Home Brew Forums > Home Brewing Beer > Bottling/Kegging > Cooling the tower




Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 06-08-2007, 08:46 PM   #1
Feedback Score: 0 reviews
 
Southwood's Avatar
Recipes 
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 176
Default Cooling the tower

I know I've seen a thread around here about a DIY draft tower cooling system using an old computer fan, but I can't seem to find it. Can anyone out there point me in the right direction?

Thanks!

(BTW, just kegged my first batch ever, this rocks! )


__________________
Primaries: Centennial IPA
Conditioning: Duseldorf Altbier, '07 Barleywine
On-tap: Dunkelweizen
Also pouring: Weizen-bock, Solstice Ale '06
Southwood is offline
 
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Old 06-08-2007, 08:52 PM   #2
Feedback Score: 0 reviews
 
McKBrew's Avatar
Recipes 
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Silverdale, Washington
Posts: 8,287
Liked 23 Times on 21 Posts
Likes Given: 6

Default

This might help a bit.

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f35/computer-fan-project-box-cool-draft-tower-advice-size-fan-26504/index2.html


McKBrew is offline
 
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Old 06-08-2007, 08:57 PM   #3
Nothin' like a lil 60 grit...
Feedback Score: 0 reviews
 
Yuri_Rage's Avatar
Recipes 
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Southwest
Posts: 13,325
Liked 381 Times on 238 Posts
Likes Given: 40

Default

Also, see post #22 in this thread:

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f35/show-us-your-kegerator-29053/
__________________
YouTube Channel .......... Shirts, posters, and other SWAG
Yuri_Rage is offline
 
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Old 06-08-2007, 09:02 PM   #4
Feedback Score: 0 reviews
 
Southwood's Avatar
Recipes 
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 176
Default

Thanks, guys!
__________________
Primaries: Centennial IPA
Conditioning: Duseldorf Altbier, '07 Barleywine
On-tap: Dunkelweizen
Also pouring: Weizen-bock, Solstice Ale '06
Southwood is offline
 
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Old 06-08-2007, 09:22 PM   #5
Feedback Score: 0 reviews
 
Brewer3401's Avatar
Recipes 
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Southeast Louisiana
Posts: 1,323
Liked 2 Times on 2 Posts

Default

I could not find suitable tubing, so I cut a piece of 3/4" air hose (yes it's heavy).
Planning on running that up to top of tower.
Will let you know if it works.
__________________
Fermenter: -0-
Brite tank: -0-
Kegged: Blonde ale
Brewer3401 is offline
 
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Old 06-08-2007, 11:05 PM   #6
Grande Megalomaniac
Feedback Score: 0 reviews
 
Denny's Evil Concoctions's Avatar
Recipes 
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: West Kelowna BC, Canada
Posts: 7,488
Liked 23 Times on 22 Posts

Default

I found a 2" computer fan, mounted it so it blows into the tower (screwed it into the top of the insode and left about 3/4 inch space above it..so it "hangs" on two screws). Works great and is enough to also circulate the air in my danby.
__________________
I may not be an expert, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express........ 6 months ago.

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f39/dennys-quick-dirty-faq-153729/#post1766281

http://groups.homebrewtalk.com/Taproom_Facebook_Repository

Last edited by Denny's Evil Concoctions; 06-08-2007 at 11:07 PM.
Denny's Evil Concoctions is offline
 
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Old 06-11-2007, 05:15 PM   #7
Feedback Score: 0 reviews
Recipes 
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Greater Cincinnati area
Posts: 627
Liked 1 Times on 1 Posts

Default

I get adequate cooling using a 40mm fan and takes up very little space. No box or tube needed.


The tower is divided in two halves so the air blows up one half and then down the other, making for a nice cooling loop. More build details here: http://www.pbase.com/mrfebtober/kegerator_build&page=2
MrFebtober is offline
 
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Old 06-11-2007, 09:22 PM   #8
Feedback Score: 0 reviews
Recipes 
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 427
Liked 8 Times on 8 Posts
Likes Given: 2

Default

what is the point of cooling the tower? i keep my kegarotor in the garage where temps hit 100+ on a regular basis during the day and have yet to pour a hot beer because the tower is not cooled. i only drilled 1 1/8" holes for my lines so not alot of cold air gets up there. is this just a modification added for "coolness"(no pun lol) of your kegartor?
__________________
Автомат Калашникова Brewing Co.

Beer and Kalashnikov since 2007
blefferd is offline
 
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Old 06-11-2007, 09:37 PM   #9
Feedback Score: 0 reviews
 
Buford's Avatar
Recipes 
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 1,416
Liked 4 Times on 4 Posts

Default

The issue is that the beer in the tower lines is warmer than the beer in the keg and CO2 will come out of solution more readily at warmer temps. Without tower cooling you're more prone to the first pour being foamier than subsequent pours.

Does it matter? Not necessarily. Is it cool to pimp the fridge? Most definitely
__________________
Flying Dutchman Unlimited Ale Works
Buy my crap!


FERMENTING: ---
KEGGED/IN STORAGE: ---
KEGGED/ON TAP: ---

DIY STUFF: Sanyo 4912 kegerator conversion
Buford is offline
 
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Old 06-11-2007, 09:49 PM   #10
Feedback Score: 0 reviews
Recipes 
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 427
Liked 8 Times on 8 Posts
Likes Given: 2

Default

hmm, ill have to pay attention to the foaminess of my next first pour of the day compared to pours after that. i just thought it was to keep the 2oz's of beer in the tower cold lol.

if it works as you say then i think im going to add a tower cooling fan lol


__________________
Автомат Калашникова Brewing Co.

Beer and Kalashnikov since 2007
blefferd is offline
 
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Reply

Quick Reply
Message:
Options
Thread Tools
Display Modes


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
PVC Tower Cooling Solution bradsul DIY Projects 147 01-24-2013 02:27 PM
Converting a Single Tower to a Dual Tower?!? nunzio42 DIY Projects 2 08-16-2009 03:42 PM
Tower Cooling Fan Help thdewitt Bottling/Kegging 4 02-01-2009 04:32 AM
Ceramic Tower Cooling kenche Equipment/Sanitation 10 11-29-2007 04:51 AM
cooling beer tower dougbo Bottling/Kegging 2 12-06-2006 02:15 AM



FOLLOW US ON