Converting the Frigidaire 7.2 cu ft Chest Freezer

[HOP-HEAD]

What's the lengths of those beer shanks? I've been searching for 3 inch stainless shanks or one piece nipple shanks and I cannot find anyone that has them in 3/16" bore. My beverage line is 3/16", so I thought that I need 3/16" bore. I see a lot that are 1/4" bore.

Just use the 1/4-inchers.... that's what I and most others use. If it's too tight to push the line on, just hold it under hot water for awhile... she'll slide right on...

 

[Quaffer]

Is that the Frigidaire 7.2cf freezer? I got my frigidaire yesterday, and I can fit 4 cornys (snugly) on the bottom, and 2 additional on the hump.

Four on the floor, really? I know mine can not hold that many on the floor. There must be something that is different with your setup. Perhaps you have a larger model Frigidaire?

 

[Quaffer]

What's the lengths of those beer shanks? I've been searching for 3 inch stainless shanks or one piece nipple shanks and I cannot find anyone that has them in 3/16" bore. My beverage line is 3/16", so I thought that I need 3/16" bore. I see a lot that are 1/4" bore.

I use 1/4" bore shanks with 3/16" beer line. I had the same concern as you do, but it turned out OK. I serve at about 10 psi through 10' beer lines and there is minimal foaming. At 12 to 14 psi, the first glass of the day will have more foam but the second glass will be just right. Temperature will be a factor also. I will typically keep it in the low 40's.

Heating the tubing in very hot water makes it easy to slide it on the hose barb.

By the way, thanks for the compliment in you earlier post.

 

[triangulum33]

I use 1/4" shanks and 10' of 3/16" line. Serve at 43* and 13psi. Nice carb with no foaming.

 

[DirtyDachshunds]

Four on the floor, really? I know mine can not hold that many on the floor. There must be something that is different with your setup. Perhaps you have a larger model Frigidaire?

I got the 7 cuft model here: http://www.pcrichard.com/catalog/product.jsp?modelNo=FFC0723GB

Here are some pictures to show you how everything fits. I only have 1 corny currently, so cardboard cutouts resemble the others.

 

[NewBrewB]

Don't they make 2.5 gal cornies now? I was hoping I could fit 2 of those up on the shelf at some point.

 

[triangulum33]

The reality is that its a very tight fit for 4 cornies. But it will fit.

 

[Quaffer]

I got the 7 cuft model here: http://www.pcrichard.com/catalog/product.jsp?modelNo=FFC0723GB

Here are some pictures to show you how everything fits. I only have 1 corny currently, so cardboard cutouts resemble the others.

It looks like it will fit four on the bottom. It will be interesting to see a picture once you fit four actual cornies in there.

That's a good price on the freezer by the way. It is the same model.

 

[Quaffer]

Time for a few updates.

First off is a minor update to the wiring of the Love temperature controller. I used the green wire in a three-conductor cable to carry switched power from terminal 9 down to the compressor power input. In case you wonder, it is perfectly fine to use the green conductor for other purposes than ground. It still complies with code with the provision that you mark the green wire so that it will not be confused by ground by someone working on the wiring in the future. So the update is that I have added a piece of black electrical tape to mark the green wire, and a similar marker goes at the other end as well. We may as well comply with code when it is as simple as this, right? I'd be interested to hear any comments you have on this topic.

 

[Quaffer]

After trying a few ways to use the computer fan, I ended up mounting it on a three-inch PVC pipe. It is attached to the pipe via a rubber plumbing adapter for 3" to 5" (I think) PVC pipe. The fan is a bit too big to fit the 5" end, so I temporarily fastened it with wide masking tape while I'm thinking of a permanent way to mount it. It is working so well, though, that I have put off changing it indefinitely.

At the bottom I used a hole saw to cut as many 1" holes I could fit around the perimeter. The pipe is just standing on the bottom of the freezer, wherever it will fit, sucking up the coldest air from the floor and blowing it out a few inches below the lid. This helps preventing cold air from collecting at the bottom and warmer air at the top around the taps and hoses.

I wish I could remember who to credit for this idea, because I saw or read about it first here on HBT.

 

[Quaffer]

I have found a simple way to avoid having to lift heavy kegs into the kegerator. I put the carboy on a table and an empty sanitized keg in the kegerator. Then I wheel the kegerator over to the table and rack right into the keg. I use a couple of phone books under the carboy to gain a couple of inches. It is probably not necessary, but I want to make sure that the siphon does not stall before the end. Brown Ale with homegrown hops in the carboy.

 

[crackhead7]

anyone wanting to attach a drip try might want to consider gluing special earth magnets to it , should stick nice and snug to the side!

 

[BrewBeemer]

After trying a few ways to use the computer fan, I ended up mounting it on a three-inch PVC pipe. It is attached to the pipe via a rubber plumbing adapter for 3" to 5" (I think) PVC pipe. The fan is a bit too big to fit the 5" end, so I temporarily fastened it with wide masking tape while I'm thinking of a permanent way to mount it. It is working so well, though, that I have put off changing it indefinitely.

At the bottom I used a hole saw to cut as many 1" holes I could fit around the perimeter. The pipe is just standing on the bottom of the freezer, wherever it will fit, sucking up the coldest air from the floor and blowing it out a few inches below the lid. This helps preventing cold air from collecting at the bottom and warmer air at the top around the taps and hoses.

I wish I could remember who to credit for this idea, because I saw or read about it first here on HBT.

I supplied 2" PVC with a 2 1/2" SQ muffin fan up from the corner of a keezer, added two 90's plus a stub up inside the coffin. This on a neighbors keezer that now has a second 2 1/2" muffin at the bottom of the coffin blowing downward helping the other undersized muffin. Parts at hand on the cheap and ugly but works great.
I like your drilled holes idea as we used a bandsaw notching teeth out on the bottom, rather funky.

 

[BrewBeemer]

anyone wanting to attach a drip try might want to consider gluing special earth magnets to it , should stick nice and snug to the side!

One HBT member glued HD magnets into recessed pockets on the mounting board for his drip tray, it held a row of filled mugs I recall.

 

[MW66]

Time for a few updates.

First off is a minor update to the wiring of the Love temperature controller. I used the green wire in a three-conductor cable to carry switched power from terminal 9 down to the compressor power input. In case you wonder, it is perfectly fine to use the green conductor for other purposes than ground. It still complies with code with the provision that you mark the green wire so that it will not be confused by ground by someone working on the wiring in the future. So the update is that I have added a piece of black electrical tape to mark the green wire, and a similar marker goes at the other end as well. We may as well comply with code when it is as simple as this, right? I'd be interested to hear any comments you have on this topic.

Unfortunately, electricity is not my strongest suit, but I motorized my grain mill and I completely wired my wood shop, so I could probably tackle this as well. Hopefully, I can use you as a consultant to get this right. I just ordered all of my parts last night. I had already purchased the frezzer over the summer when I first read your thread, but now I'm getting serious.

 

[Quaffer]

Unfortunately, electricity is not my strongest suit, but I motorized my grain mill and I completely wired my wood shop, so I could probably tackle this as well. Hopefully, I can use you as a consultant to get this right. I just ordered all of my parts last night. I had already purchased the frezzer over the summer when I first read your thread, but now I'm getting serious.

Sounds great! Here are lots of knowledgable people that can help, so you will be fine. Your wiring experience should make this easy.

 

[MW66]

What do you guys think about these tap handles? I love the looks of them and I was contemplating getting them for my keezer build. My only concern is the 11.5" height and it's height above the keezer lid. I was going to get black and silver to match the Frigidaire black freezer. Also, I could create my own labels. A good picture is located in this thread, three posts down: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/custom-tap-handle-search-124797/

Also, they are at http://taphandles.myshopify.com/pro...k-pub-tap-handle-with-silver-rectangle-shield

It is the large pub handle in silver/black with the rectangle emblem.

 

[KurtB]

Time for a few updates.

Quaffer,

Nice looking build.

With a collar that thick, how are you mounting the Love controller and keeping it tight against the collar? I have tried putting the clips backwards on mine, but still don't like how loose they fit, and my collar is only a 1x8 with no insulation (yet).

 

[Quaffer]

Quaffer,

Nice looking build.

With a collar that thick, how are you mounting the Love controller and keeping it tight against the collar? I have tried putting the clips backwards on mine, but still don't like how loose they fit, and my collar is only a 1x8 with no insulation (yet).

I crept up on the hole with a rasp, testing the fit every ten seconds or so until I had a snug interference fit. I have to push on the back to get the controller out of the collar. This collar is 1.25" thick.

 

[KurtB]

Thanks Quaffer. I think I am just going to shim mine from the inside a bit to snug it up, and leave the clips loosly attached so it cannot fall out if somebody tries to mess with it too much.

 

[MW66]

I ordered the Dwyer TSX-10140 a couple of days ago and I went online to check the status on the Dwyer website. I was shocked that it has a May 17th delivery date!!! Did everyone else have a really long wait for this controller? They have the celsius model in stock, so I might have to reconsider with a same day delivery. Cole Parmer has the TS-13010. Any other sources? What should I do and has anyone else run into this?

 

[DirtyDachshunds]

I got mine from drillspot
http://www.drillspot.com/products/466548/Love_TSX-10140_Temperature_Switch

It came in about 3 days, free shipping

 

[triangulum33]

I got a TSS2-2100 from Dwyer for a fermentation chamber a couple weeks ago and it came across country in about a week.

 

[timOD]

I ordered my 10140 from Cole Parmer in mid December and they gave me an estimated delivery date of March 7th. I called and changed to 13010. Got it in less than a week.

got wiring info for the 10130 here:
http://blog.flaminio.net/blogs/index.php/beer/gadgets/love-ts-13010-temperature-switch-new-wir-2008

 

[MW66]

I got mine from drillspot
http://www.drillspot.com/products/466548/Love_TSX-10140_Temperature_Switch

It came in about 3 days, free shipping

Unfortunately, drillspot is out of stock.

 

[Eisendrath]

I called dwyer and talked to tech support.
they suggested an alternative that was in stock for about same price.
got it in three days

 

[DirtyDachshunds]

Here's my attempt, without the taps istalled yet.

 

[MW66]

I called dwyer and talked to tech support.
they suggested an alternative that was in stock for about same price.
got it in three days

I called Grainger and they had three in stock, so I ordered one from them. My only concern is that their picture looks like an older unit (red buttons instead of blue buttons), and if so, I'm guessing the wiring is different. What alternate did Dwyer suggest as a replacement for the TSX-10140?

Grainger: http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/LOVE-Temperature-Switch-2HMF9

So, far, I built a base frame with casters and maple trim. It looks nice as I inset the casters so you really cannot see them and it appears that the freezer (soon to be keezer) is floating just off the floor. I needed to inset them far enough so they could freely swivel without hitting the base trim. I also cut the sections for the collar, but I also have ordered 1/8" birdseye maple that I plan to adhere on the face. I'll post pictures when I have a few more steps complete. I'll create another thread to not highjack this one.

 

[Quaffer]

Here's my attempt, without the taps istalled yet.

Looking good! Already serving beer I see. That's the spirit.

 

[sycotik]

Just saw your build in BYO this month. I thought it looked familiar...