Refrigeration Components or Alternatives

I would like to build an insulated wooden cabinet for a couple of cornys with chest-type access under a hinged counter top. It will be sitting on a floor that goes from ~45-55F seasonally. Can anyone recommend a source for electromechanical parts of a fridge that would not result in having to discard much of a complete unit? I am hoping to build a unit capable of maintaining ~40F degrees. Using a collection of new replacement parts seems an expensive and iffy proposition. Units available locally on Kijiji and other sites are only marginally cheaper than new models and would require a truck rental due to cabinet size.

I am also wondering if the 5-15F difference could be maintained reasonably by exchanging ice packs between a freezer and the cooler. It's not like I would forget to go the tap area regularly.

Maybe, a Peltier Thermoelectrical to maintain a closer temp 12volt and with a wired with a fan.

I never heard of Peltier Thermoelectrical before your post, now I have a question into an ebay supplier in Athens, Texas. It looks ideal. I read they are not as efficient as other forms of cooling but it is a small, mostly stable space (except when changing a keg) and there is little difference in temperature. If I can hook it up to the Temperature Control Thermoelectric TE Cooler also listed on ebay it should be the solution.

Thanks beaksnbeer.

Jim

No, but with the small adjustment that you need coupled with the flexibility of no truck rental large equipment tare down, rebuild etc. Add a heat sink to the out side and at 12 volt should be fairly cheap to run. Will be waiting to see what you find out

I ordered a cooler with fans and the controller last night so they will arrive in the next week or two (border delays). We woke to -14C this morning so the pantry is a balmy 6C. It will be hard to make it the priority for awhile as the wood glue wouldn't even cooperate. It looks interesting...small, quiet and capable of working off a car battery if the beer supply is threatened by a prolonged power failure I'll let you know how it works out. If it is not enough for a few kegs it could be reversed and used as a bread proofing box. Actually, when I think about it, it could be both.

beaksnbeer said:

Will be waiting to see what you find out

Click to expand...

Today with a momentary hint of spring in the air my heart turned, of course, to refrigeration. I hooked a few items together and fired it up in a test situation.



Early indicators are it will work well. I designed a unit to hold four corny kegs with the busy bits and pieces concealed behind two taps in a section on top. It takes exactly one sheet of plywood, insulation and a couple of lengths of yet to be determined wood for the corners.

It is surprisingly inexpensive thanks in large part to AliExpess that can get some of these parts to the door for remarkably less than if the items were purchased elsewhere. When the goods come from China I might as well be the one saving the money. (Some of the Peltiers were made in U.S. and purchased through eBay.) The power supply will manage three such units. If possible I want to build a second for heating or cooling for cheese, bread and of course brew.

I'll let you know how it ends up. There are members of the household who feel the very recently defunct boiler for the radiant heating is a priority. Honestly, who knew?

jwwbrennan said:

Today with a momentary hint of spring in the air my heart turned, of course, to refrigeration. I hooked a few items together and fired it up in a test situation.

Early indicators are it will work well. I designed a unit to hold four corny kegs with the busy bits and pieces concealed behind two taps in a section on top. It takes exactly one sheet of plywood, insulation and a couple of lengths of yet to be determined wood for the corners.

It is surprisingly inexpensive thanks in large part to AliExpess that can get some of these parts to the door for remarkably less than if the items were purchased elsewhere. When the goods come from China I might as well be the one saving the money. (Some of the Peltiers were made in U.S. and purchased through eBay.) The power supply will manage three such units. If possible I want to build a second for heating or cooling for cheese, bread and of course brew.

I'll let you know how it ends up. There are members of the household who feel the very recently defunct boiler for the radiant heating is a priority. Honestly, who knew?

Click to expand...

Why, with a hint of spring in the air another 3-6 months and it'll be darn right balmy! :cross: