GE 4.5 Fridge

[AeroT]

Will this one work for a double keg setup?

http://www.walmart.com/ip/GE-4.5-Cu...?povid=cat90548-env198529-module223849-rLink2

 

[oconnor1981]

Obviously there is a chance it would work but it looks like this one has a built in ice tray which would make it tough if not impossible to put a tower in. Most kegerators have been made out of the Sanyo SR-4912M. It is about $250 on Frye's Electronics (online), and ships reasonably. I made mine out of this. I can fit two 5 gallon corny kegs in there and a 5lb CO2 tank fits behind them with a dual regulator. I'm not personally aware of a different compact fridge option.

 

[dflipse]

This is the exact question I've been looking at for the last few days. That Walmart GE 4.5cf fridge sure is tempting for the $125 price point, but it's a tough conversion.

Here's the best write-up I've seen for turning that one into a kegerator -http://www.instructables.com/id/Kegerator-GE-WMR04GAVBB-45-cu-ft-compact-fridg/

I think there are three factors you're looking for in a mini-fridge to kegerator project-

Does it have the ice tray which needs to be moved to fit kegs in? - Probably the single biggest concern, as this modification is an obvious way to break the damn thing, and some people feel may decrease the life of the device.
Does the door need to be modified to fit two kegs? - Usually not technically hard, but can be messy/annoying and may make it difficult to get a good door seal.
How hard is it to place a tower? - A moot point if running taps through the door, but mostly related to whether or not there are cooling lines on the top of the fridge.

I agree that the Sanyo SR-4912M and its cousins are the absolute premier choice, but it's $300 to get one of them to my door. The Walmart GE model fails as noted above. I think that if you aren't going to splash for the Sanyo, the best move is a trip to Lowes (or apparently Best Buy) for the Frigidaire #FRC445GM ($180ish, I think). It has the freezer design we want, where a tray simply slides out, it has the door design that does not need to be carved up, and plenty of people have shown us how to carefully cut through the top to place a tower (for example - http://brokenglassbrewing.blogspot.com/2010/04/i-started-my-kegerator-build-this-past.html).

 

[dflipse]

The end of last night's post was brought to you by too little sleep.

The Lowes FRC445GM *was* a great choice. However, it has been replaced by the LFPH44M4LM. This is still a nice choice in that there are no coolant lines on the interior of the fridge that you need to get out of the way, but the door may require modification (unlike the previous model).

One version of this mod is shown here - https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/kegerator-conversion-frigidaire-lfph44m4lm-221800/

Here's another one. This guy didn't have to modify the door - http://projectkegerator.blogspot.com/2010/08/project-kegerator.html

The big thread on the previous model sorta switches to the new model around page 30 - https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/fr...ridge-kegerator-conversion-89013/index30.html

One more non-HBT link to a modification of this fridge - http://mcsterritt.com/?p=711

Here's the kicker - Lowes.com has this one on sale for the next few days at $143.20. Looks like the sale ends 7/18.

Good luck!

 

[oconnor1981]

The other thing I will add on my Santos 4912m is that I did not have to modify the door. I simply had to detach the removable shelves but was able to keep the vertical can holder on it.

 

[AeroT]

The end of last night's post was brought to you by too little sleep.

The Lowes FRC445GM *was* a great choice. However, it has been replaced by the LFPH44M4LM. This is still a nice choice in that there are no coolant lines on the interior of the fridge that you need to get out of the way, but the door may require modification (unlike the previous model).

One version of this mod is shown here - https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/kegerator-conversion-frigidaire-lfph44m4lm-221800/

Here's another one. This guy didn't have to modify the door - http://projectkegerator.blogspot.com/2010/08/project-kegerator.html

The big thread on the previous model sorta switches to the new model around page 30 - https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/fr...ridge-kegerator-conversion-89013/index30.html

One more non-HBT link to a modification of this fridge - http://mcsterritt.com/?p=711

Here's the kicker - Lowes.com has this one on sale for the next few days at $143.20. Looks like the sale ends 7/18.

Good luck!

Can the frigidaire one at lowes handle 2 5 gallon kegs and a c02?

 

[dflipse]

Almost all mods of the fridges we're talking about are for two 5 gallon corny kegs and a 5lb CO2 tank.

I do see now that I can get a Sanyo SR-4912M from Walmart online ship to store for $250, but it's still a hundred bucks more than the Frigidaire model at Lowes currently.

 

[BrewThruYou]

Can the frigidaire one at lowes handle 2 5 gallon kegs and a c02?

Yes, but only ball lock and only a 5lb co2 tank (if you want it on the inside). Pin locks are too wide and a 10lb co2 tank would be too tall on the back hump. I have 2 5G ball locks, tapride dual body regulator, and a 5lb co2 tank in mine.