1.7 Cu. Ft. ARES Cool Plus Series Freestanding Countertop Solid Door Laboratory Freezer, Auto Defrost

Description

ARS-HC-UCFS-0120A – Product Highlights

• ARES Cool proprietary cold storage line: Distributed exclusively by ARES Scientific with full warranty support across the laboratory freezer category.
• Automatic defrost operation uses an integrated evaporator heater to remove frost and ice without manual intervention, reducing routine maintenance overhead in high-throughput laboratories and pharmacies.
• Microprocessor temperature controller manages an average cycle temperature range of -15°C to -25°C with greater precision than mechanical thermostats, supporting routine biomedical sample storage workflows.
• Audible and visual temperature alarms via the controller provide immediate notification of excursions outside the configured range, supporting timely intervention for clinical and research staff.
• Two adjustable shelves with guard rail prevent items from being pushed against the back wall, maintaining airflow paths critical for temperature uniformity in the 1.7 cubic foot cabinet.
• HFC-free R600a hydrocarbon refrigerant supports laboratory sustainability goals and reduces global warming potential versus older HFC formulations.
• ENERGY STAR certified with NEMA 5-15 plug conforming to UL 471 — qualifies for energy efficiency procurement standards used by hospital and university capital programs.
• Right-hinged solid swing door with keyed door lock supports ergonomic right-side installations and protects sample inventory in shared lab environments.
• Probe access port (3/4-inch rear wall) accommodates third-party data loggers, NIST-traceable thermometers, or facility monitoring system probes for compliance documentation.
• Two-year parts and labor warranty plus five-year compressor warranty back the unit with institutional-grade reliability terms; 4-inch clearance on back and sides is required for proper ventilation.

Frequently Asked Questions – ARS-HC-UCFS-0120A

What is the ARS-HC-UCFS-0120A and how does it differ from the manual defrost UCFS-0120?

The UCFS-0120A is the auto defrost version of the 1.7 cu. ft. ARES Cool Plus Series countertop freezer. The “A” designation indicates an integrated electric heater on the evaporator that automatically removes frost and ice, eliminating the periodic manual defrost required on the standard UCFS-0120 — but the heater can briefly raise interior temperatures during defrost cycles, which matters for temperature-sensitive contents.

What applications suit auto defrost laboratory freezers like the UCFS-0120A?

Auto defrost freezers fit high-traffic frozen storage where reducing operator maintenance burden is more important than the tightest possible temperature stability — examples include general reagent inventory, frozen consumables, and routine pharmacy storage of items not sensitive to brief warming events. For enzymes or other materials where defrost-cycle warming can compromise sample integrity, the manual defrost UCFS-0120 is the safer choice.

How much can the temperature rise during an auto defrost cycle?

The data sheet confirms auto defrost freezers incorporate an electric heater that “can raise the temperatures within the freezer” during defrost — the exact magnitude depends on ambient conditions, load level, and door-open patterns. Facilities monitoring temperature-sensitive contents should profile defrost-cycle excursions with a data logger before committing critical samples to auto defrost storage.

Does the UCFS-0120A need a dedicated circuit?

The unit draws 1 amp on standard 115 VAC single-phase power through a NEMA 5-15 plug, so a dedicated circuit is not required from a load perspective; however, shared circuits with high-current equipment or other compressors should be avoided to prevent voltage sag and nuisance trips. The freestanding chassis still needs 4 inches of clearance on back and sides for ventilation.

Is the UCFS-0120A compliant with CDC vaccine storage guidelines?

The unit is a general-purpose laboratory freezer; frozen vaccines that require -50°C to -15°C storage (per CDC guidance) should be matched to purpose-built vaccine freezers with validated stability and continuous monitoring, ideally certified to NSF/ANSI 456. Review our vaccine refrigerator and freezer selection guide before committing vaccine inventory to general-purpose units.

Can this freezer be installed flush against a wall or in cabinetry?

No — the UCFS-0120A is a freestanding (UCFS) configuration that exhausts heat through rear and side vents and requires 4 inches of clearance around the back and both sides for proper ventilation. Flush installation in enclosed cabinetry voids the warranty and causes overheating; built-in front-breathing models exist in the broader undercounter category for that use case.