Freezer and Ice Machines

You had also better plan on a generator to keep this equipment working when the power goes off. There was an island wide power outage just his past weekend. Frequent and long duration power outages for no apparent reason are common throughout the USVI.

You also should consider putting in an isloation transformer to protect your equipment from surges and brown outs when the power is on.

Jim

Klacah - What do you consider LARGE where a freezer is concerned? The biggest freezer I have at my restaurant is 88"LX28"HX32"D and I use it primarily to store ice which I buy wholesale delivered at 1.25/10lb bag after getting rid of my LARGE ice machine a couple of years ago. The ice machine put out a lot of heat and service on it was awful and expensive.

A generator is nice to have but I have to disagree with Jim Dandy when he says that power outages are commonly frequent and long. That used to be the case many years ago but although we do sometimes have power outages, they rarely last more than a couple of hours. I have three freezers (the LARGE one, a stand-up and a chest) plus two refrigerator/freezers and a large beer cooler, all of which are plugged into surge protectors and in 10 years in this business I haven't yet (touch wood) had a problem with the brownouts and surges affecting the equipment, although several less sturdy appliances have suffered. In case of any prolonged outage (as in major hurricane) I have a portable generator which will keep the freezers and refrigerators going. For a couple of hours I don't worry.

Insofar as your question about obtaining freezers here, it again depends on what you consider LARGE! Cost-U-Less and Price Smart regularly carry such things but sometimes not (!) NACCO Restaurant Supply can order pretty much anything you need for a price...

Hope this has helped and I'm sure others will put in their two or three cents!

I'm on St Croix and we order Traulsens and parts from Tropic Supply out of Puerto Rico. So far so good.

Linda

Thanks for the responses and the freezer that I need to get has to be at least 74 cubic feet and the ice maker I am thinking needs to be making about 250 to 300 pounds of ice a day. As far as the generator is concerned, does anyone know where I can obtain a portable generator? I am going to have to have water lines and a drain installed in my space, any clue on how long of a process it would be to have these installed?

Its been a while since I looked for a generator... read last big hurricane 1995. LOL. 🙂 Cost-u-less comes to mind.

Any other suggestions?

--Islander

The fairly new Home Depot on STT???

Thanks for the info...I'll look it up...Be sure to come visit my business..Maui Wowi Fresh Hawaian Blends in the International Plaza downtown Charlotte Amalie starting Oct. 1

The main troubles with bar/restaurant ice makers here are the heat- very inefficient at 90 degrees and the water supply- you need good filtration and UV light filter or you are in for major troubles with damaging your machines.