Kegerator design questions???

[firefly765]

I'm planning on constructing a kegerator. It's going under my current bar, I have 36" height clearance, 22" width & unlimited(within reason) depth clearance.

I need to drill through the top to install a double tap tower on the bar.

Would like to fit 3 corny kegs.


Now my questions:

1.) I'm looking for a used mini fridge & wonder if the kind with a little freezer on the top for ice cubes can be used. Can that part be removed? drilled through? Is that the cooling element for the entire unit?

2.) What do i connect the top of fridge to bottom of bar with? PVC w/ insulation?

3.) What size unit do i need to fit 3 kegs?

4.) Any other suggestions for an easier/better way?


Thanks.

 

[ggoodman]

1. Depends on the fridge your looking at. they come in 2 or 3 variety but short answer is if your handy you can do almost anything.

2. insulated PVC would work but dependent upon the length of the run you may need to rig something to cool the tap tower(Search here lots of options) and beer lines. temp differential will result in a foamy mess. I have my tower bolted to my fridge and I think I'm border line on needing something to chill the tower and beer lines..

3. DO you own a keg? easiest way to figure out if three kegs will fit in a unit is to buy a keg and make three cardboard template of the same circumference of the kegs. then take them with you while looking at units.... make sure to measure the height to. from what ive seen of dorm fridges 2 seems to be the run of the mill three you may as well look at a small chest freezer and temp controler.

4. Seems like your on the right track. easier way is to buy somthing pre made but to me that takes the fun out of it an often cost much more than I have..... what can I say I have champagne taste on a beer budget.

 

[JakeTheHopDog]

I bought a GE 7.0 at Home Depot that might fit your space for under $200. Since you have unlimited depth, you could put it on lengthwise. Here are the dimensions and it will hold 3 ball lock corny’s and a gas bottle with no collar.

Mine is sitting on a 2"x4" base on the flat with 2” wheels and it is 36 3/4" floor to top of lid. You could use a 1"x4" instead and meet your clearance.

Hope this helps.

 

[wildwest450]

4.) Any other suggestions for an easier/better way?

Use a chest freezer.

 

[firefly765]

I bought a GE 7.0 at Home Depot that might fit your space for under $200. Since you have unlimited depth, you could put it on lengthwise. Here are the dimensions and it will hold 3 ball lock corny’s and a gas bottle with no collar.

Mine is sitting on a 2"x4" base on the flat with 2” wheels and it is 36 3/4" floor to top of lid. You could use a 1"x4" instead and meet your clearance.

Hope this helps.

The problem with the chest freezer is it's going under the bar & I'd like something with a front opening door, not a top lid. So, every time i want to go into it I don't have to "undo" the tap insulation mechanism then "redo" it. If it wasn't under the bar that would be the way to go.

 

[whale]

I just converted a Danby/whirlpool WAR449W and it fits two kegs side by side. This model does not have a freezer, that made things easy for me and found this one at local costco for $150CDN, on top of that local hydro company was giving $50 rebate...

To fit three kegs in to this one, i would go with two options.

1 to make filler piece to bring the door out 10" or so.

2 cut the hump in the back of the fridge, move the compressor back, then level out the hole. I saw a thread on flattening the hump by raising the fridge.

i like the second option, it will probably fit 4 kegs or 3 kegs with little room for glasses and other things.


As for the tubing to tap
come out of the hump you just cut.
I would use 2" PVC or any hose, run the lines and also 1/4 copper tubing to the tap and back to run some sort of fluid. tie everything up and use spray foam (the one stays flexible after cure) make sure to fill your hose with water before spraying, prevent the foam from pinching the line.

 

[JakeTheHopDog]

The problem with the chest freezer is it's going under the bar & I'd like something with a front opening door, not a top lid. So, every time i want to go into it I don't have to "undo" the tap insulation mechanism then "redo" it. If it wasn't under the bar that would be the way to go.

Yea, I didn't think about that. Someone posted pictures of the bar they were building that had the bartop hindged to access the freezer. It was done very well, so that may be an option. Just thinking out loud... (Ouch!)

 

[kmat123]

I bought a GE 7.0 at Home Depot that might fit your space for under $200. Since you have unlimited depth, you could put it on lengthwise. Here are the dimensions and it will hold 3 ball lock corny’s and a gas bottle with no collar.

Mine is sitting on a 2"x4" base on the flat with 2” wheels and it is 36 3/4" floor to top of lid. You could use a 1"x4" instead and meet your clearance.

Hope this helps.

With the tank on the outside and a 2x10 collar this GE 7.0 cu ft. freezer will hold 5 cornys.