Self-contained or remote
The first choice in this range is where the refrigeration machinery lives. A self-contained cabinet carries its compressor and condenser on board, so it only needs a power point. A remote cabinet is cooled by a condensing unit installed somewhere else, such as a plant room, a roof or an outside wall, and joined to it by refrigeration pipework. Of the 41 models here, 15 are remote versions: four Boronia, five Cameo, four glass chillers and two slimline glass chillers.
Going remote takes the heat and compressor noise out of the bar, and it frees up width. A Boronia remote is about 220 mm narrower than the self-contained model of the same capacity, a Cameo remote is 205 mm narrower, and the remote glass chillers save 250 to 400 mm. The trade-off is a bigger install, because a licensed technician has to place the condensing unit and run the pipework.
The back bar lines
Boronia and Cameo
Boronia is the low line, 845 mm tall self-contained or 875 mm remote, in 180, 360, 560 and 760 L sizes. Cameo stands taller at 1,050 mm, or 1,080 mm as a remote, and holds 200, 420, 640 or 870 L, with a fifth remote size, the C5R, reaching 1,100 L across 2,852 mm. Cameo Mini brings the Cameo idea down to 850 mm high in 312, 485 and 658 L sizes. All of them are 650 mm deep.
Glass chillers
Twelve models chill glassware in baskets, three or six at a time. The standard and remote versions stand 845 to 875 mm tall, while the four slimline models are only 780 mm high for a lower bench.
Bottle coolers and wine cabinets
The BC1, BC2 and BC3 bottle coolers take 112, 182 and 278 bottles of 330 ml and are just 530 mm deep, the shallowest cabinets in the category. For wine, the upright BC95W and BC200W hold 70 and 140 bottles of 750 ml and stand 1,770 mm tall.
M Series multidecks
Williams files its M Series N under specialised refrigeration, and we list it here with the other drinks cabinets. The M70, M100, M125 and M150 run from 320 L at 710 mm wide to 740 L at 1,510 mm, all 2,005 mm tall and 795 mm deep, and each has a night blind to pull down after close and hold the cold in.
Measuring up behind the bar
- Clear height. Under-counter models here run from 780 mm to 1,080 mm tall. Measure under the bar top at the lowest point, not the middle.
- Length of run. The four-section Boronia is 2,775 mm long and the C5R is 2,852 mm. A long single cabinet usually runs more efficiently than two short ones, if the bar is straight enough to take it.
- Airflow. A self-contained cabinet built tightly into joinery has nowhere to dump its heat. Leave the vents clear, or choose a remote model.
Supply, install and ongoing care
Sam delivers the cabinet, slides it into place, levels it and checks the vents are clear, then watches it reach temperature before he leaves. For remote models he quotes the whole job, including where the condensing unit goes and the pipework to reach it, and as an ARCtick licensed technician he handles the refrigerant side himself. If you are replacing an old bar fridge, ask Sam about removing it. Self-contained models can also be sent by courier if you have your own fitter.
Bar fridges collect dust and lint fast, and a clogged condenser is one of the most common reasons a back bar cabinet starts running warm. Sam services and repairs Williams back bar equipment for a $75 + GST call-out and $180 + GST an hour plus parts, with a fixed repair price agreed first. See fridge repairs across Perth, regular servicing plans and hospitality refrigeration, or browse the full Williams range.
