Frigidaire Model FRC445GB Mini-Fridge Kegerator Conversion

[kracken41]

If anyone figures out a good way to drill the top of this please let us know. This looks like a good bang-for-the-buck fridge, but due to space limitations I have to run to a tower.

 

[Myrdhyn]

Just got this a few days ago for my keg setup. As the OP stated, the top is on there fairly solid, not sure what it would take to get it off so you could find the coils to drill around, but I am sure that I do not want to risk damaging it to find out. I'm going with a front mount setup. Two taps, fairly close to the center (horizontally) and up high. If I later expand to two 3gal corny kegs on the compressor shelf and two 5gal cornies up front, I'll put two more taps on either side of the original two.

I'll try and remember to take pictures when I start my conversion, if i can find my digital camera.

 

[kracken41]

Has anyone actually completed a kegerator with this fridge yet? I am trying to get a kegerator built for St Patty's day and am slightly concerned about temperature consistency with this model. I'm curious if anyone has been able to verify that this fridge will hold a good temperature.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Myrdhyn]

I'll have a conversion complete by the end of the week. Will definitely do my best to remember the camera.

 

[kracken41]

Just bought one of these at Lowe's tonight and will post my experience as well.

 

[Myrdhyn]

I literally JUST posted my build thread on this.

To the guy asking about temps: Seems fairly consistent, but I don't have any exact temps for you right now (they were sold out of fridge thermometers). I can tell you this, turned up high, with a full keg and 10# co2 tank inside, this fridge will maintain sub-freezing temps (yeah my beer lines froze and I couldn't get any co2 to flow, freaked me out for a sec). Turned low, it will maintain ~45*F. I've got it on about 3 now which is mid-range. I'll toss a bottle of water in it and take the waters temp tomorrow.

 

[rth97601]

I've set up the same fridge, and my temps seem awfully low, in comparison--different reads on different thermometers in different places in the fridge, but at the lowest setting I'm getting reads between 34 and 38 and plenty of ice forming on the top as condensation freezes--and that's with a full keg and 5# CO2 tank (I've had it gassing up for a week now). Room temp fluctuates between 60 and 66, which might have some effect, but overall it's a bit cold for English-style ales. I've got an external thermostat on order, but if anyone has any suggestions on how to warm it up a few degrees without having to buy another piece of equipment, I'm all ears.

 

[Myrdhyn]

Did you get the settings backwards?

1 on the fridge is the warmest setting, 7 on the fridge is the coldest setting. I have mine halfway between 2 and 3 and it maintains low 40s. If I crank it to 7 it sits below 30*. My room temp is approximately the same as yours.

 

[pen25]

dont forget when building with one of these its best to use a fan to circulate the air. this will allow you to keep it at a warmer setting and prevent it from cycling. i pull air up

 

[rth97601]

I've got it on one, right on the edge of the off switch ... I did have it up higher, and it got below freezing when it was empty. I actually went out and bought a fridge thermometer to confirm, since I didn't trust my mash therm or my wife's cheese therm (suited as they are for higher temps). Still the same numbers--maybe I ended up with a random superfridge, though that seems odd. So how does the fan fit into it? I don't have one--is it something freestanding, or do you wire it in?

 

[pen25]

I've got it on one, right on the edge of the off switch ... I did have it up higher, and it got below freezing when it was empty. I actually went out and bought a fridge thermometer to confirm, since I didn't trust my mash therm or my wife's cheese therm (suited as they are for higher temps). Still the same numbers--maybe I ended up with a random superfridge, though that seems odd. So how does the fan fit into it? I don't have one--is it something freestanding, or do you wire it in?

goto radioshack or bastbuy and buy a muffin case fan. make sure its 12volt. then get an old cellphone charger and cut the ends off. use a vom and find which is poss and neg. then wire that into the charger. if you wanted to keep it internal check the switch for constant hot and wire it into there just make sure you use a 110 fan. you just need the air to circulate so you can mount it to the top or you can use some pvc tubing and mount the fan into it and blow the air up or down. i was at homedepot looking at pvc the other night and think i will try to come up with something and take pics. i have a bunch of muffin fans laying around

 

[rth97601]

I'm not exactly eletrically inclined--I can do this without frying myself?

 

[Jmarsh544]

Does anyone have any pictures of this completed conversion? I am very intrested in this conversion and may want to attempt it soon.

 

[kracken41]

Check out https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/kegerator-build-107132/ for pics from Myrdhyn.

My first fridge that I bought was dented, so I just had time to go get a replacement. I am doing some temperature tests right now based on the fact some people have gotten different temps. Once I have the temp dialed in I'm gonna drill it and will post pics as well.

 

[Misellus]

I bought one of these last month and have been using it ever since to house 2 kegs. I found it at Lowes for $140 as a scratch and dent (top plastic piece was broken in shipment). Remove 2 screws to remove the freezer door and 2 screws to detach the light/temp control. Push the temp control backwards as far as you can and there's room for 2 5 gallon kegs.

Kegs

I have the temperature setting at 2.5 which keeps the kegs around 38F. I never had a line freeze but there's often frozen condensation on the ceiling coils. I'm using cobra taps for now but will eventually put taps on the front (this sits on a counter so I wasn't going to put a tower on it anyway)

The 5# CO2 tank and line splitter sit conveniently on the compressor hump, no problems.

Randy

 

[kracken41]

I currently have mine set at 1 (the warmest temperature) and it is holding consistently with one keg at 40F with no freezing. I guess the only issue would be if you wanted your brew closer to 45 degrees. I haven't drilled my door yet, so I suppose there could be some minor temp gain if the holes are not sealed.

 

[tek210]

I am thinking about this unit. I am going to be building a cabinet around this unit with a butcher block top so I can mount the tower to that. Anyone know if there are other spots on this to run the lines as the top still appears to be risky.

 

[vtsnwbrdr]

I recently bought one of these refrigerators as well and am noticing that the temps inside are running about 36-38F on the lowest (1) setting. Anybody else encounter this problem and have a fix? I was thinking of either returning the fridge for another type or maybe buying a Johnson Controls Thermostat to control the temps. Thanks

 

[rth97601]

I've had the low-temp problem, and I just picked up an external thermostat. I haven't used it yet (I don't have a keg ready to go, so the fridge is currently sitting idle) but I don't expect it to be a problem. I do English-style beers, and intend to keep them nearer 50, so the thermostat might be necessary on a number of fridges anyway. Still, at $52 for the thermostat, that's a total fridge cost of $220--not bad for going the new ridge route.

 

[tek210]

Either of you guys running your lines through the top on this one?

 

[vtsnwbrdr]

I actually haven't gotten around to converting this to a kegerator yet, but I think I'll be running the taps through the door as others have done in this post.

 

[fastricky]

Ordered mine yesterday, being delivered today... thanks for the heads up y'all!

 

[rth97601]

I'm running mine through the door as well

 

[tek210]

Ended up getting an Oster 5.0 today at Best Buy for $145 on clearance. So now I can load through the top without fear of cutting a line, wish me luck on the conversion.

 

[kracken41]

I converted mine this past weekend. I'll be posting pics ASAP. Very easy conversion through the door.

 

[Kmack]

Ended up getting an Oster 5.0 today at Best Buy for $145 on clearance. So now I can load through the top without fear of cutting a line, wish me luck on the conversion.

That Oster 5.0 is cheap enough to convince me to try using that as my kegerator. I haven't found one "in store" yet to measure, do you know if it will fit a 1/4 or 1/2 keg?

 

[tek210]

That Oster 5.0 is cheap enough to convince me to try using that as my kegerator. I haven't found one "in store" yet to measure, do you know if it will fit a 1/4 or 1/2 keg?

I am not sure what it will fit beyond the 2 cornies I have it their now.

 

[Myrdhyn]

I converted mine this past weekend. I'll be posting pics ASAP. Very easy conversion through the door.

Aye, and rock solid if make sure to back it with a small piece of wood so you can really crank down those shanks. Personally, I like it through the door better than the tower because of the simplicity, and I have the entire top of the fridge for storage. Makes a great mini-bar with space for some glasses, few bottles of liquor, etc.

 

[pen25]

I'm not exactly eletrically inclined--I can do this without frying myself?

yes you can. just be patient and make sure you use a volt ohm meter to verify the polarity of the wallwart and match that up with your fan. if you want to be safer take the wallwart to radioshack and get a female end that the plug in will fit. remember the center pin is positive on cellphone chargers. and use heat shrink to cover the bare wire. get enough to cover the wire and enough to cover the two covered wires so it bundles.

 

[Baja_Brewer]

I like this, I might end up using it for my next kegerator. Gotta have one that my roommates dont have access too