shelf runner on to the wheels on the support and then sliding the shelf along the support.

EuroCave Premiere Wine Cabinet Shelving-Configuration (PDF)

EuroCave Compact Wine Cabinet Shelving Configuration (PDF)

EuroCave Classic Wine Cabinet Shelving Configuration (PDF)

Battery for LCD display – SR44(w)/V357 (Duracell code is 357/303 you will see this on the Duracell packaging). Remove display by it’s edges with your fingers or blunt knife. Do not pull out too far as wires are attached. Remove black backing disk with a 5p piece and replace battery. A paper clip will help you pop out the old battery. Replace display, having carefully replaced backing disk. Do not lose the backing disk, we cannot replace it. Do not buy LR44. SR44 battery also known as GPS76E. If your unit is pre-2003 and you replace the battery and the display still does not function, you may need a D357. This is a nearly identical battery only slightly thicker.

Available from most high street electrical shops and many on-line retailers.

When changing the charcoal filter you need to reset the filter icon.

Pre 2010 *83/*59 model control panels

To reset the filter replacement icon press and hold the (-) button until ECL is displayed, (for multi-temperature models, use the right hand set of buttons). Then, briefly press ‘SET’ once displaying characters containing either ‘bL n’ or ‘LU’. Briefly press ‘SET’ again. Then briefly press, the On/Off Power button (below ‘SET’). The screen will return to the temperature display after a few seconds.

2010/2011 model control panels

Once the charcoal filter has been changed, press and hold down the key. The filter icon will be flashing and the count down appears. Press the (+) key to reset the count down. Confirm by pressing the key. Order Your New Filter Here »

This only need be pressed when consulting with us on a potential temperature problem.

This only need be pressed when consulting with us on a potential temperature problem.

All wine is stored at the same temperature and a single temperature EuroCave model is the same temperature at the top and the bottom inside the unit.

There is up to a 2 degree tolerance either way in the thermostat. This is measuring the air temperature within the cabinet. Over a 1 hour period, for a 1 degree change in air temperature there is a 0.1 degree change in liquid temperature. This is because far more energy is required to change the temperature of liquid as opposed to air. The liquid temperature is remaining virtually constant.

We recommend setting the dial/settings on your cabinet at 12ºC or above. If set too cold, during warm humid weather, you may experience excessive condensation. (See Info Below)

Fill the cabinet from the bottom up, evenly spreading the wine out across all the shelves. Do not leave the bottom half of the cabinet empty as you may see fluctuations on the temperature display even though the bottle temperature remains constant.

Please see separate note for D283/D183 temperature settings.

If your unit is located in an unheated garage or outhouse, if the ambient temperature is within 4 degrees of the set temperature, the unit will not do anything. You may think it is not working, but it should be fine. You will need to wait for the ambient to get hotter or colder to tell if the unit is functioning well,

If you have concerns. Units with a glass door kept in a freezing environment may drop a few degrees internally and this will recover when the ambinet gets above 4-5°C. If you have a concern, we will need to know the exact temperature displayed on your screen as well as the set temperature.

The settings must be no more than 5 degrees different, i.e., 6 & 11 or 7 & 12, or 8 & 13. 4 degrees is preferred at factory setting 8/12. If the difference is too great the unit will run too cold and this may not be reflected in the display. In addition you may see a humidity alarm when the humidity is in fact fine.

Use the roof of the chiller box for storage as a last resort. i.e., Utilise the shelves above, first. If using the roof of the chiller box, ensure bottles are not touching the back wall.

Wine storage requires a minimum of 50% humidity to preserve cork integrity during months or years of storage. Should you be experiencing humidity alarms in your D*83 (2 temp) cabinet please ensure the following:

1. To resolve the problem, please ensure the temperature settings are 8 in the chiller and 12 in the main body. After which they should be no more than 4 degrees apart. 7&11 etc.
2. If you have a the humidity cylinder (Hygro++) locate it on a shelf in the upper third of the cabinet. If you are experiencing problems and do not have Hygro++, please contact us by telephone or email. Hygro++ was only supplied with units during 2007-2008.
3. Please ensure the bottles are evenly distributed throughout the cabinet, top to bottom. Please ensure the bottles stacked on the roof of the chiller unit do not touch the back wall above the chiller box. You may need to layout your shelves differently to achieve this.
4. Check the door seal and drainage as per our information (found under “Excessive Condensation / Water” in FAQ below)

Hygro++ in situ on a sliding shelf.

Humidity is only relevant to cork integrity over many months and years.

The humidity sensor takes a reading every 2 seconds. Every 50 seconds, it takes an average. Then over the next fifty seconds it takes an average of the new readings and the previous average reading. The unit only takes readings when the compressor is NOT running. The colder the unit, the lower the humidity. The ambient of the room that the unit is in, affects the %, as does the number of times you open the door and the length of time the door is open for. When you open the door, the sensor reads the ambient humidity. In addition the air entering the unit via the filter will affect the readings. The unit guarantees a minimum of 50%. You cannot set the % of your choice. As long as humidity is above 50%, cork integrity remains.

It can take up to 3 months to generate more accurate readings.

If you have excess water in the base of your unit, please mop it up with a towel.

If you have done this once already and the water returns, please read Excessive Condensation / Water (below)

If your unit is flashing the % symbol, indicating and showing humidity below 50%, first add 1 small cup of water to the base of the unit, onto the clay balls. Close the door and leave it for 24 hours.

If the icon remains a few days later, please contact us. If the unit is set below 10 or above 15, hygrometry monitoring is disabled. The % humidity display will be blank.

This is due to the fact that the unit is not set at an ideal cellar temperature, so humidity becomes irrelevant.

There are 3 warning displays on a V101/V166/V266 in the rare event there is a temperature problem.

E1 : malfunction of the temperature sensor.
LO 1 : low temperature alarm in progress.
HI 1 : high temperature alarm in progress.

EuroCave cabinets collect moisture from the air we breathe. The walls of your unit are designed to be damp. Water from the air condenses onto cold surfaces. If you are experiencing excessive condensation, please check the following:

1. Is the ambient humidity of the room in which the unit is located high, such as in a kitchen?
2. Press the + button if you have it, to determine your humidity level. (only works when set between 10-14).
3. Is the cabinet physically level?
4. Is the temperature set below 12 degrees? Please set to 13 for longer term wine storage.
5. Is the drainage channel clear? (not applicable to V292/5290)
6. Is the unit located in a recently plastered area?
7. If the unit is new, have you checked your charcoal filter is in place. If the unit is more than 1 year old have you changed the charcoal filter? (See FAQ Above)
8. Have you checked that the magnetic door seal’s integrity is intact all the way round the door? Gaps will allow excess air into the cabinet
9. Ensure there is no packaging at all in the unit. No tissue paper, no cardboard packaging or wooden boxes. These retain water.
10. In a professional environment, if you are restocking the unit and need the door to be open for an extended period, switch off the unit. Then stock/load the unit and switch back on.
11. If the unit is not in a particularly dry environment, please pull out the extended drainage straw (thin black pipe) from the drainage channel.

The more often you open the door, the more you are introducing humid air into the cabinet. The colder the cabinet is set, the more it will condensate out the humidity. Please dry your cabinet with a towel then ensure the cabinet is level, check the drainage channel is clear and set the storage area of your unit above 12. The ideal setting for a D model cabinet is 8 and 12.

Place drip tray deep end first. Applicable to units manufactured before 2011. The drip tray is installed and glued in place by the factory on units manufactured after February 2011. You do not need to empty the drip tray. The heat from the compressor evaporates the water.

A V283 large Classic cabinet consumes c. 130W when running = 0.9kWh/24hr = £30/year at current electricity rate, when set at 12ºC – 13ºC located in a 20ºC – 25ºC ambient. The heat emission is 160 thermal watts per cycle under the same conditions.

The INOA generates between 44-50dB subject to the cooling level.

Classic cabinets generate 38dB(A) and Compact models generate 38dB except the 059 which generates 42dB(A).

Please do not worry about your wine. The purpose of a single temperature wine cabinet is to protect and mature your wine over many months and years.

Unless the wine cabinet is in an environment over 30ºC, or kept in a freezing building during winter; no harm can come to the wine over a period of weeks.

Fine wine is shipped around the world in all sorts of conditions and even in the wine section of luxury department stores, bottles of wine worth in excess of a few hundred pounds per bottle are sitting out in a shop environment. If warm rooms and varying temperatures were an issue over the short term, no one would buy wine from a shop.

Wine is far more robust that people assume. It is only the extremes of temperature, or significant fluctuations over many months that may cause an issue.

Your wine is quite safe in a Eurocave even when it is switched off. It is naturally a cool constant box.

Further reading Temperature and wine storage: an introduction by Jamie Goode

Do not leave your cabinet ON if it is empty. The cabinet is trying to constantly cool fresh warm air which it cannot do. Bottles are needed to trap the cold.

If the cabinet is transported, it must be empty of wine and shelves (you may leave the runners attached to the cabinet wall).

It MUST be kept upright during vehicular transport. Never lie it down on its side or back.

We suggest locking the door and keeping the keys safe. If you wish to carry the unit a short distance or up/down stairs, you may tilt the unit to the right when facing the unit. Do not tilt it backwards or to the left.

To be clear, only the right side of the unit should face the stairs or floor.

It must then be left to stand for 48 hours before switching back on, for the oil in the compressor to re-settle.

Shelves and wine should be replaced whilst the unit is off and in its new location.

Although rare, a wine cabinet consists of a motor and other fitted parts. Please read below to identify possible sources of noise.

1. *83/*64 models only. Loose drip tray. Slightly pushing cabinet backwards from the front at the top (door closed)stops or changes the noise. To remedy, simply press drip tray back into place next to compressor. Incorrect drip tray placement..
2. *59 Compact models only. Front lower fan making a rattle or knocking sound. Clean front grill every 6 months. The lower fan makes a gentle fan sound when running, this is normal.
3. *83/*59 models. Loose internal fan. Noise stops when door is open. Restarts when door is closed.
4. Heat exchanger is pressing against back panel. Gently press or pull grill to isolate noise.
5. Noisy compressor. A distinctly loud fridge sound. Please contact us.

Introducing a heat source such as underfloor heating or a radiator in close proximity to a wine cabinet will increase the amount of time the unit runs for and reduce the consistency of the internal temperature.

Minimum and maximum bottle heights that can be vacuum sealed in the SoWine:

minimum height: 292mm
maximum height: 336mm

There are over 300 different bottle sizes and shapes generally in use for wine. The 80:20 rule generally applies, in that 80% of the market uses about 20% of the sizes and shapes available.

Nevertheless, the Sowine is designed for the most popular bottle sizes and shapes. Certain oversized/unusual bottles may not be vacuum sealed. They can still be held at the right temperature inside the chamber.

Please note the height restrictions above and also note that the Sowine cannot work with Alsace flute bottles (due to the taper of the neck), or the odd screwcap bottle with larger than standard openings (again few and far between).

EuroCave Inoa Conditioners can transform any type of correctly insulated room into a functioning wine cellar. By continuously circulating cold air around the bottles it maintains the perfect cellar environment. The INOA heats as well as cools. The volume of the cellar must be more than 10m³

Cellar Conditioners are sold on a supply only basis.

Cellar Conditioners – Technical Details

To be installed into a fully insulated room, material to have an insulation R coefficient greater than 2.66.

Heat loss is normally measured by the thermal transmittance or U value, usually expressed in W/m2K. In its most basic terms, the lower the U value, the greater the thermal insulation. We require U value less than 0.35.

The U value is the material’s thermal conductivity (for example 0.021 W/mk) divided by the thickness (100mm thickness = 0.1 for the calculation). The thermal conductivity is stated on the product page of an insulation manufacturer’s website and product information documents.

You can then convert any room into a real wine cellar.

You can achieve equal to or greater than the required insulation (as described on our information sheet) using a variety of insulation materials. The materials should be plastics based and water resistant. Mineral wool is not suitable. The insulation should be installed on top of a damp course membrane. Suitable insulation materials of an appropriate thickness include: high-density polystyrene, Celotex, Super-trioso, Kingspan, Xtra-therm or Cellecta Yelofoam. Other costs you may incur include timber, plasterboard, brick, various consumables and the cost of the contractor.

The EuroCave range of Cellar Conditioners enables you to regulate any space from 10m³ up to 50m³ (cubic metres) in size and so provide yourself with a cellar that will keep well over 1,000 bottles in an ideal climate controlled environment, reproducing a traditional underground cellar.

Discreet and quiet (when circulating fan is running). Louder noise is generated when actively cooling, though this remains one of the quietest products on the market of its type.

• Constant temperature 10ºC – 14ºC
• Constant humidity above 50%
• Easy to use
• Discreet and quiet

The quoted conditioning abilities of EuroCave Cellar conditioners are given on the basis of installation to a fully heat insulated area. Technical Details

The Inoa generates 44dBA minimum to 65dBA maximum of noise measured at a distance of one metre. * in a room perfectly insulated to our specification The above details are based on an inside temperature of 12°C and outside temperature of above 25ºC

Important – Insulating your Cellar (PDF)

Location:

A wine cellar/store may be placed almost anywhere in the house, although it is preferable to avoid areas which receive direct sunlight for much of the day. However, the area to which the conditioner expels its hot air must be ventilated and must not usually reach temperatures higher than 30°C. THE UNIT WILL NOT WORK NOR BE COVERED BY OUR GUARANTEE UNLESS THE ROOM IS FULLY INSULATED: WALLS, FLOOR, CEILING.

Method:

Studwork Partition –

Insulation material must be placed in the cavities of the studding.

Existing Rooms –

Dry line the walls with insulation blocks; cover and finish with plaster board.

Floors and Ceilings –

Insulate ceiling and floor cavities; if the floor and/or ceiling is solid, make a false ceiling and/or floor, placing insulation material in them. EQUIVALENT TO 80MM HIGH DENSITY POLYSTYRENE. Polyurethane sheets may also be used. Material to each surface must have an R value greater than 2.66 or less than U 0.35 Other suitable materials are Celotex or Kingspan.

Doors – Ensure that doors are draught proofed, solid and insulated.

Glass – Glass is a poor insulator and we do not recommend its use. Small windows in the door or wall maybe acceptable if at least double glazed (triple preferred) with a high-insulation value. Do not use fibre based insulating materials – polystyrene or foam blocks are suitable.

Having fitted a cellar conditioner – should the temperature in the cellar not be low enough, or the unit is venting hot air constantly, please call us to discuss. 99% of the time, the reason is that the cellar has not been insulated to the specification required for the unit to work adequately. Each wall, floor AND ceiling MUST be insulated to our specification, with an R value greater than 2.66 U less than 0.35. E.g., 6ft of concrete all around, underground, is NOT sufficient. The cellar will still be affected by the ambient temperature (the weather and earth) outside the building.

At least twice a year dust and clean the condenser and inside the exchanger fins. You just need to use a brush or a vacuum cleaner.

1. Unplug the unit.
2. Undo the four screws holding the front panel and remove it.
3. Clean the condenser and inside the exchanger fins.
4. Replace the front panel and the four screws.
5. Plug in the unit.

If this guide hasn’t assisted you to fix the problem with your EuroCave then click here to request an engineer call.

Please click here to download a detailed pdf file detailing how to set up your humidor.