New Brunswick U570 UltraLow Freezer

New Brunswick U570 Ultra-Low Freezer Service, Repair & Replacement Options

The New Brunswick U570 is a legacy upright ultra-low temperature freezer designed for long-term storage of biological samples, cell lines, DNA and RNA, enzymes, vaccines, pharmaceutical materials, research specimens, and other temperature-sensitive laboratory materials.

With approximately 570 liters, or 20 cubic feet, of internal storage capacity, the U570 provided substantial sample storage without requiring the floor space associated with some larger ultra-low freezers.

The U570 was part of New Brunswick Scientific's Premium -86°C freezer family and was designed for operation from approximately -50°C to -86°C. Five separate internal compartments helped reduce cold-air loss during routine sample access, while the stainless-steel interior provided a durable and easily cleaned storage environment.

The U570 also incorporated vacuum-insulation technology to increase usable internal storage relative to its external footprint. This allowed New Brunswick to provide 20 cubic feet of storage in a cabinet approximately 40 inches wide.

Alarm functions included high and low temperature, power failure, low battery, filter-cleaning notification, and system-fault warnings. A remote alarm connection was standard, with an RS-485 interface available depending on configuration.

These features made the U570 a popular freezer for biotechnology, pharmaceutical, clinical, university, hospital, biorepository, and research laboratories requiring dependable -80°C sample storage.

The New Brunswick U570 should now be considered a legacy ultra-low freezer, but age alone does not necessarily mean that an operating freezer needs to be replaced.

American Instrument Exchange can evaluate many refrigeration, compressor, electrical, sensor, alarm, control, gasket, and temperature-performance problems affecting older ultra-low freezers.

If a U570 can be repaired economically and returned to reliable -80°C operation, continued use may remain practical.

When major refrigeration problems, obsolete components, repeated failures, or declining temperature performance make continued repair less attractive, American Instrument Exchange can also help replace the U570 with a newer refurbished or new ultra-low freezer.

For laboratories that want to retain approximately the same storage capacity, the Eppendorf CryoCube F570 provides a particularly logical modern upgrade.

Common New Brunswick U570 Problems

After years of continuous ultra-low operation, an older U570 can develop problems involving its cascade refrigeration system, compressors, controls, sensors, alarms, doors, gaskets, or electrical components.

Common problems may include:

• Freezer cannot reach or maintain -80°C

• High-temperature alarms

• Temperature gradually rises despite continuous operation

• Slow recovery after door openings

• Compressor failure or declining compressor performance

• Refrigeration-system problems

• Refrigerant leaks

• Excessively long compressor run times

• Temperature sensor problems

• Controller or display failures

• Power-failure or alarm-system problems

• Backup battery failure

• Excessive frost or ice accumulation

• Worn or damaged outer-door gasket

• Inner doors that no longer seal correctly

• Filter or condenser maintenance problems

• Electrical failures

• Excessive noise or vibration

• Increased heat output

• Repeated service calls or temperature excursions

A U570 that generates a high-temperature alarm does not automatically need to be replaced.

The cause may be a sensor, gasket, electrical component, refrigeration issue, compressor problem, excessive frost, ventilation problem, or another potentially repairable condition.

The important question is whether the freezer can be restored to stable and reliable ultra-low operation at a cost that makes sense for an aging platform.

Is Your New Brunswick U570 Worth Repairing?

Potentially, yes.

American Instrument Exchange services ultra-low temperature freezers and can evaluate an aging New Brunswick U570 to determine whether repair remains practical.

An isolated problem involving a sensor, gasket, alarm, electrical component, control, or serviceable refrigeration component may justify repair if the rest of the freezer remains in good condition.

Major refrigeration work requires a more careful evaluation.

The U570 uses a two-stage cascade refrigeration system to achieve ultra-low temperatures. Reliable -80°C operation therefore depends on multiple refrigeration components operating correctly as a system.

A significant compressor failure, refrigerant-system problem, obsolete controller, or combination of several aging components can make repair substantially more expensive.

The age of the freezer must also be considered.

Replacing one major component does not renew the remaining refrigeration system, electronics, sensors, gaskets, alarms, and other components that have accumulated the same years of service.

If a U570 has been dependable and develops a single economically repairable problem, extending its life may make sense.

If it has experienced repeated refrigeration failures, increasing temperature excursions, slow recovery, multiple compressor problems, or several major repairs, transitioning to a newer ULT may provide better long-term value.

New Brunswick U570 Repair & Service

American Instrument Exchange provides ultra-low freezer service and repair for laboratories throughout our service area.

An older New Brunswick U570 can be evaluated for refrigeration-system problems, compressor performance, refrigerant leaks, temperature instability, sensor problems, alarm failures, electrical faults, door-seal problems, excessive frost, control problems, and other conditions affecting dependable ultra-low operation.

The objective of a ULT repair should not simply be getting the compressors to run again.

The freezer must be capable of reaching and maintaining the temperature required to protect the samples stored inside it.

Following significant repairs, temperature performance should be verified before valuable biological materials are returned to the cabinet.

Preventative maintenance can also help identify developing problems before they result in a complete freezer failure.

For laboratories continuing to operate older ULT equipment, changes in compressor behavior, temperature recovery, frost accumulation, door sealing, alarm frequency, noise, and cabinet temperature stability can provide important warning signs.

Temperature Recovery & Reliability Matter

An aging U570 should not be evaluated solely by whether its display eventually reaches -80°C.

Temperature recovery and stability are also important.

Every time the outer door is opened, warmer room air enters the freezer. Opening individual inner doors introduces additional heat into the affected storage compartment.

A healthy ULT must remove that heat and return the cabinet to its operating setpoint.

As refrigeration components age, recovery can become progressively slower. Compressors may run longer, cabinet temperatures may fluctuate more widely, or high-temperature alarms may occur more frequently.

Those changes can indicate declining refrigeration performance even when the freezer still reaches -80°C under ideal conditions.

For laboratories storing valuable biological collections, waiting for complete compressor failure may create unnecessary risk.

Changes in recovery time and operating behavior can provide an opportunity to schedule service or replacement before the freezer becomes an emergency.

Protecting Samples During a U570 Failure

If a New Brunswick U570 begins warming unexpectedly, sample protection should take priority over troubleshooting.

Keep the outer door closed as much as possible.

Verify cabinet temperature independently when appropriate and prepare alternate storage if the temperature continues to rise.

Avoid repeatedly opening the freezer simply to check whether samples still feel frozen. Every door opening introduces additional heat and shortens the available response window.

Laboratories storing critical materials should have an emergency ULT plan before a freezer failure occurs.

That plan may include identified backup freezer space, emergency sample-transfer procedures, alarm-response contacts, access to replacement equipment, and an established service provider.

The appropriate response to a temperature excursion also depends on the stored material.

Follow applicable SOPs, validated protocols, sample-specific requirements, or manufacturer storage instructions when determining whether material remains usable after an excursion.

When It Makes Sense to Replace a New Brunswick U570

A U570 that continues to maintain temperature reliably does not necessarily require immediate replacement solely because it is old.

Replacement becomes more attractive when the freezer develops repeated compressor or refrigeration problems, recurring high-temperature alarms, slow recovery, refrigerant leaks, controller failures, deteriorating gaskets, obsolete components, or increasingly frequent service requirements.

Reliability is particularly important when the freezer contains irreplaceable cell lines, clinical materials, long-term research samples, or other valuable collections.

A planned replacement allows those samples to be moved under controlled conditions.

Waiting for catastrophic failure can turn the same equipment purchase into an emergency.

Energy consumption and heat output should also be considered.

The original U570 uses an older cascade refrigeration design and HFC refrigerants. Modern high-efficiency ULT platforms can provide substantially newer refrigeration, insulation, and control technology.

For equipment operating continuously 24 hours a day, improvements in energy efficiency can accumulate over years of service while also reducing the amount of heat rejected into the laboratory.

Eppendorf CryoCube F570: The Natural Modern Upgrade

For laboratories that have been satisfied with the New Brunswick U570 and want to preserve approximately the same storage capacity, the Eppendorf CryoCube F570 is a particularly logical replacement.

Eppendorf acquired New Brunswick Scientific, and the current CryoCube F570 occupies essentially the same 570-liter capacity class as the legacy U570.

The modern F570 provides approximately 570 liters, or 20.1 cubic feet, of internal storage and operates from approximately -50°C to -86°C.

Like the older U570, it uses a five-compartment internal configuration designed to provide convenient access while limiting unnecessary exposure of the entire storage chamber during sample retrieval.

The newer platform incorporates substantially updated refrigeration and insulation technology.

Current F570 configurations use hydrocarbon refrigerants and are available in high-efficiency versions incorporating vacuum-insulation panels and polyurethane foam.

Modern F570 models are also designed around rapid temperature recovery following routine door openings—an important consideration in busy laboratories where samples are accessed throughout the day.

For laboratories that already organize their storage around a 570-liter ULT, the CryoCube F570 provides an unusually straightforward modernization path without requiring a major change in overall freezer capacity.

Do You Still Need a 20-Cubic-Foot ULT?

Replacement is also an opportunity to reconsider the laboratory's actual storage requirements.

A laboratory that uses most of the U570's 20 cubic feet may want to remain in approximately the same capacity class.

If sample inventory has grown substantially, moving to a larger ULT may reduce overcrowding and provide room for future expansion.

If a significant portion of the U570 is consistently empty, a smaller modern freezer may reduce floor-space requirements and potentially lower operating costs.

Storage organization matters as well.

A well-organized 20-cubic-foot freezer may provide more practical capacity than a larger cabinet filled with poorly organized boxes and racks.

Before selecting a replacement, consider current sample inventory, expected growth, rack and cryobox format, required reserve capacity, and the laboratory's emergency storage strategy.

The best replacement is not necessarily the freezer with the closest model number. It is the freezer that best fits the laboratory's current storage requirements.

New Brunswick U570 Versus Eppendorf CryoCube F570

The relationship between these two models makes the replacement decision particularly straightforward.

The legacy U570 provides approximately 570 liters, or 20.0 cubic feet, of storage.

The modern CryoCube F570 provides approximately 570 liters, or 20.1 cubic feet.

Both use five internal storage compartments and operate in the approximately -50°C to -86°C ULT range.

The major difference is technological generation.

The CryoCube F570 incorporates modern refrigeration technology, hydrocarbon refrigerants, updated insulation options, contemporary controls, and a platform designed around current laboratory expectations for energy efficiency and temperature recovery.

For laboratories that want to replace an aging U570 without significantly changing storage capacity, the F570 should be one of the first models considered.

Other Replacement Options

The CryoCube F570 is not the only appropriate replacement for a New Brunswick U570.

American Instrument Exchange stocks refurbished ultra-low freezers from Thermo Scientific, VWR, Eppendorf/New Brunswick, PHCbi, Stirling Ultracold, and other manufacturers.

A laboratory may prefer another manufacturer because of existing equipment standardization, service familiarity, rack compatibility, electrical requirements, available inventory, or budget.

The replacement should therefore be selected based on usable capacity, temperature requirements, electrical service, physical dimensions, rack configuration, monitoring requirements, energy efficiency, and available floor space.

American Instrument Exchange can help compare available ULT freezers rather than forcing every U570 owner into the same replacement platform.

Key New Brunswick U570 Specifications

Electrical requirements vary by U570 configuration. Always verify voltage, frequency, amperage, plug configuration, and other installation requirements from the individual freezer's data plate before service, relocation, or replacement.

Installation Considerations When Replacing a U570

The New Brunswick U570 weighs approximately 583 pounds empty, so replacement requires appropriate material-handling planning.

Measure the freezer, doorway openings, corridors, elevators, loading areas, and the complete delivery path before ordering a replacement.

Do not assume that another 570-liter freezer will have identical exterior dimensions.

The legacy U570 measures approximately 40.3 inches wide, 33.5 inches deep, and 75.8 inches high, while modern insulation and refrigeration designs can result in different external dimensions even when usable internal capacity is similar.

Electrical compatibility also needs to be verified.

The U570 was available in multiple electrical configurations, including 120 V and 208–230 V versions.

A replacement freezer should be matched to available laboratory power or appropriate electrical changes should be completed before delivery.

Room ventilation is another important consideration.

ULT freezers reject heat into the surrounding environment. Multiple freezers operating in a small room can create a substantial HVAC load and elevated ambient temperature can negatively affect refrigeration performance.

Adequate ventilation and manufacturer-specified clearance should be maintained around the replacement freezer.

Refurbished Ultra-Low Freezers from American Instrument Exchange

Replacing a legacy New Brunswick U570 does not necessarily require purchasing a new freezer.

American Instrument Exchange supplies professionally refurbished ultra-low temperature freezers from Eppendorf/New Brunswick, Thermo Scientific, VWR, PHCbi, Stirling Ultracold, and other established manufacturers.

Temperature-controlled equipment is inspected and tested before shipment.

Our technicians use calibrated temperature-monitoring equipment to verify freezer performance and confirm that applicable controls and readouts operate appropriately.

Door gaskets, cabinet condition, alarms, controls, refrigeration performance, and other critical systems are evaluated, with repairs performed as required.

Used and refurbished laboratory equipment supplied by American Instrument Exchange includes a 90-day warranty unless otherwise specified.

For laboratories replacing an older U570, a professionally refurbished newer-generation ULT can provide a substantial improvement in reliability and supportability while avoiding the acquisition cost of comparable new equipment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the New Brunswick U570 discontinued?

Yes.

The New Brunswick Premium U570 belongs to an older generation of ultra-low temperature freezers and should now be considered a legacy model.

What is the capacity of the New Brunswick U570?

The U570 provides approximately 570 liters, or 20 cubic feet, of internal storage capacity.

What is the temperature range of the New Brunswick U570?

The manufacturer specifies an operating performance range of approximately -50°C to -86°C under appropriate ambient conditions.

Many laboratories operate this class of freezer at approximately -80°C.

How large is the New Brunswick U570?

The U570 measures approximately 40.3"W × 33.5"D × 75.8"H externally.

Its interior measures approximately 30.1"W × 22.6"D × 49.8"H.

How much does a New Brunswick U570 weigh?

The manufacturer's documentation lists an empty net weight of approximately 583 pounds.

How many compartments does the U570 have?

The U570 has five internal storage compartments.

This allows users to access individual sections while limiting unnecessary exposure of the remaining storage area.

Can American Instrument Exchange repair a New Brunswick U570?

Potentially, yes.

American Instrument Exchange services ultra-low temperature freezers and can evaluate refrigeration, compressor, temperature-control, sensor, alarm, electrical, gasket, and other problems.

Whether repair remains economical depends on the particular failure and overall condition of the freezer.

Is a New Brunswick U570 worth repairing?

It depends on the problem.

An isolated and reasonably priced repair may make sense when the rest of the freezer remains dependable.

Major refrigeration work becomes harder to justify when the U570 has repeated failures, multiple aging components, poor recovery performance, or obsolete parts.

Why won't my New Brunswick U570 reach -80°C?

Potential causes include compressor deterioration, refrigeration-system problems, refrigerant loss, excessive frost, damaged gaskets, sensor faults, controller problems, poor condenser airflow, high ambient temperature, or other mechanical or electrical failures.

Professional diagnosis is necessary to determine the cause.

What refrigerants does the New Brunswick U570 use?

Manufacturer documentation for the Premium U570 identifies R404A in the high stage and R508B in the low stage of its cascade refrigeration system.

What voltage does the New Brunswick U570 require?

The U570 was manufactured in multiple electrical configurations.

Manufacturer documentation includes 120 V / 60 Hz, 208–230 V / 60 Hz, and 230 V / 50 Hz versions.

Always check the individual freezer's data plate rather than assuming its electrical configuration from the model number alone.

What is the modern replacement for a New Brunswick U570?

The Eppendorf CryoCube F570 is one of the most logical modern replacements.

It maintains essentially the same 570-liter / 20-cubic-foot capacity class and approximately -50°C to -86°C temperature range while moving to a substantially newer refrigeration and insulation platform.

Is Eppendorf related to New Brunswick Scientific?

Yes.

New Brunswick Scientific became part of Eppendorf, and Eppendorf continues to offer ultra-low temperature freezer platforms including the CryoCube family.

This makes the CryoCube F570 a particularly natural modernization option for laboratories familiar with New Brunswick ULT equipment.

Does the CryoCube F570 have the same capacity as the U570?

Essentially, yes.

The legacy U570 provides approximately 570 L / 20.0 cu. ft., while the modern CryoCube F570 provides approximately 570 L / 20.1 cu. ft.

The exact exterior dimensions, rack configurations, electrical requirements, and other specifications differ, so compatibility should still be evaluated before replacement.

Should I wait until my U570 fails before replacing it?

Not necessarily.

If the freezer remains reliable and performs appropriately, continued operation may make sense.

If it begins experiencing recurring alarms, slow recovery, compressor problems, refrigeration repairs, or increasing temperature instability, planned replacement can reduce the risk associated with an emergency failure.

Does American Instrument Exchange sell refurbished replacements for the New Brunswick U570?

Yes.

American Instrument Exchange supplies professionally refurbished ultra-low freezers from Eppendorf/New Brunswick, Thermo Scientific, VWR, and other major manufacturers.

Available inventory changes regularly, so customers can contact AIE to discuss current 20-cubic-foot and comparable ULT options.

Repair Your New Brunswick U570 or Plan an Upgrade

If your New Brunswick U570 is running warm, experiencing high-temperature alarms, recovering slowly after door openings, developing compressor or refrigeration problems, or becoming increasingly unreliable, American Instrument Exchange can help determine whether continued repair remains practical.

For an isolated and economically reasonable failure, repairing the existing U570 may extend its useful service life.

When major refrigeration work, repeated failures, obsolete components, or declining reliability make continued repair less attractive, American Instrument Exchange can help transition your laboratory to a newer ultra-low freezer.

For laboratories that want to preserve approximately the same 20-cubic-foot storage capacity, the Eppendorf CryoCube F570 provides a particularly natural modernization path.

Other Thermo Scientific, VWR, Eppendorf, PHCbi, and comparable ULT freezers may also be appropriate depending on capacity, electrical service, rack requirements, available space, and budget.

Contact American Instrument Exchange to discuss New Brunswick U570 repair, New Brunswick ULT service, U570 compressor problems, -80°C freezer repair, New Brunswick U570 replacement, Eppendorf CryoCube F570 upgrades, refurbished ultra-low freezers, or emergency replacement options for a failing ULT freezer.

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