Danby DWC440BL - keggerator

[Denny's Evil Concoctions]

Well, I found a Danby DWC440BL wince cooler (same as the 440DL fridge but with glass door and steel shelving) for $80, so I turned it into a keggerator.

Took off Plastic top. Only 6 screws.

Unscrewed the light fixture but is unnecessary. I decided to remount the temp probe inside the tower. It Hold 2 5g cornies. Can hold a 5 lb tank and 1 or 2 additional 3 gal cornies but I don't have any, and my tank is a 20lb'er which will be external.

I bought this 4 inch tower used for $160 Can including all the corny connectors etc. I like it, has that antique maratime feel.

 

[Denny's Evil Concoctions]

Now I'll have to shine those kegs!!!

I didn't take any pics of the drilling process because I couldn't find my camera. It had disappeared amonst some tools.

I basically cut out a pice of 1/4 inch plywood abouy 10x8 inches in size and mounted it with srews into the metal top (plastic top was off) then remount the plastic top, mesure where your hole should be. Missing the inside back wall and the light fixture. My tower is a 4 Inch but I made a 2 and 1/8" hole since that was the largest hole saw bit I had. Should be big enough for cooling the tower.

Tomorrow I have to cut a hole for the co2 line. Probably through where the compressor mounts, hopefully avoiding any important things like tubing full of coolent...

A website that I found AFTER I did this shows a simular unit, though it's the fridge version.
http://thegatesofdawn.ca/kegerator.shtml

Any recommendations for mounting a quick disconnect for the co2?

My tower is a 3 faucet but the fridge only holds 2 cornies. When I move I will be getting a used chest freezer to use for lagering, so I plan on running a short piece of 3/4" pvc tubing between the keggerator and the lagering chamber. I'll put the 3rd corniy in there and run the beer tubing through the 3/4 inch tubing.

 

[Denny's Evil Concoctions]

Anyone ever cut into the bottom of one of these? Trying to find a safe spot for the co2 line.

 

[gp125racer]

Lookin good! I cant wait to get my fridge

-=gp125racer=-

 

[mrkrispy]

very cool!

 

[Chairman Cheyco]

Did you end up mounting the fridge's temperature probe inside the tower? I would think that that might not be the best place for it, you may end up freezing your beer.

 

[Denny's Evil Concoctions]

Actually its hard to get these damn wine coolers that cold. We'll see by tomorrow.

 

[fallenchicago]

Actually its hard to get these damn wine coolers that cold. We'll see by tomorrow.

Sorry to be bringing up a thread that is a few years old, but I saw you're still active and posting. Curious how your wine cooler kegerator had held up in terms of keeping beer cold enough. Looks like the temp range in most of these units starts in the low 40's?

 

[Denny's Evil Concoctions]

Thought I'd update this for anyone converting a wine chiller.

The temp probe is mounted under a plastic washer to the back wall of the fridge. You need to move this somewhere else. I mounted it to the outside of the plastic washer and that was enough to make the fridge drop down to cold temps. Downside is if any ice builds up on the back then that can mess with the probe.

I added a plate chiller to the back of the fridge and added a computer fan to blow air around. The plate chiller is connected to an external keg so I can use my third tap. I had to move the temperature probe because of this.

I had this fridge indoors for years then after a flood in the basement it remained in the garage for couple of years since I needed to rearrange the basement suite to make room for it again. I finally did that last week.

I'm having an issue getting the beer below 7c-10c. I think it's airflow. I moved the fan inside and I have to figure out how I had it placed before. The back of the fridge is icing over so it's not the compressor! I remember cleaning the entire thing in the fall and had removed the fan etc. Since it was in the garage which was around 10c-15c all winter I didn't notice the airflow issue until I moved it back into the house (20c-22c). In fact, now that I think about it, I remember I replaced the fan (it died), so I might need to get one with higher output now that the kegerator is back inside the house.

I don't mind drinking beer at 10c but what I have been doing for the last several months is leaving the kegs at near freezing in the kegerator as this ages the beer quicker. I pour into a glass and let it warm up to appropriate temperature. I really wish I had the room for a keezer. I'd probably use the kegerator as lagering or cold conditioning unit and use the keezer for a 4 tap system.

I might sell this unit (with a cheaper tower) to my neighbour who would use it for commercial sized kegs and use the money to by a small freezer. I need more taps! And I would like to be able to contain the kegs and co2 tank inside.