Vintage Cellars Magnum 12-Bottle User Manual

MAGNUM

Operating Instructions Manual

Auto Defrost Refrigerators

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Table of Contents

Setting Up Your Unit 3
Unpacking, installing faucets, installing the regulator, and connecting wine bottles.

Getting to Know Your WineKeeper™ 5
Temperature zones, lights, cords, hoses, knobs, and switches.

Operating Your Unit 6

Changing bottles and gas cylinders.

Cleaning Your Unit 6

Troubleshooting 8

Finding a nitrogen leak, frost build-up, or making temperature adjustments.

FAQs 10

Technical Information 13

System diagram and wiring diagram.

531 Mercantile Drive

Cotati, CA 94931

1.855.511.5113

[e-mail]

www.winekeeper.com

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Unpacking

While unpacking your unit, please check to make sure that all parts are included and undamaged. Please

call WineKeeper at 855.511.5113 if there are any problems. YOU MUST REPORT damage immediately

and missing parts within 7 days of receiving your unit.

These parts are included with your unit:

• Appropriate number of faucets for your unit

• Regulator (for use with refillable nitrogen or argon cylinder)

• Cleaning kit

• Instructions

Setting Up Your Unit

Your WineKeeper wine dispensing unit must be installed on a flat, level surface with vented space of at

least 3" behind, 1" on the sides, and 12" above the unit for proper ventilation. Once your unit is properly

located, attach the faucets. Taking care to align the threads properly, place the faucet on the thru-wall and

tighten the wing nut.

You may now plug the units’ power

cord into 110 volt grounded

electrical outlets.

An 8 foot gas supply line is included

with your unit. The supply line

includes a quick connect fitting that

connects to the regulator supplied

with your unit. USING A

REGULATOR OTHER THAN

THE ONE SUPPLIED WILL

VOID THE WARRANTY. Your

nitrogen/argon cylinder can be

placed anywhere convenient—

vertical or horizontal.

DO NOT TAMPER

WITH OR REMOVE THE

QUICK-DISCONNECT TO

COUPLE YOUR GAS SUPPLY

LINE AND REGULATOR,

THIS WILL ALSO VOID

THE WARRANTY.

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Hand tighten the supplied regulator to your nitrogen/argon cylinder, do not use a wrench. Do not

connect the gas line to the regulator at this time. Open the gas cylinder valve (turn the valve counter-

clockwise to open.) The gas pressure from the cylinder will seal the regulator in place. The gauge on the

regulator should read approx. 1800 lbs. for an aluminum cylinder, and 2200 lbs. for a steel cylinder, when

full.

You must now bleed the air from the system. With all the pinch clamps open, attach the gas supply line

quick connect fitting to the regulator fitting. Be sure the small metal lever on the gas supply line fitting is

in the down position. When the gas begins to flow through the lines and out the stopper assemblies, move

down the unit closing off all the pinch clamps. You are now ready to connect wine bottles.

How to Attach Wine Bottles to Your Machine

1. Place the stopper assembly into the

wine bottle. (Attach FULL wine bottles

ONLY.)

2. While holding the stopper so that the

latex seal is just at the lip of the bottle

opening, open the pinch clamp for 2

seconds. This will displace the air from

the bottleneck.

3. Close off the pinch clamp, and insert

the stopper all the way into the bottle.

4. Hold the stopper assembly with one

hand and tighten the knurled

thumbwheel clockwise with the other

hand until gently snug. Turn the

thumbwheel 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 of a turn further.

DO NOT OVER-TIGHTEN THE

THUMBWHEEL. If the thumbwheel

“pops” while turning, you have over-

tightened it. The best seal is obtained

with a dry bottleneck and latex seal.

OVER-TIGHTENING will damage

the stopper.

5. Adjust the sliding stainless steel tube for proper bottle depth. The tube may be placed all the way

to the bottom for white wines, and slightly raised off the bottom for red wines with sediment.

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6. Open all pinch clamps and pull the faucet handle to produce a drop of wine from each faucet.

This removes the air trapped between the wine in the tube and the faucet tip.

7. Dispense wine by pulling the faucet handle completely forward to achieve a clean pour.

Note: WineKeeper has preset your unit to hold white wine at 44o-45 o F and red wine at 62 o -64 o F. After

initial set up is complete, let your unit run for 24 hours before attempting any temperature adjustment.

(See “Temperature Adjustment” and “FAQs” #3, #4, #5 and #6, before adjusting temperature).

Getting to Know Your WineKeeper

This unit uses pressurized nitrogen or argon gas to dispense and preserve wine from within a temperature­controlled zone. Your unit may have 2 temperature zones, only the white side can be controlled by the
thermostat that is located behind the louvered upper grill on the rear of the unit (in front for front venting
units). The red side temperature is controlled by adjustable vent holes in the plexi-glass divider. Six to ten
bottle magnum units are also equipped with a heating element in the red wine zone to help maintain a
warmer temperature. On these units the heating element adjustment knob is located on the vent panel.
Rotate the knob to the right (clockwise) to increase the temperature, to the left (counter-clockwise) to
decrease. Use this heat source as little as possible and in conjunction with the divider vent hole covers.

These units are illuminated by series of light tubes installed on the inside of the unit. The light tubes are
controlled by a switch located on the front of the unit under the digital temperature display, see diagram.

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Your unit uses a nitrogen or argon cylinder (not included) located remotely and connected to your unit by

an 8-foot long braided hose that has a metal quick disconnect fitting on the end. This hose exits the rear

of the unit at the bottom next to the power cords. The filter screen on rear must be cleaned every 2

months, more often if dusty or dirty. The filter screen must always be in place when unit is operating.

Operating Your Unit

Changing bottles

1. Pinch off the nitrogen clamp.

2. Loosen the thumbwheel.

3. Remove the empty bottle, replace with full bottle.

4. Follow steps 1-7 listed in “Setting Up Your Unit”.

Changing gas cylinder

1. Turn cylinder valve to the off position (clockwise) and disconnect the supply hose from the

regulator by depressing the small metal lever. Your system will remain pressurized.

2. Depress the tip of the quick-connect fitting on the regulator, relieving the pressure in the

regulator, so that you may loosen the hand nut. Replace the cylinder and attach the regulator,

hand tighten the regulator nut onto the new full cylinder and open the cylinder valve. A full

aluminum cylinder will read 1800 lbs., a steel cylinder will read 2200 lbs.

3. Depress the tip of the quick-connect fitting on the

regulator for two seconds to displace air from the regulator.

4. Reconnect the supply hose to the regulator.

Your system is now ready for use. There is no need to bleed the system, as the supply hose quick-connect

has a shut off valve which holds gas pressure to the wine bottles during the cylinder change out.

Cleaning Your Unit

When used correctly, your WineKeeper system prevents the oxidation process that causes wine to spoil.

Lack of proper maintenance will eliminate most of the benefits of your WineKeeper. Indications that your

system needs cleaning include wine with a cloudy look and /or an odd taste. We recommend that you

clean your system once a month or as needed.

CAUTION: Risk of Electric Shock !

This equipment may have two or more power supply cords. Unplug all cords

before moving or servicing this equipment.

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Standard Cleaning Process

1. Close off the nitrogen pinch clamps.

2. Loosen the stopper assemblies in each bottle to release gas pressure.

3. Pull the handle on each faucet (with a glass below) to drain wine from each faucet and tube.

Remove the wine bottles. Do not place these used bottles back on the unit after you have

completed the cleaning process, these wines should be hand poured.

4. Mix the Wine Line Cleaner (WLC) solution with water as per the instructions printed on the

container (additional cleaning supplies are available from WineKeeper).

5. Pour this mixture into clean empty wine bottles (3 - 4 ounces is sufficient).

6. Replace and seal the stopper assemblies in each bottle then open the pinch clamps.

7. Pour off a small amount of the liquid. Allow solution to remain in the wine tubes for 10 minutes.

Dispense the remaining solution through the system.

8. Rinse by running one full bottle of hot water through the system.

9. Mix ChlorTab Sanitizer solution per instructions and repeat steps 5, 6 & 7 allowing three

minutes of contact.

10. Rinse with hot water.

11. Remove the faucet assembly from the thru-wall.

12. Unscrew the bonnet from the black funnel shaped portion (faucet body) of the faucet assembly.

13. Remove the seat cup from the stem.

Clean the seat cup and the faucet body

in the sanitizer. Rinse with warm water.

(DO NOT USE SOAP!) Dry and

re-assemble the faucet assembly.

14. Use the supplied bottle-brush to scrub

inside the thru-wall and upper portion

of the wine tube. Use the smaller

bottle-brush to clean inside the stainless

steel siphon tube.

15. Re-install the faucet assembly onto the

thru-wall.

16. Rinse out the empty wine bottles and

fill completely with clean hot water.

Dispense 1 full bottle of water through

each faucet assembly. Drain all water

from the faucet assemblies and wine

tubes.

17. Your unit is now ready for use. Place only full bottles of wine on your WineKeeper, do not

reattach the bottles you removed for the cleaning process.

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Note: Never leave a stopper assembly outside of a bottle. Air will come in contact with the wine inside the

wine tube and faucet assembly, beginning the oxidation process and possibly exposing the system to

bacteria.

Cabinet Exterior

Wood Units: All WineKeeper wooden cabinets are finished with a durable catalyzed finish. These

cabinets can be cleaned with a soft cloth and small amount of warm soapy water. Avoid using excessive

amounts of water, as this may cause the finish to peel or flake over time. Do not use abrasive cleaners or

products containing harsh solvents.

Plastic and Metal Laminates including Stainless Steel: These products tend to resist most solvent-based

cleaners, so it is recommended that their use be limited. Warm soapy water is the recommended cleaning

method for these units. A number of specialty products designed to clean these types of materials are

readily available through kitchen and restaurant supply firms, but do not use abrasive cleaners.

Cabinet Interior / Glass

All WineKeeper interiors can be cleaned with warm soapy water. DO NOT USE any abrasive cleaners.

Stubborn stains may need to be cleaned with products similar to 409TM. These products MUST NOT

contain solvents, as this will seriously mar the interior surfaces! The glass on the unit can be cleaned with

any product similar to Windex

TM

. Silicone sprayed into each door track will assist door operation. Sliding

glass doors can be removed from the cabinet by first lifting the glass upwards, then pulling the bottom of

the glass towards you, and down. (Make sure that all glass doors are replaced in the correct track. Failure

to do so may result in a change of interior temperatures and refrigeration efficiency).

Troubleshooting

If you are experiencing problems with your WineKeeper, please read over the information included in this

manual before calling us at 855.511.5113.

Finding a Nitrogen Leak

Checking Supply Hose and Tubing

Visually check all tubes for cracks or holes.

Checking the Regulator (must be original WineKeeper regulator for safety and performance):

1. Disconnect the quick-connect fitting on the supply tube where it joins the regulator.

2. Turn on the cylinder. (Make a note of the pressure registered on the regulator gauge).

3. Turn off the cylinder.

4. Wait 20-30 minutes, if the pressure registered on the regulator has dropped, the problem is in the

regulator.

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5. Use soapy water to find the leak or return the regulator to WineKeeper for repair.

6. If leak is not in the regulator, or the regulator leak has been repaired, continue.

Checking the system (For this test, the WineKeeper should be connected to wine bottles with 2-3 ounces

of liquid for best results.)

1. Reconnect the supply line and open the cylinder valve.

2. Leave the valve open for 30 seconds to completely pressurize the system.

3. Close off the nitrogen pinch clamps. Stopper assemblies must be in the wine bottles and

tightened down at this time.

4. Turn off the cylinder valve and note the pressure on the regulator’s gauge.

5. Leave the unit undisturbed for 20 minutes.

6. If the pressure drops, your problem is in the supply line between the regulator and the pinch

clamps. If the pressure does not drop, continue to step #7. Check the supply tubes where they

pass through the cabinet for holes, cracks, or chafing.

7. While observing the cylinder contents on the regulator’s pressure gauge, open and close each

pinch clamp one at a time. Stop if you see the pressure gauge drop while the pinch clamp is open,

because you have found a problem. It could be that the stopper-assembly has not been tightened

into the bottle correctly, that the tube below the pinch clamp has a hole, or that the latex ring has

become excessively worn. Address each of these possibilities and repeat these steps if necessary. If

no leak is found, human error is suspected as the cause of the leak.

8. If this problem continues contact WineKeeper for additional help.

Note: If the stopper assembly appears to be leaking wine, tighten the stainless steel hose clamp that

connects the clear wine tube to the stainless steel tube right above the stopper assembly. Look for a leak

anywhere in the wine tube or the barb on the back of the thru-wall inside the cabinet. Remember that

your WineKeeper should be cleaned at least once a month.

Temperature Adjustment

Magnum units are equipped with a plexi-glass divider separating the white zone from the red zone. This
divider has adjustable vent hole covers that control the amount of cool air entering the red zone. (Six to

ten bottle Magnum units are also equipped with a heating element in the red wine side to help
maintain a warmer temperature in the red zone. On these units, the heating element adjustment
knob is located on the vent panel; turning this knob clockwise will increase the temperature in the
red zone, and vise-versa.) To adjust the temperature in the white wine zone, you will need to locate and

remove the large vent grill on the back of the unit to access the thermostat adjustment knob. The grey
thermostat knob is located on the top of the white cover box. Turning the knob on these units counter­clockwise will make the unit run colder; turning it clockwise will cause the unit to run warmer.

Adjusting this thermostat knob will affect the temperature in both zones. Once you have achieved
your desired temperature in the white side, then use the adjustable vent holes in the divider (and/or
heating element on 6-10 bottle units) to adjust the red side to your desired temperature. Allow a
minimum of 2 hours between temperature adjustments to allow the air temperature to stabilize.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I change a light tube?

Light tubes are held in place by two nylon clamps, and are connected using male/female plug connections

on each of the wires. First unplug the unit that you are working on (there maybe more than one electrical

cord on your unit). Carefully separate the blue male connector from the blue female connector on each

electrical wire. DO NOT PULL ON THE WIRE TO SEPARATE PLUGS. You may use pliers if

needed. Next, slide disconnected light tube to the left until it comes out of one the retaining clamps, then

slide the light tube to the right until it drops free. Reverse process to re- install.

2. Where can I find the light switch?

The light switch for these models is located on the metal temperature display plate mounted on the front

of your cabinet.

3. What temperature should my thermostat be set to?

WineKeeper has preset the white wine side to 44o - 45o F. The thermostat has an operational range of
approximately 45o - 62o F. Attempting to adjust the thermostat beyond the operational range will either
lock the refrigerator in the full on or full off position. A full on position will cause the unit to ice up.

4. Where do I adjust the thermostat on my Magnum unit?

The thermostat is located inside the refrigerator compartment at the back of the cabinet. Remove the four
Phillips screws on the 11 ¼" x 11 ¼" louvered vent grill. The thermostat is the white box marked Danfoss
with a knob on top. When viewed from above, a clockwise rotation will raise the air temperature, whereas
a counterclockwise rotation will lower the air temperature. A 1/2 rotation changes the air temperature
approximately 2-3o F.

Important note: If your unit is running at the proper temperature for an extended period of time and
suddenly or gradually strays from the optimal temperature, take note, this may be a sign of a more serious
problem. Such problems may include inadequate air flow across the rear coils, low refrigerant levels, or a
compressor failure.

5. How do I adjust the divider?

Plexiglas Magnum dividers can be repositioned to change the split between red and white wines. In most
cases, they can also be adjusted to allow more or less cold air into the red wine compartment. To
reposition the divider, gently knock the bottom of the divider loose about 3-4 inches from the silicone
sealant that holds it in place. Twist the rear of the divider away from the back wall and slide the divider to
its new location. Use a razor blade to scrape away the old silicone. Stand the divider upright and square it
to the rear wall. Next, apply small beads of silicone along the entire bottom edge of both sides of the
divider. Open the tear-drop shaped cover over the upper and lower holes in the divider to decrease the
temperature in the red wine compartment. Close the covers to increase the temperature in the red wine
compartment. If the temperature in the red wine compartment remains too cold, see instructions under
"heat pad adjustments".

6. How do I adjust the heat pad located in the red wine compartment of my Magnum unit?

6-10 bottle Magnums have a red wine compartment heating device to raise the temperature in the
compartment if needed. The control knob is located on the back of the unit for rear-venting refrigerators
and behind the covered face plate on front venting refrigerators. A full counterclockwise turn is off and a
clockwise rotation increases the amount of heat transferred into the red wine compartment. Only use this
device after both the tear-dropped shaped Plexiglas cover plates have been fully closed in the divider wall

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between the red and white wine compartments! Use a maximum of 1/4 turn adjustment, while waiting a
minimum of two hours between adjustments.

7. Where do I find the filter screen, and how do I clean it?

The Magnum refrigerator air intake filter screen is located on the back of the cabinet on all rear-venting
units. Front venting units do not use a filter screen. Once the filter screen is removed from its retaining
clips, it can be cleaned in any conventional dishwasher. Dry the filter before re-installing.

8. Why is my unit having a cooling problem?

Most Magnum cooling problems on new units are caused by inadequate air ventilation or improper
thermostat settings. Unless specified to the contrary by the purchaser, WineKeeper sets all Magnum
refrigeration units to run at approximately 42o - 45o Fahrenheit. If you need to change this slightly, see:
"Thermostat Adjustments for Magnums" on the technical information page. For adjustment of more then 5-
10o degrees, contact WineKeeper. Adequate vented air space for a Magnum is: 3-6" behind, 12" above
and 1-2" each side, minimum. If a new unit is not cooling correctly, follow these instructions before
adjusting the thermostat. (A new unit can take up to six hours to cool down to its operating temperature.)
While running, note the temperature on the digital display, then move the Magnum so as to increase air
ventilation dramatically. Let the unit run for one hour. If the temperature has dropped, the problem is
ventilation. If the temperature does no drop, verify that both fans on the refrigerator are operating (one
fan blows air into the bottle compartment out the top of the white grate, the other fan blows air out the
top vent at the rear of the Magnum. If these are both operating, call WineKeeper for further help. On
older units, follow the steps above, as well as removing the filter screen on the rear of the unit, this screen
may be dirty, and may need to be cleaned. If these steps do not work, unplug the unit for two hours, then
reconnect and note results. If this fails to fix the problem, call WineKeeper for further instructions.

9. What kind of regular maintenance should I perform on my unit?

Visually inspect the latex rings on each stopper assembly for wear or splits. Replace as needed. Inspect all

O-rings on the inlet and outlet sides of the regulator and any quick disconnect fittings on your unit.

Replace when showing signs of wear or cracking (silicone lubricant or mineral oil applied to these O-rings

will increase their longevity). Clean all parts that come in contact with the wine every 4 weeks (see

cleaning instructions). Replace the white pinch clamps as needed.

10. How do I replace my stopper assembly?

You must first be sure to pinch off the nitrogen pinch clamp and release pressure from the wine bottle,

then remove the complete assembly from the cabinet by loosening the hose clamp using either a slotted

screw driver or a 1⁄4" socket or nut driver. Pull the wine tube (with the hose clamp still connected) off of

the stainless steel siphon tube that passes through the stopper assembly. Pull off the 1⁄4" O.D. nitrogen

supply line from the brass fitting on the rear of the stopper assembly. (Before replacing this tube on the

brass fitting later, you may need to cut off approximately 3/8" so that you will have a tight connection).

Now that you have completely removed the stopper assembly from the cabinet, grab the stainless tube at

the bottom where it is bent, and pull it out of the stopper assembly. Insert the stainless tube into the new

stopper assembly, use a little water to lubricate the first 3"- 4". Simply reverse above steps to re-install.

11. Which gas is better for my WineKeeper unit, nitrogen or argon?

Nitrogen, which comprises approximately 80% of the air we breathe, is inert (it has no odor, taste or

color, and displaces oxygen). Argon has similar properties, but is slightly heavier than air and tends to

form a blanket between the surface of the wine and any air trapped in the bottle. Neither gas has any

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special properties, such as neutralizing or encapsulating oxygen. Oxygen is what causes wine to oxidize.

While argon has a slight advantage, its benefits are minimal due to its higher expense and lower

availability. The only time argon out-performs nitrogen is when sparging an opened and poured bottle of

fresh wine. Sparging is introducing a gas into a bottle to force out as much air as possible before re-corking

it. Using argon in a properly used and maintained WineKeeper may slightly increase the wines useful life

on the machine.

12. How long will wine last on my WineKeeperTM unit?

The length of time wine will remain fresh on your WineKeeper will vary based on a number of factors:

temperature, wine age and wine type, and cleanliness of your machine. This makes it impossible to give a

firm length of time. As a guideline you should expect wines to last approximately one to three weeks.

Some wines, such as ports and sauternes, can remain sound for many weeks.

13. Why does my wine appear to be cloudy or flakey?

Cloudy or flakey wine may be a symptom of a dirty system and poor maintenance. Incorrect use of the

system may also contribute to this condition. See "Operating and Cleaning Instructions".

14. Why does my wine taste or smell bad?

If your WineKeeper unit has been working correctly for some time, but now you are noticing a change in

the wine, the problem is most likely due to poor maintenance and / or improper use. See: “Cleaning Your

WineKeeper” and “Set up Instructions.”

15. Why is my wine not pouring from one or more of my faucets?

If all of the faucets / stoppers appear to be not working at all, look at these problem areas:

• Nitrogen cylinder out of gas

• Nitrogen supply tube not connected to the regulator

• Nitrogen supply tube kinked or pinched

• All white plastic nitrogen pinch clamps are closed

• Stopper assemblies not tightened into neck of each bottle

• Nitrogen cylinder not opened

• Regulator failure

If one or two faucets/stoppers don't work, look at these problem areas:

• Stopper assemblies not tightened into neck of the wine bottle

• White plastic nitrogen pinch clamp closed

• Debris in bottom of stainless steel wine pick-up tube

• Kink or hole in supply line to stopper assembly

16. Why is wine dripping from my faucet?
Almost all cases of wine dripping from the faucet are caused from lack of cleaning, debris in the faucet, or
the bonnet is cross-threaded and not screwed down completely. Disassemble the faucet and clean using
warm water or Wine Line Cleaner. Check to make sure that the seat cup has no small cuts or tears.
Reassemble the faucet, making sure that the bonnet is not cross-threaded.

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Technical Information

WineKeeper System Diagram

Electrical

Wiring

Diagram

531 Mercantile Drive, Cotati, CA 94931 1.855.511.5113 www.winekeeper.com