An ultra-low temperature freezer is the least glamorous and most critical instrument in the lab: when the −86 °C box holding years of samples fails, everything else stops. New ULT freezers run five figures with real lead times — which is why tested surplus units are one of the smartest buys in lab equipment.
We currently have nine upright ULT freezers in stock across six models — Revco, New Brunswick (Eppendorf), So-Low, and Panasonic/Sanyo — from 12.7 to 25.7 cubic feet, in 115/120 V and 230 V configurations, tested and working, from $2,899.99. We also stock replacement parts for VWR Symphony DW-86L828A freezers.
Every Freezer We Stock
| Model | Temp | Capacity | Power | Notes | Stock | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revco ULT1786-9-A35 | −86 °C | 17 cu ft | 115 V | lab cold-storage workhorse | 1 | $2,899.99 |
| New Brunswick Innova U360-86 | −86 °C | 12.7 cu ft | 120 V | compact upright | 1 | $2,999.99 |
| New Brunswick Innova U725-86 | −86 °C | 25.6 cu ft | 230 V | large capacity · 3 available | 3 | $3,299.99 |
| So-Low U85-18 | −85 °C | 18 cu ft | 115 V | tested | 1 | $3,999.99 |
| Panasonic/Sanyo MDF-U76VC-PA VIP Plus | −86 °C | 25.7 cu ft | — | vacuum-insulated VIP Plus cabinet | 1 | $4,299.99 |
| So-Low U85-22 | −85 °C | 22 cu ft | — | CO₂ backup system · tested · 2 available | 2 | $4,699.99 |
Stock moves — the product pages show live availability.
How to Choose
- Most capacity per dollar: the three Innova U725-86 units — 25.6 cu ft (roughly 500 two-inch boxes) at $3,299.99, if your facility has 230 V available.
- Failure protection built in: the So-Low U85-22 with CO₂ backup — the backup system holds the cabinet cold through a compressor failure or power event, which is exactly the insurance irreplaceable samples deserve.
- Tightest footprint: the Innova U360-86 at 12.7 cu ft on standard 120 V.
- Premium insulation: the Panasonic VIP Plus — vacuum-insulated panels give big interior volume without the exterior bulk.
- Matched pair or spare: two U85-22s and three U725-86s mean you can run duplicates — the standard practice for splitting critical sample sets across cabinets.
VWR Symphony DW-86L828A Parts
Already running a VWR Symphony DW-86L828A? We stock tested pull parts that can bring a dead cabinet back for a fraction of replacement cost: the main control box assembly ($899.99), the display board assembly 0074091318 ($179.99), and the dual tubeaxial fan assembly ($249.99).
How a −86 °C Cascade System Works
Every freezer in the table above reaches −86 °C the same way: two refrigeration circuits in series — a cascade. The first stage is a conventional compressor loop that pulls its evaporator down to roughly −30 to −40 °C. That evaporator doubles as the condenser for the second stage, a separate loop running a low-boiling-point refrigerant blend that cannot condense at room temperature. Condensed by the first stage instead, it evaporates inside the cabinet walls at −86 °C and below.
The practical consequence: two compressors, either of which can end the freezer’s service life. Second-stage compressors run hotter and fail first in most cabinets. On any used ULT — ours or anyone’s — compressor condition is most of the purchase decision.
Most cabinets in this inventory carry a port for a CO₂ or LN₂ backup system. The backup holds the cabinet near −70 °C from bottled gas if the mechanical system stops; it protects the samples, not the freezer.
What Fails on a Used ULT — and What to Verify
The checks that matter on any secondhand ultra-low unit, and the ones our bench check covers before a freezer ships:
- Pull-down to setpoint from ambient. A healthy cascade reaches −80 °C empty in a matter of hours. A unit that stalls in the −60s has a weak second stage or a refrigerant leak.
- Compressor amp draw on both stages against nameplate, and start behavior — hard starting predicts relay and winding problems.
- Door gasket and frost pattern. Frost concentrated at one corner means air infiltration. Gaskets are replaceable; chronic icing that has migrated into the insulation cavity is not.
- Vacuum insulation panels. A failed panel shows as a warm stripe on the exterior skin; the cabinet still works, but duty cycle and power draw rise.
- Controller, alarm battery, and door switch function.
- Condenser and filter condition. Clogged condensers are the leading cause of premature second-stage failure in service.
Site Requirements — Check Before You Order
- Power. Voltage per unit is listed in the table. Give every ULT its own dedicated circuit; pull-down draw is substantially higher than steady-state.
- Heat rejection. A ULT at setpoint dumps on the order of 1–2 kW into the room continuously. Leave condenser-side clearance and keep the room cool — compressor load climbs with every degree of ambient above ~25 °C.
- Access and floor load. Check crated dimensions and weight on the product page against doorways, elevators, and freight dock limits before booking.
- Recovery time. Plan on 24 hours at setpoint before loading samples, and load in batches — a full warm load can lift the interior temperature for hours.
ULT Freezer FAQ
How long will a ULT hold temperature in a power failure?
A full, unopened cabinet typically drifts from −86 °C to about −60 °C over several hours, depending on insulation condition and thermal mass of the load. A CO₂ backup extends the safe window per cylinder. An empty cabinet warms far faster than a full one.
Chest or upright?
Chest cabinets hold temperature better when opened and stress their compressors less, but cost floor space and slow down retrieval. Uprights with inner compartment doors are the standard compromise for sample libraries.
What is the realistic service life?
Compressors are the clock: 10–15 years is typical for this class, and both stages are rebuildable by a commercial refrigeration shop — usually for far less than a new cabinet.
Are these units tested before shipping?
Yes. Every unit is run to setpoint and checked against the list above before it ships; ask us for the test observations on a specific serial number.
Why Buy Surplus ULT From Us
- Tested, working units — each freezer is run and verified before listing; freight-ready crating on request.
- From $2,899.99 — a fraction of new ULT pricing, in stock now rather than on a factory queue.
- Ask us about logistics — liftgate delivery, inside placement, and multi-unit shipments are all things we arrange routinely.
Browse the large-capacity Innova U725-86 (3 in stock) →
Or contact us with capacity, voltage, and delivery questions: Contact Zombie Components
Zombie Components LLC · 13177 Foothill Blvd, Sylmar, CA 91342 · +1.909.747.9984 · ahall@zombiecomponents.com