Kegerator construction question

[theB]

Hi everyone,

My roomates and I are planning on converting an old full sized refrigerator into a kegerator. We plan on running it to our bar which is in the adjacent room along the same wall as the fridge, so the line should only run a few feet. I've read that it is important to install a blowing system with pipe to keep the beer in the line cold. Is that a neccesity or a luxury? Also the system requires setting up the pvp pipe right into the front of the fridge, in such a system how are we supposed to open the door to access the keg? Any thoughts or advice is welcome. If anyone has any pictures of a similar set up they are welcome too. Thanks alot.

[Scott Zuhse]

Keeping the beer at a constant temperature is a neccessity and thus a luxury. Try to place the refrigeratore side ways to the wall and plumb the pvc out of the side wall.

Use a small 15 CFM blower with a flex tube inside of a two inch pvc pipe. Be certain that the flex tube is routed to the back of the faucet. Insert the 3/16" ID vinyl (five to six feet) inside of the flex tube. The cold air will blow through the tube keeping the beer line cold and then return back through the two inch pvc.

Try to minimize the distance from the refrigerator to the faucet and always insulate outside of the two inch pvc.

[theB]

When I drill into the side is there a chance I might drill through something important like cooling coils or whatever the cooling mechanism is? How do I avoid that?

Also, if I run the flex tube (air hose) right into the back of the faucet how does the air continue circulating or where does the warm air go?

[brewski121]

I'd drill a pilot hole first and use a some stick to feal around. Most fridges only have coiles in the back wall. I ran my flex tube up and left a inche or so, the warm air returns to the fridge in the pvc pipe. constant cycle, when you wire in the fan make sure not to wire it to the inside light or compresser, if you do this it will only run while the door is open(for the light) or while the compresser is running. good luck