Kegerator Build

Chris Craig · July 24, 2013, 07:47:28 PM

I've been running a very ghetto, 4-tap keezer for about a year and a half now. It's served its purpose, but I need to dump it. Chest freezers just aren't meant do deal with the condensation that comes with operating them above 0ºC. This has lead to some nasty funk accumulating at the bottom of the freezer that I don't want anything to do with.

So, with brew's help, I liberated the old PQA offices of a very large upright fridge. Free fridges are the best! We brought it home this afternoon, and I cleaned it up. I managed to drill a hole for the CO2 cylinder without damaging any of the cooling lines. This thing will fit 6 kegs without having to remove any of the shelving on the door!

In the next couple of days, I'm going to drill the holes for the shanks, and hook it all up. I'll post pics when I'm finished.

Roger · July 24, 2013, 08:54:13 PM

Sweet! I plan to build one soon as well bottling is a major PITA. But I think I'm going with the small stainless joby from Costco. It'll hold 2 kegs still better than bottling. On the other hand I do have a beer fridge down stairs that if it doesn't have bottles in it would fit 4kegs I think. Decisions decisions!
I look forward to seeing what you come up with.

Fhilo · July 24, 2013, 09:07:43 PM

Hmmm... I'd like to move my CO2 to outside as well... look forward to seeing were you put that hole!

Waterlogged · July 24, 2013, 10:24:02 PM

I am about to set up a kegenator into our old fridge. Please sent pic of your CO2 hookup because my 20 lb tank outside of ythe fridge would make more sense.

Chris Craig · July 26, 2013, 07:02:02 PM

I got the doors put back on this and the CO2 holes drilled. I just started with a small bit from the inside. I pushed it through slowly to make sure I didn't hit any coolant lines. Then I made the hole bigger and bigger until it was large enough for the gas line.

It took overnight for the fridge to chill down, but once it did, it was time for the hops!

I marked off where the holes for the 4 Perlicks should go.

Drilled the first hole and...blunted brew's hole saw. Sorry buddy

Gonna have to replace that...

Anyway...

brew · July 26, 2013, 07:52:16 PM

Hey nice work on the fridge coming nicely - dont worry about the saw...

fakr · July 26, 2013, 07:52:43 PM

Very nice! Only 1 problem I see. You need more hops!!

Chris Craig · July 26, 2013, 09:12:25 PM

Yeah, but keep in mind fakr. Those are what's left after many months of brewing

Chris Craig · July 27, 2013, 10:53:41 PM

Luckily, Crappy Tire had a hole saw kit on for %70 off. Here's the fridge with all the faucets.

And, here with the whiteboard attached to the freezer to hide the now defunct ice dispenser.

The only think I have to do (besides fill the fridge with beer) is run the last gas line.

Chris Craig · July 27, 2013, 10:54:55 PM

Quote from: brew on July 26, 2013, 07:52:16 PM
Hey nice work on the fridge coming nicely - dont worry about the saw...

I replaced your saw and got a kit for myself. It's about time I had my own

Chris Craig · July 30, 2013, 08:58:02 AM

One awesome benefit to moving to the kegerator from the keezer is that I now have another temperature controlled chamber for cold crashing/lagering .

fakr · July 30, 2013, 09:25:28 AM

If you built aninsulated chamber on top of your old keezer, you'd have a big fermentation chamber

Nothing like having absolute control on temperatures throughout the entire process!

Chris Craig · July 30, 2013, 10:36:38 AM

Already have a ferm chamber that holds 3 carboys

fakr · July 30, 2013, 12:10:05 PM

ah cool.

Chris Craig · July 30, 2013, 09:37:39 PM

Now I'm looking for either a 16" drip tray or 2 6" drip trays with drains. Any ideas on where I can get the best price? The best I've found is $43 for 6" from BeverageFactory.com

http://www.beveragefactory.com/draftbeer/driptray/wallmount/DP-118D.shtml