The main purpose of the bottle probe is to display what the liquid temperature of the wine is at all times.
Yes, if the unit was ordered as a bottle probe unit, the bottle probe must be always connected to the unit.
Otherwise, you will see an error code of P3 flashing on panel and unit will beep until reconnected.
Bottle probe must always be positioned in a bottle that is centrally positioned in the cabinet for best temperature reading.
*** Bottle probe feature cannot be installed or requested after original unit production.
A receptacle has to be drilled through metal housing and thermostat reprogramming would be needed.
The bottle probe does not dictate mechanical function of the compressor, there is a master air sensor that will dictate the compressor cycling by means of the air temperature, hence fluctuation.
It may be helpful to know that the unit’s thermostat controller will have a 4-degree temperature differential.
This would mean that if your unit is set to 55 and reaches 55, it will cycle off.
At a 4 degree increase in temperature, the unit will cycle back on and pull the temperature back down to 55 and cycle off once more.
The temperature fluctuation seen would be the air temperature increasing, not the actual bottle/liquid temperature.
Air would be less dense and has less mass than liquid and more susceptible to temperature variance.
Small differences in temperature are necessary for the unit to work properly.
When the cellar starts a defrost cycle, the temperature rises slightly.
When the cooling system resumes working, the temperature cools down.
Such changes happen over a short time and their influence is too minimal to affect wine preservation.
Liquid tends to keep an average temperature by physical law.
BOTTLE PROBE: The bottle probe consists of 10 inch rod w/ rubber grommet and 3 foot harness that plugs into a receptacle on the front of unit. (Please see attached pdf for further details).
AIR PROBE LOCATION: MASTER SENSOR THAT REGULATES THE MECHANICAL CYCLING OF THE COMPRESSOR AND FAN MOTORS.
