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swordman1980 said:
This is my kegerator. A little over a year old. I found some old scales with RS232 output and a USB temperature sensor, and then I wrote some custom software to monitor the temperature and how much beer is left in each keg. All of which I can monitor realtime anywhere from my phone.

The "talking" part is other software I wrote for parties where it will say things when people pour a beer, or yell at you if you leave the kegerator open too long.
Click to expand...


https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f14/whats-tap-37440/#post367139

So close to my "plan"!

I was thinking rfid chips that measured temperature and pressure of my kegs would also have a image code.

The rfid reader in my fridge would sense which kegs were being served and thier location as well as the weight (subtracting the tare of course). The on-board fridge computer could then read and display an image of the beer label with the temp, pressure and %full. It would also hit my brewing server to display OG, FG and ABV.

The information would be rendered on 3"x4" OLED screens on each tap handle.

A combination of keypresses on the OLED tap handle screen would promt a multi-media display on the freezer mounted LCD which may include video, recipies and branding.

A thumbprint reader might be used for security or user preferences. Something along the lines of the Amazon, "95% of the people that liked the Mesquite Pale Ale also tapped the Ironwood Imperial IPA."

Of couse from there, it's just a short leap to have the webserver auto-update my HBT signature.

Unfortuately this board restricts HTML code and images in the signature, so I scrapped the whole project. ;)
Click to expand...

Get back to work!:D:mug:
 
first step of my keezer... still need to grout it and sand and stain the border. the tower will be a T made of brazilian cherry stained dark! and it will have two forward seal taps and a stainless drip tray probably use a 5 Cu Ft freezer internal co2 tank tower cooling fan and ideally hold a corny for me and a slim quarter or sixth full of domestic for the mrs. let me know what you guys think.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/34834090@N02/?saved=1
34834090@N02
 
jppostKW said:
3235485021_994fa838bb.jpg
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Looks good! Wait, you still don't have a fridge/freezer?!?!? I'm anxious for the finish- love brew porn!

BTW, fixed image, good choice on going with the forward sealing faucets, and keeping SWMBO in mind :)
 
Here's mine. It's almost done.

100_9193.jpg


100_9195.jpg


As you can see I just BARELY fit 2 kegs in there. I don't have the money for a dual tower right now, but I will be adding a second Co2 line with shut off and a "T" in the beverage line with 2 shut offs so I can switch kegs easily.
 
Hey Ben that is a nice job on the Haier fridge. I keep an eye on craigslist for these as you can get them cheep. I have done 4 of these fridges and acctually I just helped my buddy do the same exact fridge last night (he'll post some pics). Just a heads up, due to the reorentation of the freezer you will get some water built up in the bottom. So if this is on carpet then you will want to make a point to soak some of it up every once and awhile. Also I have done one for another guy where he went to the auto graphics place and got a custom vinal decal for it with his logo on it, it looked great. Also you might check out https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f35/converting-single-tower-dual-89670/#post967204 for a cheaper way to make your tower into a dualy.

Heres mine I have since put the tank in the fridge.

Lil_Kegger_Front.JPG
 
thanks for fixing the image! And yeah i am with out cooling as of yet having trouble finding a fridge/freezer that will fit my needs. Because from what i can see mini fridges wont fit the slim ponies please correct me if im wrong and i have yet to find a good enough price on a freezer to pick it up it will be slow process as well get the top completed this next weekend than pick up the fridge/freezer......come on tax returns!!
 
jppostKW said:
thanks for fixing the image! And yeah i am with out cooling as of yet having trouble finding a fridge/freezer that will fit my needs. Because from what i can see mini fridges wont fit the slim ponies please correct me if im wrong and i have yet to find a good enough price on a freezer to pick it up it will be slow process as well get the top completed this next weekend than pick up the fridge/freezer......come on tax returns!!
Click to expand...

I like your enthusiasm, but I wouldn't go crazy over the top without know what it's going on- Just in case you want to make it bigger or something :)
 
a modular/expandable top is already in process i.e. the left side border is removable quite easily so expansion is as simple as removing the border which is held on with basically biscuit style joints with metal biscuits....and taps will increase by sets of two with each expansion
 
malnutriton said:
Hey Ben that is a nice job on the Haier fridge. I keep an eye on craigslist for these as you can get them cheep. I have done 4 of these fridges and acctually I just helped my buddy do the same exact fridge last night (he'll post some pics). Just a heads up, due to the reorentation of the freezer you will get some water built up in the bottom. So if this is on carpet then you will want to make a point to soak some of it up every once and awhile. Also I have done one for another guy where he went to the auto graphics place and got a custom vinal decal for it with his logo on it, it looked great. Also you might check out https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f35/converting-single-tower-dual-89670/#post967204 for a cheaper way to make your tower into a dualy.
Click to expand...


Yeah I've noticed a bit of water in the bottom. I just soak it up occasionally. Also, I just got my tax return, so I'm going to install another tap. (and buy 4 more kegs) The problem I have is that my tower is 2 1/2 inches instead of 3, so kind of tight quarters. I may have to put one tap lower than the other. Any suggestions?
 
Ben,

One of the fridges that I helped with we instaled 2 3inch shanks through the top of the door and didnt even need a tower. I dont know how it would look if you did only one in the door with the one on the tower...but it would work. You can also add on to your tower, just lower and to the side.
 
Ben25 said:
Here's mine. It's almost done.

100_9193.jpg


100_9195.jpg


As you can see I just BARELY fit 2 kegs in there. I don't have the money for a dual tower right now, but I will be adding a second Co2 line with shut off and a "T" in the beverage line with 2 shut offs so I can switch kegs easily.
Click to expand...

Just curious, did your fridge have the little freezer section in the top? If so, how did you move it?
 
vwman18 said:
Just curious, did your fridge have the little freezer section in the top? If so, how did you move it?
Click to expand...

Yes, it did and it took up the whole width of the fridge. It was mounted to the top, so I just took the screws out and took off the thermostat. It was a U shape but had 2 pieces that came across the top, so I cut those off with a tin snips. Then I just bent it down til it hit the back wall.

Here you can see it a little better.

100_9142.jpg
 
Just finished up my kegerator. The second keg is something I'll be getting relatively soon.

3267257438_fb54557f40.jpg


Closeup of the logo on the front:

3266434865_288cb8de10.jpg


It's just vinyl lettering, got it done at Fastsigns.

Interior (note Han Solo in carbonite on keg (and ignore MHL):

3267261974


Here's a closeup of my fan box. I'm pretty proud of it, came out really clean looking:

3267263576_e2a56485ac.jpg


Kind of hard to see with so much black in there. It's a project box with a 115v 3" Axial fan mounted in it. I got a threaded nipple and attached it to the side with some nuts, and hose clamped some bilge pump hosing on to that. The box is velcro'ed to the bottom of that hump up there, and I wire-tied a thermometer lead on my dual temp thermometer to the hose, so I have interior box and tower temperatures at a glance.
 
After a long time of nickel and diming I finally have a pic to post. Still doing so work on the guts (tower cooler, chasing a co2 leak) but I'm happy with how it turned out.

keg1.jpg


Thanks to hollsa for the taps:rockin:
keg2.jpg
 
spreadmonkey said:
I'm trying to judge from your picture, but do you have two collars on that freezer? one on the lid one on the case?

The reason I ask is because I am building a collar-less system and if you were able to mount that regulator on the inside surface of your freezer I would REALLY like to know how you were able to do it. Nothing adheres to polypropelene with the ability to bear any weight load so I'm stuck
Click to expand...

Based on the height of the cornies, I'd say "no". He seems to have a mounting block behind the regs if you look closely; likely glued to the surface.
 
I built mine last November. I was lucky and scored a Sanyo 4910 in very good shape and cheap from a CL ad. I had been collecting the other parts from on-line retailers and eBay for the prior 3 months. After a couple of weeks with the cheap faucets and shanks that came with the tower I swapped them out for forward seals and soldered stainless shanks.

I did not have to remove the inner door panel to fit two cornys and a CO2 cylinder inside. I have a 5 lb. CO2 cylinder sitting on a wooden shelf and the compressor hump behind the kegs.

I use the muffin fan in a project box method to drive cool air through the gray hose up to the tower.

Thanks to this community for all of your inspiration and knowledge sharing.

Kegr 1 Small.jpg


Kegr Int 1 Small.jpg


Kegr Int 2 Small.jpg
 
Here's mine:
  • $25 Garage Sale fridge
  • 4 Perlick's mounted through the oor with 1 1/2" PVC bungs
  • 24" drip tray made by a friend
  • Stainless "step" to coved the compressor bump on the bottom
  • On a 10" platform to keep the handles above your knees
  • Door inner replaced with aluminum sheet
  • Holds 4 with tank inside, 5 with tank outside
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30196174&l=8173d&id=1485511141
 
Here's mine. Nothing fancy, just a free fridge and three taps with room for carbing one more and storing a few bottles.

n1287673851_30069594_3832.jpg


This one was taken when I had only kegged two batches.
n1287673851_30077901_4507.jpg
 
*Sigh* Mine is coming next. I picked up a Danby off of CL for $200 and it was used only a few times. Unfortunately, it only has ONE tap on it, but I can fit 3 cornies in it. (With the CO2 tank on the back)

Needless to say, Im gonna be building a new taprig for it (as well as get all of my connectors etc for it) May just cobra tap it for the time being to get me started and drinking this beer that has been aging while waiting for me to get off of my ass (and get more $$) to finish it.
Pics to come soooooooon!
-Me
 
I have the same setup. However, I tried a fan in the box trick for a tower cooler and it didnt work to well for some reason. What I came up with is to use copper pipe. I ran my lines through it and all the way up the tower. On the inside of the frige I put copper tees on the end of the pipe and ran two pieces of pipe so the run to the back of the frige and touch the cold plate. The copper then conducts the cold up the pipe into the tower. Works like a champ.
 
schupaul said:
What I came up with is to use copper pipe. I ran my lines through it and all the way up the tower. On the inside of the fridge I put copper tees on the end of the pipe and ran two pieces of pipe so the run to the back of the fridge and touch the cold plate. The copper then conducts the cold up the pipe into the tower.
Click to expand...

Do you happen to have any pictures of this setup? I've thought about doing the same thing with copper pipe, and would love to see how you've implemented it.
 
orangebrew said:
Here's mine. Nothing fancy, just a free fridge and three taps with room for carbing one more and storing a few bottles.
Click to expand...

You need to find an International Harvester fridge. I've been searching for years and haven't found one yet. Someone on this board has one for a kegerator.
 
Here's my new kegerator.. the old fridge was dying, and SWMBO approved a new one as long as we got the color she liked. I built a platform for the bottom and painted a sign on the side with chalkboard paint... now I just gotta drill holes in the side for the taps. Kinda reluctant to drill through a new fridge though.

img1727hh3.jpg


img1736vl8.jpg


img1748rv4.jpg


img1749sb4.jpg


continued...
 
I even put little rubber skid pads on the bottom so it wouldn't slide or damage the bottom. Plus, it's easy to remove when I need to clean.

img1751zh7.jpg


img1756yp2.jpg


:mug:
 
Arneba28 said:
Hey, who put that coors light in there!!!
Click to expand...

haha. i've had that since we had people over for the superbowl. i just NOW cracked it open since I drank everything good :p just started brewing another batch of homebrew, so that'll be ready in a couple weeks.
 
I just realized I haven't posted mine in here yet. I finished it a couple months ago and it's great, I still plan to spin some custom tap handles for it and haven't gotten around to mounting the drip trays yet...any suggestions?
photo-12.jpg

photo-10.jpg
 
Tonedef131 said:
I just realized I haven't posted mine in here yet. I finished it a couple months ago and it's great, I still plan to spin some custom tap handles for it and haven't gotten around to mounting the drip trays yet...any suggestions?
photo-12.jpg

photo-10.jpg
Click to expand...

Nice work! I must say, this is my favorite kegerator on this thread. 8 perlick taps, two 4-way regs, and a chalkboard on top! Love it, great job!
 

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