DIY Walk In Cooler Build

[Irrenarzt]

Well I went to upload some new pics today and it appears Imgur also has a limit of 225 pics without upgrading to a pay per year arrangement. That sucks. I guess I'm not surprised.

I'm beat so I can't take the time to figure out an alternative right now.

Edit: Looks like only the most recent 225 pics are active so the older ones at the beginning of the thread may be blocked. Someone will have to check this and let me know as the older ones are showing up for me so they may be cached on my PC.

I have loaded a number of new pics on Imgur today. But I'm beat. Time for bed. Stoked that ASU just got housed though...

 

[johnsnownw]

A cursory inspection revealed photobucket images broken on page 20...but that's all I saw.

 

[Irrenarzt]

Some pics from yesterday:

Cooler getting filled more:

Shelves are sagging under the load of the beer, which isn't cool. So I ordered some thick aluminum plate and I will machine new shelves here in a week or so. Sagging will not happen on my watch.

Had to redo the inner frame box as it didn't quite fit the outer box Solar Steve made for me:

Insulation getting glued into the outer box:

Insulation in place:

Tap holes laid out:

Drilled:

The shanks I have are the ones with a 90 degree hose barb so I had to drill the holes a bit bigger so they would be able to pass through. I would go with straights if I were to do it again. Less slop is always better than more slop, unless you are talking about a squirter.

 

[Irrenarzt]

So I was working hard to get the taps all going for a birthday party we had at the house on Sunday but I didn't have the right hose clamps so I had to abandon the plan at the last minute. I did run a beer line with a picnic tap out the hole in the cooler and that worked ok, especially for 35 people all pouring their own pints. I had a large plastic tray on the surface below the taps and it was full of spilled beer so in a way it was probably better than if I had people pouring out of the Perlicks.

I ordered new hose clamps so I should be good to go here soon. Unfortunately GABF is this weekend so I won't be home to finish up...

 

[kerklein2]

See ya in Denver!

 

[pnh2atl]

Hey I just build a 100 sqft walk in. I'm have trouble with the AC coils freezing. I'm stuck using my phone to look through this thread so finding a post about it is a pain in the neck so I figured I'd just post here. Any solutions out there?

 

[johnsnownw]

Hey I just build a 100 sqft walk in. I'm have trouble with the AC coils freezing. I'm stuck using my phone to look through this thread so finding a post about it is a pain in the neck so I figured I'd just post here. Any solutions out there?

You need to purchase a cool-bot.

http://www.storeitcold.com/

 

[bcrawfo2]

I was going to suggest that. To help a little more, I think the coolbot helps by tricking the window unit fan to continue running after the desired temperature has been reached. This is in contrast to just turning the power off. Running the fan should help/prevent the ice on the fins from forming

 

[Shockerengr]

keeping the fan going is one of the keys - it helps evaporate the moisture that collects when the compressor is running during the off part of the cycle.

The other thing the coolbot does is sense the temperature of the evaporator coils, and turn the compressor off if it gets too cold.

 

[brewguyver]

Now that you've been up and running, any idea about the temperature range you're getting in there?

Edit: e.g. +/- swings on your set point

 

[Irrenarzt]

It's pretty stable temperature wise. So far I've noticed only 3 degrees up and only one degree down off my set point of 38. Now bear in mind this is merely my looking at the temperature displayed on an independent thermometer, not the coolbot. I haven't logged any data and plotted it. I would need a way to collect data without me being in the cooler. I can say it is pretty stable. If you leave the door open, you will start to climb but it's pretty slow. We had a party a couple weekends back so the door was open a lot showing it off etc and it went from 37 to maybe 43 in the 10 minutes the door was left open. The PVC curtain does help considerably.

Scored another 40 or so bottles at GABF this past weekend. I noticed the shelves cannot handle the weight of the bottles so I ordered some 5/8" thick aluminum plate and I will be using these to make shelves from in the next few weeks. This should help.

 

[Irrenarzt]

Man down:

Went to swap some of the shelves around for the upcoming aluminum replacements. Whoops. At least it was one I have doubles of, and wasn't all that rare...

 

[rgauthier20420]

Yep. Just spent the last 2-3 hours reading every single post on this thread. One of the best documented and greatest builds I've seen out here man. Well done. I plan on building something similar to this one day but it would end up inside the house. Much cheaper this way, but it's good to see that a window unit can run it down the such a low temperature with that Coolbot. Looking forward to seeing those taps pumping.

 

[Irrenarzt]

I just got the hose clamps so I am close to being able to finish it off.

Brewing starts soon as I plan to brew up a storm to get the kegs populated.

 

[Stealthcruiser]

5/8 thick aluminum plate, plus the weight of the beer!

When ya' gonna' upgrade the legs..............

 

[kerklein2]

5/8 thick aluminum plate, plus the weight of the beer!

When ya' gonna' upgrade the legs..............

Seriously. 5/8" seems like some serious overkill.

 

[DrunkleJon]

Seriously. 5/8" seems like some serious overkill.

I think Overkill defines the whole build. But such wonderful overkill. Once again great job all round. With that much weight though, I would highly suggest securing the shelves to the walls. I would not want one of those falling on me (and not just for the beer losses).

 

[Irrenarzt]

I am working on brackets to mount to the walls as well but this is a ways out.

Also only the shelves that will have a load on them will be aluminum. The top shelves, which are going to be less loaded, are going to be the plastic ones I already have.

5/8" will not flex, even with the fattest person you know on there, much less 50 bottles. Plus aluminum will be a nice cold sink, keeping things cooler easier once they are cooled down sufficiently.

 

[Soapebrews]

This build is incredible....SWMBO asked what i was reading so i showed her. I am now grounded from HBT!!!

But, seriously, she's killed the idea before i asked.

Great job, though!!!

 

[Irrenarzt]

Seriously. 5/8" seems like some serious overkill.

Nothing exceeds like excess.

Plus I got a screaming deal on that size plate from my metalman.

 

[Shockerengr]

This build is incredible....SWMBO asked what i was reading so i showed her. I am now grounded from HBT!!!

But, seriously, she's killed the idea before i asked.

Great job, though!!!

Lol, my swmbo asked when we were getting one.

Of course, I think she also had the ulterior motive of wanting a new house to go with it....

 

[brewguyver]

Lol, my swmbo asked when we were getting one.

Of course, I think she also had the ulterior motive of wanting a new house to go with it....

+1 on the "you can put one in when we get a new house ... Look at these nice ones on Zillow"

 

[Irrenarzt]

Sorry to do that to you guys. That is not my intention. I did this to a house I've lived in for that past 12 years. I think that's the best way to go instead of buying a newer/bigger house and taking on more debt.

Just tell them it's a money saver as you'll be getting rid of the chest freezers and they can put the leftover turkey in there after they clean up on Thanskgiving. It's a win/win.

I finished a few of the new shelves today:

No flex whatsoever. Each shelf will hold 50 750's/22's.

 

[joshjv]

Just wanted to post up... Have loved following your project!

I was in El Paso a couple days for work, and had a Jester King El Cedro. Was fantastic! Before reading this thread, I'd never heard of JK, and probably would have ordered something else instead.. Thanks!

 

[Irrenarzt]

That is awesome. Jeff at Jester King would love that.

He is really a class act and the beer is pretty damn good as well. I like to see good people doing well. He got his first medal this past weekend at GABF. I'm stoked for him...

 

[kerklein2]

How much each one of those shelves weigh? 200lbs?

 

[finsfan]

Are you cold crashing beers or lagering?

 

[DrunkleJon]

I am insanely jealous of your collection

 

[Irrenarzt]

This is currently being used for cold storage, around 37 F so I would say I am cold crashing. One can also lager condition, or even lager ferment if I turn up the temperature. But I have a fridge in the garage for that so I will keep this cold for now.

As for the aluminum itself, they aren't that bad. I can easily carry one at a time. I'm not sure how much a loaded shelf is, but it could be a fair amount. One 750 mL bottle weighs roughly 3 pounds so 3 x 50 = 150 plus the weight of the shelf. Close to 200 is a good estimate.

 

[Fleur-di-lis]

I made it to page 32, great work so far! If I were planning to do a walk in cooler, I would take a look at the costs involved with pouring an insulated slab, with a floor drain, and using insulated concrete forms for solid poured concrete walls with styrofoam insulation on either side. Attach metal lathe and stucco. Also use a mini split AC unit.

Otherwise great work and I look forward to seeing the updated progress as I find time to read the rest of the thread.