Regulators inside or outside?

[spittybug]

Hi people. I'm rebuilding my keezer top since my current design is too heavy, opens clunky and had some construction missteps. I'm going to go with a 2x6 collar, wrapped with red oak that is finger jointed at the corners. The oak will also extend 2" higher than the collar, allowing the top to sit in the recess. I'll post pics as I go, but first a question;

I am adding a pair of secondary regulators so that I can have some variety. Plan is to have ~25psi coming off main - with a gas line to force carb, ~12psi coming off the first new one - leading to a manifold to feed 5 kegs, and ~8psi coming off the second new one to allow for light blanketing of either cask drawn or low carbonation stouts. No problem putting distribution blocks in keezer, but what's the opinion on putting the regulators/gauges in such an environment? My tank & primary sit outside the keezer. Living in sticky Houston I get a lot of condensation in the keezer just from the small amount of time I have it open. Walls and kegs drip down and I drain out the bottom drain. The kitty litter trick doesn't touch the problem. I don't think that moisture would be good for the gauges......

Thanks.

 

[m00ps]

it shouldnt make a difference whether the regular or tank is inside the kegerator. I used to have mine inside my kegerator when I first started kegging. Only thing itll change is the reading of how full the tank is due to the expansion/contraction of the co2 gas

 

[Sailingeric]

I have tank and single regulator outside which feeds to a 4 keg regulator inside.

 

[bdogg171]

I would suggest outside, I used to keep my reg and tank inside but I noticed corrosion developing around the reg from Houston condensation as well.

 

[spittybug]

I would suggest outside, I used to keep my reg and tank inside but I noticed corrosion developing around the reg from Houston condensation as well.

Yeah, I'm thinking this is yet another one of those cases where our weather impacts how we do things......

 

[spittybug]

Finished the new collar/top. I put the regulators outside. Right now one of them is set to really low pressure just to keep a blanket on my milk stout that I don't want very carbonated. The other is sent to the distribution block in the keezer that feeds the other kegs. I also plan on extending the main from the regulators so I have a high pressure connection for quick carbing.

This is a simple yet elegant build IMHO. A 2x6 collar that is the same dimensions as the freezer lid. Using door hinges, I mounted the lid to the frame. The oak fascia is on 3 sides, finger jointed on the corners and indented to accommodate the handle portion of the lid. It is screwed from the inside, so no external screws. I wanted the fascia to come up and envelop the lid. The frame sits on a gasket on the top lip of the freezer and the fascia hangs below the frame, thus keeping everything from moving. The foil/bubble/aluminum tape on the interior of the frame is glued on with spray adhesive (damn good stuff that 3M). The STC-100 controls an outlet on the back side of the frame that the keezer and the circulation fan plug into. I purposely put all the taps on the end opposite all of the kegs to keep the plumbing out of the way. They are on 3" centers and I have room to add a couple more The keezer will hold 7 comfortably. I wrapped electrical tape around the hose clamps for the keg connectors; I hate getting pinched/cut by them when connecting kegs.

Next up; I have a plexiglas sheet that will hang down from the tap area and support the drip tray. It will attach to the backside of the fascia. I'm sorry, I'm just too damned cheap to pay the crazy prices for stainless steel drip panels/trays.

 

[bdogg171]

Freaking Niceeeee, looks awesome Spittybug!

 

[spittybug]

Thanks. The beer I put in it is tasting pretty good these days too My neighbors must wonder what the hell I'm doing at my house. Between building keezer tops, a brew rig, giant drum smoker or having the Delorean up on the lift doing some modifications, they must think I'm some kind of eccentric.

:rockin: Long live eccentricity!

 

[Yesfan]

.............or having the Delorean up on the lift doing some modifications................

flux capacitor?




I know, I know....but someone else would have said it if I didn't.



Seriously, very nice keezer Spittybug

 

[spittybug]

No flux, but being all stainless I have been racking my brain to find a way to tie it into the other stainless hobby. Maybe a mobile brewery!

 

[spittybug]

I think I like the new drip tray set up. The tray is a little small, but hey, it's a garage floor...

So why does this forum rotate the pictures????

 

[spittybug]

Simple solution for fermentation cabinet. 2 thick rubber hoses (industrial in this case, but insulated PVC pipe works fine) between the insulated box and the keezer. The fan inside the cabinet will have the temp controller installed to control it. With the keezer at ~40*, the cabinet gets into the low 50s. That's plenty cool enough for ales, if I want to lager I go into the keezer.