Show us your Kegerator

[Terrywood02]

I bit the bullet and started this project two days ago after lurking this site for a few weeks.

I started with a Frigidaire 4.4 Compact and ended up wanting a better top then just a cover over the plastic top. I made this from Oak laminate 3/4" plywood stained with a Dark Cherry stain and gloss poly. I added a few handles from Ikea to keep my glass from a tumble.

I am now waiting on my Love TS2 temperature controlled and the tower I ordered, both of which arrive on Thursday! First brew to be poured is a Surley Furious from Northen Brewer which started two weeks ago and is nearly ready for a 2nd.

 

[AussieBrewerInColorado]

I started building this a while back but had no motivation to finish it because I didn't have taps. I'm in the middle of deciding how to alter my brewing set-up so with a new march pump so instead of brewing I spent this weekend cleaning the garage up and finishing off the project. I wanted to minimize drilling into/altering the original freezer as much as possible. So this uses all existing holes from the bracket housing the spring. I need to do some caulking sometime. I really should have stained or painted the wood but I wanted to make sure it fit right first. I may disassemble and do it when I add taps but for now, this will do.

Sorry about blackberry pic quality at night. Now for some taps!

 

[Photopilot]

Looking for a little help too. The bottom holds right at the set temp (32) but the higher in the freezer the high the temp. I have a control unit that allows to change it into a fridge. I have lined the wood with a blue foam but that does not seem to be helping to much. Will my beer freeze on the bottom if the bottom is around 25 and the top of the chest is around 35 degrees? And where should I keep the tanks if the temp is really low?

I am guessing the beer won't freeze as I have left my kegs outside on many a cold winter night. What will freeze is the lines though as there is not much mass or protection in the lines. This may not happen as the tubes are in the tropical part of the keezer.

Your problem is not an insulation one but a circulation one. Warm air rises and you have a thermocline going in your keezer. You could buy a batter operated R.V. fan or create something with a computer fan to circulate the air in the keezer. Do you really have a 10 degree temp spread?

Without building a fan I would set my temp so the bottom of the keezer was at 34 degrees or warmer, or whatever you want to drink your beer at. The diptube is in the bottom of the keg so the temperature near the bottom would likely be the temp of the beer coming out. I don't think a shift of 4 degrees or so in beer temp would make a big difference when it comes to drinking it.

 

[JNye]

I am guessing the beer won't freeze as I have left my kegs outside on many a cold winter night. What will freeze is the lines though as there is not much mass or protection in the lines. This may not happen as the tubes are in the tropical part of the keezer.

Your problem is not an insulation one but a circulation one. Warm air rises and you have a thermocline going in your keezer. You could buy a batter operated R.V. fan or create something with a computer fan to circulate the air in the keezer. Do you really have a 10 degree temp spread?

Without building a fan I would set my temp so the bottom of the keezer was at 34 degrees or warmer, or whatever you want to drink your beer at. The diptube is in the bottom of the keg so the temperature near the bottom would likely be the temp of the beer coming out. I don't think a shift of 4 degrees or so in beer temp would make a big difference when it comes to drinking it.

I have a 10* temperature gradient in my keezer too. My beer bottles on the bottom froze. The solution is easy. Put your temperature probe at the bottom of the freezer. The reason I had an issue was because my probe was near the top, so it was over cooling the bottom of the freezer by 10 degrees, since my controller was set at 38*...You will still have a temp gradient but nothing will freeze, cuz the bottom will be 38 and the top 48. The temp at the bottom will be the temp you want. And the beer in the kegs will also be that temp and consistent. Only the air temp has the gradient. No big deal really. If you want to eliminate that you need a fan.

 

[Bitterbrush]

Just got my baby all installed. Thanks to the wife for helping me get it's new home so nicely decorated.

This is a Kenmore 8.8, holds 6 ball locks real easy. I did the factory double hinge for the lid and collar, so I can lift just the lid or the entire lid and collar for easy access. I installed a 12v fan for better circulation and 1" r5 insulation on the collar. Triple body Taprite secondary regulator and 4 way distributor w/ a Taprite primary on the tank. I will get some more pics of the inside this week after I get a few gas fittings that are on the way, I'll post up a few pics in the DIY board. Thanks to electrichead for the inspiration and ideas!

 

[DirtBagRob]

I just finished my kegerator. I was trying to decide on a theme for the paint job and since I'm getting my degree in about a month, I decided to pay tribute to my alma mater. It hold 5 5gal cornies (I only have two filled up so far since my pipeline isn't up to speed yet) and has 3 standard taps and 1 stout faucet running pure nitrogen. I have a two gage secondary regulator with a two way manifold on the low pressure gage and a three way manifold on the high pressure side. I've been having a hard time keeping the temperature steady so I got a temp controller and its off by about 5 degrees but it does hold the temperature within a two degree range. And its amazing how much more beer I drink when I can just quickly pull a pint and not have to go to the closet, get a few bottles to put in the fridge, and let them chill for a few hrs. I went through 4 gallons on Irish red by myself in about 10 days. I hope its just the novelty of it all.

 

[77bawls]

Is that an Ice maker or trash compactor on the left?

 

[Wingnutj]

Looks like a glassware washer.
That my Friend is a SEXY setup!:rockin:

 

[Dr1nkBeer]

Coming to the end of my build am i need advice on where i should place my probe. I'm think dead center coming down from the lid of the freezer... I have a power centrifugal fan that will move the air fairly well. It will house 4 kegs an is about 10 Cubic Feet with the colar.

i'm not fermenting (lagering) in it just chilling my kegs and some bottles.

Here are the pics.. i will post some more when its all done.
https://picasaweb.google.com/antonio.castano/MyKegerator?feat=directlink

 

[joety]

Looks like a glassware washer.
That my Friend is a SEXY setup!:rockin:

Seriously, those craftsmen style cabinets are fantastic. Did you build those yourself?

 

[AussieBrewerInColorado]

Coming to the end of my build am i need advice on where i should place my probe. I'm think dead center coming down from the lid of the freezer... I have a power centrifugal fan that will move the air fairly well. It will house 4 kegs an is about 10 Cubic Feet with the colar.

i'm not fermenting (lagering) in it just chilling my kegs and some bottles.

Here are the pics.. i will post some more when its all done.
https://picasaweb.google.com/antonio.castano/MyKegerator?feat=directlink

I just have mine coming in and sitting to the most top left of the keg above the compressor. Seems to keep it pretty dead-on with temps and is out of the way of keg placement.

 

[AussieBrewerInColorado]

Just got my baby all installed. Thanks to the wife for helping me get it's new home so nicely decorated.

This is a Kenmore 8.8, holds 6 ball locks real easy. I did the factory double hinge for the lid and collar, so I can lift just the lid or the entire lid and collar for easy access. I installed a 12v fan for better circulation and 1" r5 insulation on the collar. Triple body Taprite secondary regulator and 4 way distributor w/ a Taprite primary on the tank. I will get some more pics of the inside this week after I get a few gas fittings that are on the way, I'll post up a few pics in the DIY board. Thanks to electrichead for the inspiration and ideas!

What is the black stuff on the top and bottom of your collar?

 

[Bitterbrush]

What is the black stuff on the top and bottom of your collar?

Top of the collar is just the original seal that came on the lid, goes up with the lid when opened. On the bottom I used some black rubber seal that I found at Lowes, it's mounted to the underside of the oak collar w/ mitered corners and goes up with the collar when it's opened.

 

[torkerrider]

We kegged our first brown ale and will soon add shelves to allow cold crashing and hopefully 3 kegs at the same time with our co2 tank on the outside.

 

[AussieBrewerInColorado]

Top of the collar is just the original seal that came on the lid, goes up with the lid when opened. On the bottom I used some black rubber seal that I found at Lowes, it's mounted to the underside of the oak collar w/ mitered corners and goes up with the collar when it's opened.

Thanks, think I need to add that to the bottom of mine.

 

[Jaysus]

We kegged our first brown ale and will soon add shelves to allow cold crashing and hopefully 3 kegs at the same time with our co2 tank on the outside.

Dude, don't leave the co2 tank sideways like that.

 

[Dr1nkBeer]

I just have mine coming in and sitting to the most top left of the keg above the compressor. Seems to keep it pretty dead-on with temps and is out of the way of keg placement.

okay.. so if i stick it in the corner of the lid poping out of the lid "plastic liner" (so it will be at the back left side at the very top.. then I should be okay?..

I think someone asked if I built it myself.. (My wife wishes i hadnt... Took over my basement building this thing.. )
I stained and polished this all myself.. that took the longest.. about two days to finish.. 2 coats of stain and 3 coasts of urathane. It should withstand a few dribbles of beer.

 

[torkerrider]

That was just for some moving around that we were doing

 

[Dr1nkBeer]

Sorry for the cloudy image, my Blackberry is all i had handy (pocket fuz).

Here is the finished product in its final home (Minus Drip tray)... and You can see the build in all stages here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/antonio.castano/MyKegerator?feat=directlink

 

[gtcole]

Where did you get that blower fan? I am trying to figure out what fan to use and that looks perfect.

 

[DubbelDach]

yes they are klyph...

Ahhhh come on... You're pulling my leg.

Literally... every time you get a.... beer.

:fro:

 

[Dr1nkBeer]

Where did you get that blower fan? I am trying to figure out what fan to use and that looks perfect.

You can find it on ebay... its a 12v fan its kind of loud but you can run it at 9v.. It works well the gentle breeze inside the fridge make my faucets COLD.

Check ebay..
http://cgi.ebay.com/Nidec-Gamma-30-..._EN_Networking_Components&hash=item2a0f673285

I got mine from a Server Engineer at my Job, i'm in IT so it wasnt hard.. The one got is actually 250 bucks new to replace from factory..and about 30 bucks on ebay...(about) the one i found just now on ebay is about 1 buck...

 

[italynstallyn44]

Just about finished with my kegerator. Figured I would share. Still working on the second tap handle. It's going to look just like the other one.

 

[jeciv]

Thanks to my lovely wife she let me upgrade my dual tap to add 4 taps for homebrew in a 9 cubic foot chest freezer off of craigslist which was 2 yrs old for $100. a friend gave me a 20 lb CO2 tank for free and I already had the extra regulator, so I bought a mainfold and temp controller.. pretty cheap all together.
so now I have 6 taps and the wife is happy. Taps are handmade from surgical equipment as I work in the Operating Room..

What are those, Stryker hips? Awesome!

 

[doublesimcoe]

What are those, Stryker hips? Awesome!

No there are Zimmer. Used stryker when I was in military.

 

[muse435]

Basic and simple, but it keeps my beer cold. I cant wait until I get my two faucets, for now just picnic taps.

 

[jeciv]

No there are Zimmer. Used stryker when I was in military.

Cool. I'm showing everyone in the OR today. They love it.

 

[jeciv]

This weekend I converted this freezer into a refrigerator by installing an external thermometer. I had to modify my workbench to fit it. Now I need to drill hole and add tubing, faucet, handles ect.

I'm wondering if there is any way to drill a hole for the CO2. I'm afraid to drill through the side or back.

Overall, I think my mancave is coming right along. Got the TV out there while brewing/drinking. Tonight I'm brewing a Honey Lager...back by popular demand.

 

[Waunabeer]

This weekend I converted this freezer into a refrigerator by installing an external thermometer. I had to modify my workbench to fit it. Now I need to drill hole and add tubing, faucet, handles ect.

I'm wondering if there is any way to drill a hole for the CO2. I'm afraid to drill through the side or back.

Overall, I think my mancave is coming right along. Got the TV out there while brewing/drinking. Tonight I'm brewing a Honey Lager...back by popular demand.

You even have "Drinking Made Easy" on the tele. :rockin:

 

[-TH-]

I'm wondering if there is any way to drill a hole for the CO2. I'm afraid to drill through the side or back.

I drilled mine through the bottom near the side, then I ran the tubing out from underneath.