FAQ: Buying a Used ULT Freezer

What is my freezer's temperature range?

While the Wikipedia page for ULT freezers defines the ultra-low temperature range as being from -40°C to -86°C, the range of many freezers is slightly narrower at -50°C to -86°C. If you need to keep samples at -40°C or warmer, then you may be better off with a standard lab freezer. Regular lab freezers typically cool between -20°C and -40°C.

What is my freezer's capacity?

If you can't find any documentation for your freezer online, there's a simple way to calculate your freezer's approximate capacity. First, measure the height, width, and depth of the freezer's chamber. Then take those values and plug them into an online cubic feet calculator. Once you have that value, you can convert it into liters if you so desire. Armed with this information, you could further approximate how many racks and boxes your freezer can hold.

What data logging/exporting features do I need?

This is entirely dependent on what you feel best suits your application. A good rule of thumb is that the more critical your samples are, the more data you should have. So if your samples are highly critical, opt for a freezer with onboard temperature recording and exporting as a minimum.

What is the clearance between the shelves?

Most, if not all, ULT freezers have adjustable shelves. Typically they can be moved in increments of one half inch. Most of our ULT freezers include three shelves configured to have 9.5 inches of clearance between them.

How will my freezer from New Life Scientific be shipped?

Before loading the freezer to a pallet, we fit the pallet with a sheet of OSB (Oriented Strand Board), a type of manufactured wood that is suited for bearing heavy loads. We then cut support beams that the freezer's underside bracing will set on. These supports take the bulk of the freezer's weight off its wheels and distributes it across the frame of the freezer, which prevents the wheels from being broken.

Once the freezer is loaded onto the pallet, we wrap it to the corners of the pallet and add the four foot tall crate walls. We then wrap the freezer to these walls as well, which prevents it from shaking inside the crate.

Note: A forklift is required to safely unmount a freezer from a pallet. Make sure your facility has one on hand.

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