Comparison Ecotronic C11-LXPM vs HotFrost 350ANET

The type of cooling provided in the design of the device with the possibility of supplying cold water (see above).

— Compressor. Such cooling systems are similar in principle to refrigerators: they use a closed circuit with a refrigerant (usually freon) and a compressor to circulate the refrigerant. The circuit consists of an evaporator, a radiator and connecting pipes. This system works as follows: freon, evaporating, takes heat from the walls of the evaporator and the water in contact with them, cooling it; then it enters the radiator, condenses and gives off excess heat, which is quickly dissipated in the surrounding air due to the special design of the radiator. Compressor systems are somewhat more complex and expensive than electronic ( thermoelectric) systems. Intricate repairs with refrigerant replacement may be required if the circuit is damaged. On the other hand, such cooling has high efficiency and productivity; and it is practically independent of the ambient temperature: in hot weather, energy consumption may increase slightly, but the outlet water temperature will remain unchanged. Note that the compressor allows you to add a real refrigerator to the device (see "Locker").

— Thermoelectric (Peltier). In this case, electronic cooling systems are built on Peltier elements — a special kind of converters that look like plates. When current is passed through such a converter,...one side of the plate is cooled, and the other side is heated. Usually, water does not directly contact such a converter; cooling is carried out due to the flow of cold air created by a fan. Compared to compressor refrigerators, electronic systems are much simpler, more reliable, smaller and cheaper. On the other hand, with higher power consumption, they have lower performance. And the efficiency of Peltier elements is not very high — in particular, they cool water not to a certain temperature, but to a certain number of degrees relative to the ambient temperature (usually 10 – 15 °C). It makes it difficult to get cold water in hot weather.

The ability to regulate the temperature of the water produced by the device. Such an adjustment can be provided for both hot and cold water (of course, everything also depends on what kind of water the cooler is capable of supplying).

This function is indicated only if the temperature adjustment is available to the average user and can be carried out right in the process of using the device. The convenience of this function is obvious: it allows you to adjust the water temperature to the specifics of a particular situation. For example, for some varieties of tea, a lower temperature is desirable than that normally provided by the cooler — about 80 °C; water that is too cold may be uncomfortable to drink and may require a slight increase in temperature.

In addition, there are models where temperature adjustment is carried out as part of the general maintenance of the device, and the switch on the rear panel or in another similar place is responsible for it. However, such devices are not included in this category; temperature adjustment is not indicated for them.

The presence of a display on the body of the device allows you to make settings more clearly and more comfortably and see the result on the screen, rather than relying on possible indicators. The screen displays information about the temperature of cooling and/or heating water, notifications in case of system errors, the need for scheduled maintenance, and more — a specific list of functions already depends on the model of the cooler or purifier. The display diagonal of an average cooler/purifier is 1-2”. The screen can be either monochrome or colour.

The volume of the cold water tank provided in the device.

In this case, it means a tank for water specially cooled by the device (see "Water supply"). The volume of the tank is the maximum amount of cold water that the cooler can dispense in one run, without interruption or with minimal interruptions. When this amount is exhausted, you will have to wait until the water in the tank cools down again to a sufficient degree; the waiting time depends on the cooling capacity (see below). At the same time, the volume of cold water tanks in modern devices is usually several litres, and it is extremely rare to drain this entire volume; usually, small portions of 200-300 mL are required. Therefore, this tank plays the role of a buffer — when the user drains the next portion of water, water from a bottle or a water mains is added to the tank; such an admixture does not particularly affect the temperature in the tank, however, for an additional guarantee, the cooling system immediately turns on. Thus, if consumption does not exceed productivity.

The volume of the hot water tank provided in the device.

This parameter describes the maximum amount of hot water that the cooler can produce in one run, without interruption or with minimal interruptions. When this amount is exhausted, you will have to wait until the water in the tank heats up again to a sufficient degree; the waiting time depends on the heating capacity (see below). At the same time, the volume of hot water tanks in modern devices is usually several litres, and it is extremely rare to drain this volume entirely — usually, small portions of 200-300 mL are required. Therefore, this tank plays the role of a buffer — when the user drains the next portion of water, water from a bottle or a water mains is added to the tank; such an admixture does not particularly affect the temperature in the tank, however, for an additional guarantee, the heating system immediately turns on. Thus, if the consumption does not exceed the heating capacity, the temperature of the contents remains practically unchanged.

The performance of the cooling system installed in the device, in other words, is the amount of water that can be cooled per hour. In coolers, it is usually indicated for water at room temperature — about 20 °C, in models with a connection to the water mains (see "Water loading") — for 15 °C (this is the average temperature of cold water). Accordingly, when deviating from these indicators, the actual performance may be slightly more or less (however, such deviations must be very significant for this to become noticeable).

This parameter determines two main points. First of all, it characterizes the maximum flow of cold water that the device can handle and the recommended breaks between use. For example, if a user needs to collect 2 standard 200-gram cups and the cooler specifications state a cooling capacity of 2 L/h, this means that the cooler will cool 400 g (0.4 L) of water that has entered the tank, for 0,4/2 = 0.2 h, that is about 12 minutes. However, the need for such calculations arises mainly with high water consumption, which is very close to the claimed performance.

Also, knowing the cooling rate and the volume of the cold water tank (see above), you can determine how long it will take to cool the tank filled with water at room temperature. Such situations arise during the first use of the device, as well as when draining the entire volume of the reservoir. So, if in the above example, the volume of the tank is 3 litres, then 3/2 = 1.5 hours...will be spent on cooling it. However, you can use water earlier, if a slightly elevated temperature is not critical.

The performance of the heating system installed in the device, in other words, is the amount of water that can be heated per hour. In coolers, it is usually indicated for water at room temperature — about 20 °C, in models with a connection to the water mains (see "Water loading") — for 15 °C (this is the average temperature of cold water). Accordingly, when deviating from these indicators, the actual performance may be slightly more or less (however, such deviations must be very significant for this to become noticeable).

This parameter determines two main points. First of all, it characterizes the maximum consumption of hot water that the device can handle and the recommended breaks between use. For example, if a user needs to fill 2 tea cups with a volume of 300 mL each, and the cooler specifications state a heating capacity of 3 L/h, this means that 600 g (0.6 L) of water that has entered the tank instead of poured out, the cooler will heat in 0.6/3 = 0.2 h, that is, about 12 minutes. However, the need for such calculations arises mainly with high water consumption, which is very close to the claimed performance.

Also, knowing the heating rate and the volume of the cold water tank (see above), you can determine how long it will take to heat the tank filled with water at room temperature (for example, if the cooler is started for the first time, or if the tank was completely drained before). So, if in the above example, the volume of the tank is 1 li...tre, then 1/3 hour will be spent on heating it, that is, about 20 minutes. However, you can use water earlier if maximum heating is not critical.

It is the power consumed by the device in water heating mode. Usually, it is the operating power of the heating element.

This parameter is directly related to the heating performance (see above): a high heating rate inevitably requires appropriate power. Also, the power consumption of the device depends on this parameter. However, it is worth noting that after the end of heating, the device switches to the temperature maintenance mode and requires much less energy. In other words, the heater consumes the specified power not constantly but occasionally, as needed.

It is also worth mentioning that in models that work only for heating, this indicator also describes the maximum power consumption of the entire device. And, if there are two modes (heating and cooling), the total maximum power consumption corresponds to the sum of the powers of both modes.

It is the power consumed by the device in water cooling mode. In other words, this is the power required for the operation of all elements of the cooling system — a compressor or a converter with a fan (depending on the type of cooling, see above).

This parameter is directly related to the cooling performance (see above): a high cooling rate inevitably requires appropriate power. However, with the same power, compressor systems are more performant than electronic ones. Only models with coolers of the same type can be compared in terms of power.

Also note that the cooling system does not consume this power constantly, but only when necessary. So, at room temperature of the water in the "cold" tank, it turns on at full capacity, and when the desired temperature is reached, it switches to its maintenance mode, which requires much less energy.

In cooling-only models, this figure describes the maximum power consumption of the entire device. And, if there are two modes (heating and cooling), the total maximum power consumption corresponds to the sum of the powers of both modes.