Summit/Sanyo vs Summit (Is there a difference?)

[jlew]

New to this forum but have been looking at many of the posts and was curious if there is a difference between the Sanyo/Summit BC-1206 and the Summit SBC500B.

These two seem to be in my price range and was curious if there are any other options I should consider, I understand I may need to install a tower cooler but anything else I need to know.

Any help would be greatly appreciated as this will be my first kegerator.
Thanks!!

[Mad Lithuanian]

Amazing some of these threads go nowhere. I am looking at these same two models only dual tap w/ ss. Would be interested to hear thoughts.

btw - did you buy one?

[imnlfn]

I wondered the same thing when I bought mine. One place has them listed separately, Micromatic has them as the same model. In the end, I bought from Micromatic and received a Summit model. I'm assuming they're the same unit, all manufactured by somebody or other, then badged as Sanyo in some cases and Summit in others. The place listing them separately probably has a source that provides them with one model for slightly less money than the other, while Micromatic gets them all at the same price or picks a price that gives them a good enough margin on either of them.

Anyway, I like mine. It seems to maintain a pretty constant temperature, it's quiet, and it's solidly constructed. I've made several modifications to it since I bought it, but it's working well for me now.

[Mad Lithuanian]

imnlfn - what modifications have you made to yours? I'm leaning hard towards purchasing one of these with the thought that I wouldnt have to make any modifications other than adding a tower cooler/blower.

I would appreciate all info. BTW, is there a reason you purchased from MM since the other site's prices seem to be cheaper. When did you purchase yours?

[imnlfn]

If I remember correctly, there were several reasons I ended up ordering from MM. I think one was that I really wanted the stainless tower and the prices weren't all that different with that option. Another was it was much clearer on the MM site which parts came included with the unit. Yet another was the impression I would be able to get the unit quicker from MM, which was somewhat important to me because I was trying to have it set up before my birthday. I have a vague recollection, too, of trying to call the other place on the phone and not being able to get through to someone. I don't remember if no one ever answered, it was always busy, or no one ever responded to my voice mail, but I figured that was a bad sign when buying a $700+ piece of equipment that had to be shipped by freight.

My initial experience with MM wasn't all rainbows and unicorns, but when I discovered one of my faucets wouldn't stop dripping, I called them and the guy I spoke to cross-shipped another one without me asking. Also, this forum has been absolutely invaluable and now I really don't mind that I maybe spent a little more with them.

One of the threads here contains quite a bit of discussion about modifications for this model, with many of the posts from me. It also describes the mix-up I experienced with MM and the shipping of my unit. You can read all of that here: Sanyo BC-1206S-2 Dual Tap