Through the wall 3 tap hidden keezer build -Done

[Jsslack]

And 1 is on the left of both pictures - should it not go 1 - 2 - 3 on the front but 3 -2 - 1 on the back? as in the pale ale on tap 1 is flowing through hose 3?

Agreed

 

[martianpc]

Agreed

My apologies, you are right. I forgot I wrote numbers inside the tap box. They are backwards.

 

[AmandaK]

So, which way is the fan blowing on the non-beer-line PVC pipe? Is that supply air or return air? I would imagine it is supply air, but just curious.

 

[martianpc]

So, which way is the fan blowing on the non-beer-line PVC pipe? Is that supply air or return air? I would imagine it is supply air, but just curious.

Return air actually. It was my theory that I would create higher air flow if the air had less restrictions. Blowing into the box I figured would have the airflow going right into a wall. As opposed to the much higher volume of space in the chest freezer. It works remarkably well. I have only a three degree temperature difference between the freezer and the tap box on average.

 

[Pipefighter]

This is exactly what i was looking for . Its a great way to save space.Parts are ordered I will be copying almost exactly .
Thanks

 

[martianpc]

Share pictures when you are done! Glad this helped

 

[tcd2004]

Love your setup here and would like to incorporate this into the house I am in the process of buying. I had a couple questions for you.

- What type of latches did you use to secure the back of the box?
- Did you just silicone around the co2 hose that you ran through the side of the freezer?
- I'm far from an electrician, but how did you go about hooking up the computer fan?

Thanks for the help and great work

 

[RScottyL]

I can't tell by the picture, but here is something to consider if you haven't!

I would make sure that the drain in the drip tray can flow enough, that incase one of the taps got left open long enough, it would not overflow!

It looks like it is the same size tubing as what is going to your faucets!

 

[s89bunton]

That looks great!


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[martianpc]

Love your setup here and would like to incorporate this into the house I am in the process of buying. I had a couple questions for you.

- What type of latches did you use to secure the back of the box?
- Did you just silicone around the co2 hose that you ran through the side of the freezer?
- I'm far from an electrician, but how did you go about hooking up the computer fan?

Thanks for the help and great work

- What type of latches did you use to secure the back of the box?

-I just bought some latches at Lowes and epoxied them to the plexiglass.


- Did you just silicone around the co2 hose that you ran through the side of the freezer?

-Didn't need to, I drilled a 1/2 inch hole, forced the hose through and the seal is tight enough that it doesn't leak any air.

- I'm far from an electrician, but how did you go about hooking up the computer fan?

Just cut the tip off a 9 volt power adapter and used wire nuts to connect the wires to the fan wires.

 

[mikeoholic]

That's really cool. A lot of well done projects on these forums. You know how popular I'd be with that setup? Well done sir.


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[tcd2004]

Thanks for the reply. Your "coffin box" is made out of plexi glass then? I guess I was assuming it was all wood lined with foam.


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[suprat78]

I copied your design of the box (airflow) as well as ran the piping higher to help distribute the cold airflow.

Works awesome! Thanks for the guidance!

 

[squazy]

Looks awesome!

I am in the process of a similar type of setup... What size collar / pvc did you go with? I'm debating between how large to get maximum air circulation.
Thanks!

 

[martianpc]

Thanks for the reply. Your "coffin box" is made out of plexi glass then? I guess I was assuming it was all wood lined with foam.

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It is wood, lined with insulation foam inside and sealed for moisture with metal duct sealant tape.

I copied your design of the box (airflow) as well as ran the piping higher to help distribute the cold airflow.

Works awesome! Thanks for the guidance!

Great to hear! lets see some pictures!

Looks awesome!

I am in the process of a similar type of setup... What size collar / pvc did you go with? I'm debating between how large to get maximum air circulation.
Thanks!

I think I did a 6" (5.5" actual) board and 3" PVC (I am pretty sure anyway).

I use two fans, one at the bottom of the keezer to move air up to the top and the one in the wall box to move air through the pvc.


hope this helps!

 

[SMS123]

Great job and inspiring me to make one also :rockin:

I have a question about the cool box, is made of wood? 1 x 6 I would assume?

 

[SMS123]

I see thread #45 answered my question

 

[Brettomomyces]

This is an excellent design, I love it and I'm sure it was incredibly cost effective. I just purchased a house and was looking for a similar solution. Lots of good ideas!

 

[william_shakes_beer]

You make me feel so inadequate.

 

[BullGator]

Great build. Is there any way you can snap a pic of inside your keezer now that you are finished? I am looking at doing something essentially exactly the same. I am wondering where your fan is mounted on the inside of your keezer. I have a pretty good temp differential from the top and the bottom of my keezer as I haven't installed a fan yet (I don't have foaming issues so it hasn't been a priority). Unless I extend the 3" down into my keezer, I will be pulling pretty warm air into the box. Do you have a separate fan system inside your keezer or did you extend the 3" down into the keezer?

The warping problem you mentioned is great info for folks trying to do a similar build. Have there been any other things you have seen that have either been a problem or that you would improve? Any condensation problems anywhere? I did notice you installed some additional insulation inside the box compared to when you first built it. Was that to reduce the amount of airspace in the box? Thanks for the input.

 

[Natdavis777]

You sir, have an awesome setup... If/when we move to the next house (which will have a basement) this is going to happen.

 

[martianpc]

Great build. Is there any way you can snap a pic of inside your keezer now that you are finished? I am looking at doing something essentially exactly the same. I am wondering where your fan is mounted on the inside of your keezer. I have a pretty good temp differential from the top and the bottom of my keezer as I haven't installed a fan yet (I don't have foaming issues so it hasn't been a priority). Unless I extend the 3" down into my keezer, I will be pulling pretty warm air into the box. Do you have a separate fan system inside your keezer or did you extend the 3" down into the keezer?

The warping problem you mentioned is great info for folks trying to do a similar build. Have there been any other things you have seen that have either been a problem or that you would improve? Any condensation problems anywhere? I did notice you installed some additional insulation inside the box compared to when you first built it. Was that to reduce the amount of airspace in the box? Thanks for the input.

I am not using that fridge as part of the setup anymore. I needed more taps. I was however using a few fans inside the keezer. I found that having them mounted to the collar with an alternating pattern of pushing and pulling air at a angled horizontal approach to work best. Make sure you use bearing fans and not bushing types for horizontal mounting, bushing fans wear out quickly when horizontal. You can use metal angle L brackets to mount the fans.

I did get a little condensation in the bottom of the keezer, but no more than most. To stop the pvc pipes from dripping I wrapped them in Hvac foil backed pipe wrap insulation. This really helped.

The extra insulation in the box was for the extra airspace, there was no need to have. The block in the middle was a piece of Styrofoam that I wrapped in foil tape. It helped reduce airspace and direct the incoming cold air right over the tap shanks.

I would recommend that anyone who builds this seals the area where the pipes go through the collar with silicone. I found a little mold on the wood when I pulled it apart.

See the pictures attached for info about the fans.


Hope this helps. Feel free to ask more questions.

View attachment 1439379341991.jpg

View attachment 1439379373274.jpg

View attachment 1439379404755.jpg

 

[rekoob]

Really nice setup.

I see four fans total, do you think that's overkill? I'm just wondering. I have one fan in my keezer, although it's a bit smaller than yours, I think it's plenty to move air.

I would add another fan if you think it's really doing something. Does it help with condensation? or is it just moving air?

 

[martianpc]

Really nice setup.

I see four fans total, do you think that's overkill? I'm just wondering. I have one fan in my keezer, although it's a bit smaller than yours, I think it's plenty to move air.

I would add another fan if you think it's really doing something. Does it help with condensation? or is it just moving air?

The fans came in a pack of 4. They are all wired to the same transformer. My keezer is huge, I can fit 10 kegs in this one. I don't want to rely on 1 fan when there are no downsides to 4. With the outside box for the taps the extra airflow is very helpful to really keep temperature variations to a minimum.

 

[BullGator]

I really appreciate the response. That great info. I am going back and forth between the 2 pipe air supply and return and the single version. If you haven't seen the single pipe version it is simply one 3" PVC with a smaller 1" flex pipe going in this along with the lines (see attached for an example). The air is forced in the 1" and comes back through the 3" PVC. Now that you have done the 2 pipe version, do you have an opinion on which method would be preferable? I think the 2 pipe option is a lot more simple but having only 1 pipe does have its advantages (less penetrations, less air volume, etc.).

Also, what did you end up changing it all up to? Did you expand? I am planning on having 3 taps inside but I'll still have around 5 taps that I can access just by going in the garage (through a door and down about 4 or 5 steps).

 

[BullGator]

I am not using that fridge as part of the setup anymore. I needed more taps. I was however using a few fans inside the keezer. I found that having them mounted to the collar with an alternating pattern of pushing and pulling air at a angled horizontal approach to work best. Make sure you use bearing fans and not bushing types for horizontal mounting, bushing fans wear out quickly when horizontal. You can use metal angle L brackets to mount the fans.

I did get a little condensation in the bottom of the keezer, but no more than most. To stop the pvc pipes from dripping I wrapped them in Hvac foil backed pipe wrap insulation. This really helped.

The extra insulation in the box was for the extra airspace, there was no need to have. The block in the middle was a piece of Styrofoam that I wrapped in foil tape. It helped reduce airspace and direct the incoming cold air right over the tap shanks.

I would recommend that anyone who builds this seals the area where the pipes go through the collar with silicone. I found a little mold on the wood when I pulled it apart.

See the pictures attached for info about the fans.


Hope this helps. Feel free to ask more questions.

Wanted to bump this to see if you're around. I'm finishing my wiring this weekend and starting to get parts in. I need to make a decision on the whole one pipe two pipe thing. Any input based on your experience would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[martianpc]

Use 2 pipes, the airspace inside is cramped with the lines already, fitting the air hose inside would be a pita. Also getting good air flow through the small house in guessing is difficult without a higher power fan. Just my .02

 

[passedpawn]

OP, did you consider running a glycol cooling loop instead of air? One pipe would work fine with that.

 

[martianpc]

I did, air was a million times easier and didn't require a pump system and possibly a second colder chiller for the glycol

 

[BullGator]

Use 2 pipes, the airspace inside is cramped with the lines already, fitting the air hose inside would be a pita. Also getting good air flow through the small house in guessing is difficult without a higher power fan. Just my .02

Thanks! That's what I needed to hear.

So why did you move to a different setup?