DIY kegerator pt. 1

A forum to discuss the various ways of getting beer into your glass.
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m_rawdin
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Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

DIY kegerator pt. 1

Post by m_rawdin » Fri Jul 07, 2017 8:17 am

Finally got my hands on a second hand fridge freezer to turn into a kegerator. Next step is to order my taps and CO2 splitter and to make sure there's so inner workings in the side of the fridge so I don't hit anything when I drill through.
Attachments
20170704_180601-1224x1632.jpg
https://www.facebook.com/groups/341609746264187/

Fermenting: Nothing
Conditioning: Smoked porter
Drinking: Cider, witbier, brown ale, Milk stout
Planning: Gamma Ray clone v3

tourer
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Location: spitting distance of the Beacon hotel, home of Ruby red

Re: DIY kegerator pt. 1

Post by tourer » Fri Jul 07, 2017 8:03 pm

M-rawdin, i dont think you can use a fridge freezer, i believe it should be one or the other as you can't control the fridge seperate from the freezer? but i could be wrong. Someone on Jim's with experience will advise you.

m_rawdin
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Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

Re: DIY kegerator pt. 1

Post by m_rawdin » Fri Jul 07, 2017 9:58 pm

Sorry I meant to mention it's only the fridge bit that's gonna be the kegerator, the freezer is just being used as a freezer.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/341609746264187/

Fermenting: Nothing
Conditioning: Smoked porter
Drinking: Cider, witbier, brown ale, Milk stout
Planning: Gamma Ray clone v3

Fil
Telling imaginary friend stories
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Location: Cowley, Oxford

Re: DIY kegerator pt. 1

Post by Fil » Sat Jul 08, 2017 1:15 am

you may have problems maintaining freezer temps when using the fridge element @ upto 20C if its fitted with a single compressor. a basic single compressor system may be balanced to maintain the freezing temps while maintaining 4-5c or lower in the fridge, make less demands on the fridge cooling and the freezer temp may also rise.

one simple mod that may help if you have such problems would be to increase the insulation between the two areas (freezer roof / fridge bottom)

perhaps running a few tests before committing ?
ist update for months n months..
Fermnting: not a lot..
Conditioning: nowt
Maturing: Challenger smash, and a kit lager
Drinking: dry one minikeg left in the store
Coming Soon Lots planned for the near future nowt for the immediate :(

m_rawdin
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Posts: 213
Joined: Mon Dec 07, 2015 8:52 am
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

Re: DIY kegerator pt. 1

Post by m_rawdin » Sat Jul 08, 2017 9:55 am

I will only be keeping the fridge temp at normal fridge temp, wouldn't need to get the temp above that, especially not to 20 degrees, wouldn't be serving beer that warm!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/341609746264187/

Fermenting: Nothing
Conditioning: Smoked porter
Drinking: Cider, witbier, brown ale, Milk stout
Planning: Gamma Ray clone v3

bobsbeer

Re: DIY kegerator pt. 1

Post by bobsbeer » Sat Jul 08, 2017 12:57 pm

I will assume you will be serving lager? Most beer temps need to be around 13c-16c so you will be serving very cold if you are going to keep the 4-5c. Go above that and the freezer will struggle to freeze.

m_rawdin
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Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

Re: DIY kegerator pt. 1

Post by m_rawdin » Sat Jul 08, 2017 7:51 pm

Yeah it will be mainly lager.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/341609746264187/

Fermenting: Nothing
Conditioning: Smoked porter
Drinking: Cider, witbier, brown ale, Milk stout
Planning: Gamma Ray clone v3

Fil
Telling imaginary friend stories
Posts: 5229
Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2011 1:49 pm
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Re: DIY kegerator pt. 1

Post by Fil » Sat Jul 08, 2017 10:00 pm

m_rawdin wrote:I will only be keeping the fridge temp at normal fridge temp, wouldn't need to get the temp above that, especially not to 20 degrees, wouldn't be serving beer that warm!
my bad i was thinking fermentation fridge even when you clearly state keg fridge ;) you should be fine as long as you are mindful of limits of a single compressor fridge freezer

a 3-4 degree deviation above the optimum chilling temp for a fridge should be ok, tho i would be tempted to run tests to see the max temp the fridge can be heated to before the freezer temp suffers so you know in advance,, i will be happy to be proven wrong, but its gotta be better than finding out you have a freezer failure mid august ;)
ist update for months n months..
Fermnting: not a lot..
Conditioning: nowt
Maturing: Challenger smash, and a kit lager
Drinking: dry one minikeg left in the store
Coming Soon Lots planned for the near future nowt for the immediate :(

m_rawdin
Piss Artist
Posts: 213
Joined: Mon Dec 07, 2015 8:52 am
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

Re: DIY kegerator pt. 1

Post by m_rawdin » Sat Aug 12, 2017 9:57 am

Kegerator taps arrived today, now to start drilling holes in my fridge, scary!
Attachments
20170812_094057-453x604.jpg
https://www.facebook.com/groups/341609746264187/

Fermenting: Nothing
Conditioning: Smoked porter
Drinking: Cider, witbier, brown ale, Milk stout
Planning: Gamma Ray clone v3

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Hairybiker
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Re: DIY kegerator pt. 1

Post by Hairybiker » Sat Aug 12, 2017 10:30 am

Just remember that usually a door is removable, hence nothing bad on/in it. Drill holes in the door as you like.

m_rawdin
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Joined: Mon Dec 07, 2015 8:52 am
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

Re: DIY kegerator pt. 1

Post by m_rawdin » Thu Aug 17, 2017 9:39 pm

And it's finally complete! Poured my first beer today, fantastic!
Attachments
20170817_134555-600x800.jpg
https://www.facebook.com/groups/341609746264187/

Fermenting: Nothing
Conditioning: Smoked porter
Drinking: Cider, witbier, brown ale, Milk stout
Planning: Gamma Ray clone v3

WalesAles
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Re: DIY kegerator pt. 1

Post by WalesAles » Sat Aug 19, 2017 5:02 am

m_rawdin wrote:
Thu Aug 17, 2017 9:39 pm
And it's finally complete! Poured my first beer today, fantastic!
Looks good m! =D>
Will the Strawberry Beer be in there soon? =D>

WA

Sent from the Police Cell

shepp

Re: DIY kegerator pt. 1

Post by shepp » Sat Aug 19, 2017 9:42 am

If it were mine and I wanted to use the freezer still, I would remove the Inkbird from the equation.

m_rawdin
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Posts: 213
Joined: Mon Dec 07, 2015 8:52 am
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

Re: DIY kegerator pt. 1

Post by m_rawdin » Sat Aug 19, 2017 10:43 am

WalesAles wrote:
Sat Aug 19, 2017 5:02 am
m_rawdin wrote:
Thu Aug 17, 2017 9:39 pm
And it's finally complete! Poured my first beer today, fantastic!
Looks good m! =D>
Will the Strawberry Beer be in there soon? =D>

WA

Sent from the Police Cell
I have a wheat beer fermenting at the moment then the strawberry beer is the next plan after that, good memory there AW?
https://www.facebook.com/groups/341609746264187/

Fermenting: Nothing
Conditioning: Smoked porter
Drinking: Cider, witbier, brown ale, Milk stout
Planning: Gamma Ray clone v3

m_rawdin
Piss Artist
Posts: 213
Joined: Mon Dec 07, 2015 8:52 am
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

Re: DIY kegerator pt. 1

Post by m_rawdin » Sat Aug 19, 2017 10:44 am

shepp wrote:
Sat Aug 19, 2017 9:42 am
If it were mine and I wanted to use the freezer still, I would remove the Inkbird from the equation.
Oh the inkbird isn't actually part of this equation, it's hooked up to my fermentation fridge which is just off camera to the left, it's just stuck to the side of the kegerator for easy access.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/341609746264187/

Fermenting: Nothing
Conditioning: Smoked porter
Drinking: Cider, witbier, brown ale, Milk stout
Planning: Gamma Ray clone v3

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