Product Description

Portable Tabletop Vending Machine. Dispense Refreshing cold drinks. Front door for easy loading. 120v, 60Hz, 80W

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #244846 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Color: Red/White
• Brand: Nostalgia
• Model: NVM-550
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 20.00" h x 14.00" w x 14.00" l,

Features

• Dispense just like the big machines
• Tabletop vending machines bring fun to the party
• Machine has a refrigeration system and holds up to 12 cans of soda
• Push-Button Dispenser
• Original Classic 50's Design

Customer Reviews

Nostalgic soda vending machine
This nostalgic soda vending machine uses a Peltier junction for its cooling; it does NOT use a conventional refrigeration system, with a compressor and pump. There is NO temperature adjustment option. The cooling is adequate, but if you like your sodas just above freezing, this cooler is not for you. The coldest interior temperature my unit can achieve in a 72F ambient room is 36F. Adequate ventilation at the rear of the unit is a MUST.

The 60-watt power draw claim in the manual is wishful thinking; my digital wattmeter says it's more like 73 watts.

The unit uses a 120 mm (5 inch) 12-volt fan directly over the heat sink with the Peltier junction device. This fan is critical to the proper operation of the Peltier junction. I had the fan on my unit fail after about 9 months (well past the underwhelming 90 day warranty). The fan makes little noise, so when it failed I didn't notice this until I dispensed a soda and found it quite WARM. The Peltier junction heat sink (it's quite substantial) and power supply circuit board providing 12 V DC to the Peltier junction were almost too hot to touch. Fortunately, replacing the fan wasn't difficult (I found a replacement from Cyberguys.com, costing $12), and once the circuit board and Peltier junction cooled down, and with the new fan, everything seemed to be okay again.

The dispensing system uses a mechanical push stop linkage that holds the soda can in place until dispensed; it's a simple system that works well. Restocking the vending compartment is also simple- just open the door, and you have easy access.

This unit has been a nice addition to my office, and it's certainly convenient to be able to dispense a nice cool (but not ice cold) can of soda when desired. But had I not been an electrical engineer able to replace the fan when it died, this unit probably would not have been cost effective to send back to the manufacturer for a non-warranty repair.

Noisy, poorly made
I got this machine because I liked the styling and because of the other review, which stated it was quiet and serviceable. I don't know what machine that other guy was looking at, but the machine I got was noisy, with the fan making grinding and growling noises. There are no accessable screws or any way to open the machine to attempt to fix it. Also, it clearly says it draws 80w. The cooling is inefficient and heat exchange is limited to a metal plate in the back of the machine. Buy the other brand.

Its not as cool as I would like
Basically I got this unit as a present and I have it at work. It looks great and while the fan is very audible when it is running, if it is under a table or out of the way its not too bad. As others have mentioned this is a thermoelectric cooler using a Peltier device (same thing that is used in those plug in ice chests). I can't really recommend this device for four reasons.

1) The beverages are "cool" but not "cold". If it said "Cooled drinks" on the top perhaps that would be overlookable.

2) In a humid environment water can condense into the bottom and drip out the front.

3) There is NO WAY to open it up without damaging the unit so you can't really adjust its temperature or service it.

4) The drinks are always shaken when they are dropped via the back to the bottom, so if you forget, select a soda, take it out an open it, it will ALWAYS fizz out the top and make a mess.

Another person in the office bought one when they saw mine and theirs keeps their drinks cooler than mine does so there is some variation between units. Any of the small six pack thermo electric coolers would seem to be better than this machine at keeping drinks cold.

That being said, if you don't care how cold your drinks are and you want to keep a 12 pack nearby, this does that well.