Mini-fridge TOTAL dissection - Photo story

**pjj2ba** · 11-07-2008, 08:55 PM

I had a beer cart the I use for our annual pig roast and then also as a fermentation chiller. I ran it once with ice as a fermentation chiller and was not thrilled. Soo.... I decided to buy a minifridge and totally cannibalize it and install in in my beer cart - no more ice!!!! Plus now I can properly lager!!!

Before: 3 cu ft Chefmate from Target for $100

I unbolted the compressor and then pulled the sides away from the plastic chamber. Unfortunately a lot of the foam came with the sides, not the plastic.

I used some of the scrap plastic to help "cut" away the foam so I wouldn't have to worry about puncturing a line. I also used it as shown in the picture to cut through the tape holding the lines to the walls

**pjj2ba** · 11-07-2008, 09:04 PM

Here you all go, a mini-fridge in all of it's naked glory.

I used some wood clamps to help me safely bend the cooling plate into the desired shape.

I attached the heat exchnger to the sides of the cart just like in the original

I then reinstalled the foam board, caulked it up, then installed a liner of masonite, caulked that, and then painted it. The tubing for the coiling plate is actually fairly flexible so I wasn't to worried about kinking it. It feels quite soft though so I'd say the puncture danger is worse.

**WheeledGoat** · 11-07-2008, 09:13 PM

I'm impressed!

Does it work?

**pjj2ba** · 11-07-2008, 09:14 PM

I still need to permanently attach the compressor to the cart, but I wanted to get it fired up before our big party Saturday. I've had some O'fest in there lagering for the past 3 weeks. It is not shown in these photos, but I installed a Love controller in place of the stock thermostat

Right now, the lid I have is just another piece of foam board with some weight on top.

Now I need to put the regular top back on. I need to make the current collar taller as I raised the height of the foam board. It will look like this in it beer serving mode.

**pjj2ba** · 11-07-2008, 09:20 PM

Yes, it works great!! I'ts was holding at 35 F for 3 weeks. Now it is set at 45 F in preparation of moving the kegs to my serving fridge.

I'm really looking forward to fermenting in it. Actually in a couple weeks it will be cold enough in my basement to ferment lagers in the open. The big thing will be being able to properly lager, and now I can brew lagers year round