Single Faucet Kegerator Beer Dispensers
Dual Faucet Two Tap Kegerators
Triple Faucet Three Tap Kegerators
Undercounter Built-In Kegerators
Outdoor Kegerator Beer Dispensers
Commercial Kegerators
Mini Kegerators
Cold Brew & Nitro Coffee Dispenser Kegerators
Carbonated Water Kegerators
Home Brew Kegerators
15" Kegerators
Kombucha Equipment
Guinness® Dispensing Kegerators
Vending Kegerators
Wine Kegerators
Kegerator Cabinets
Kegerator Covers and Accessories
Kegerators
Kegerator Conversion Kits
Kegs & Keg Accessories
Beer Faucets
Beer Shanks
Draft Beer Towers
Keg Taps Couplers
Regulators & Gas Equipment
Beer & Gas Line Hose
Co2 and Nitrogen Air Tanks
Beer Line Cleaning Equipment
Drip Trays
System Fittings
Jockey Boxes
Keg Beer Party Pumps
Glassware & Accessories
Guinness® Dispensing Equipment
Remote Glycol Systems
Wine Cooler Refrigerators
Wine Cellar Cabinets
Wine Racks
Cooling Units
Wine Dispensing Systems
Wine Glasses
Wine Accessories
Howard Miller Wine & Spirits Furniture
Wine Making
Nitro Hot Draft System
Ready to Drink Bag-in-a-Box Coffee Dispensing Equipment
Nitrogen Infusers
Nitrogen Tanks & Generators
Nitrogen Beer Regulators
Nitro Cold Brew Coffee Kegs
Cold Brewed Coffee Tools
Espresso Machines
Cleaning Equipment
Outdoor Appliances
ADA Appliances
Panel Ready Appliances
Commercial Grade Appliances
Beverage Centers
Refrigerators
Drawer Refrigerators
Ice Makers
Water Dispensers & Accessories
Freezers
Home Brew Equipment Kits
Fermentation Equipment
Boiling and Mashing Equipment
Home Brew Beer Kegs
Home Brew Kegerator Conversion Kits
Brewing Tools
Home Brew Ingredients
Cleaning Chemicals
Test Equipment
Home Brew Beer Bottles and Bottling Equipment
Brewery Fittings
Draft Beer Equipment
Homebrewing Equipment
Wine Equipment
Luxury Appliances and Refrigeration
Coffee Equipment
Home Bar & Barware
Kombucha
The Beverage Blog
Frequently Asked Beer Questions
Shop by Brand
Shop by Category
Temperature Fluctuation : Understanding Air Temperature Vs. Liquid Temperature
When monitoring the temperature fluctuation in your refrigerator, it is important to understand the difference between air temperature and liquid temperature. Liquid temperature fluctuates a lot slower, and therefore a lot less than air temperature. You may notice that the temperature in your refrigerator goes up and down but you can rest assured that the liquid in the refrigerator is much more stable.
The Thermostat
A refrigerator thermostat is usually connected to a sensor inside the unit that monitors the air temperature and turns the compressor on and off accordingly.
The Compressor
When the air temperature rises a certain amount above the set point, the compressor turns on, and when the temperature drops to a certain point, the compressor turns off. The number of degrees above and below the set point is called the differential, usually represented as a +/- number.
The Cooling Cycle
Refrigerators with smaller temperature differentials run more often but for a shorter duration each time. Refrigerators with larger differentials run less often, but each cycle is longer. The liquid temperature usually settles in the middle of the air temperature range.
The Result
If you have a differential of +/- 5 degrees and your refrigerator is set to 55, the compressor will turn on at 60 degrees and off at 50 degrees, for an overall fluctuation of 10 degrees. Because liquids do not warm up or cool off as quickly as air, the temperature of the liquid in your refrigerator should only change by less than 1/2 of 1 degree during that fluctuation.
Temperature Fluctuation
View the chart above to compare how ambient air, internal air and liquid temperatures varied in a wine refrigerator set to 55 degrees over the course of two days. The red line represents the ambient temperature outside the unit, the yellow line represents the air temperature inside the unit and the green line represents the liquid temperature in the bottles. As you can see, the liquid temperature barely changed despite the constant change of the conditions around it.