Beer Forum

jackbauer · #1 (**permalink**) 09-28-2007, 12:27 PM

hey guys my wife bought me the Danby Chill 'n serve from Best Buy for my birthday. i seem to have the same problems as a lot of others that have the same system. i have the CO2 at 11psi and the display is as low as it will go, 36deg, but i dont think its really that cold. also i noticed that the little fan on the side wasnt really moving air and so i turned it around to blow air towards the keg and tower. so what i am getting at is should i test the temp of a cup of water and see before i do any mods or is there something that i should try first. i dont want to start soldering until it the last resort given that this unit now has a 5 year warranty.

PlanoSuds · #2 (**permalink**) 09-28-2007, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackbauer

hey guys my wife bought me the Danby Chill 'n serve from Best Buy for my birthday. i seem to have the same problems as a lot of others that have the same system. i have the CO2 at 11psi and the display is as low as it will go, 36deg, but i dont think its really that cold. also i noticed that the little fan on the side wasnt really moving air and so i turned it around to blow air towards the keg and tower. so what i am getting at is should i test the temp of a cup of water and see before i do any mods or is there something that i should try first. i dont want to start soldering until it the last resort given that this unit now has a 5 year warranty.

If it is new with a warranty, by all means do not mod it!! Measure the temp and if it is not making it down to 38F then return it. Either exchange it for another and keep testing till you get one that works or better yet take the money and go buy a commercial unit, used if necessary.....

aceuass · #3 (**permalink**) 09-28-2007, 03:36 PM

Just by exchanging your going to have the same problem,either get your money back and look for a better unit (used commercial) or you can mod it which is what most people seem to do,me included,and mine works great.

jackbauer · #4 (**permalink**) 09-28-2007, 04:29 PM

^^^ did you do the resistor and blower mod??

jackbauer · #5 (**permalink**) 10-01-2007, 10:02 AM

ok so i have tested the cup of water and it is at 36deg just like the display says. i was a little shocked at that but i am happy. but i am still getting a full glass of foam and about a half of glass of liquid after the foam settles. when i got the keg, it was about 2-2 1/2 hours before i got it into the fridge and the temp down low. could i have maybe tapped the keg too soon and not have let it get cold enough??

lunkhead · #6 (**permalink**) 10-08-2007, 06:34 PM

It could take 3-4 days to cool a half keg down to 36 deg, if your sure your thermometer is correct. Are all beer pours foamy or just the first? Measure the beer temp on the second pour. The higher the temp the more foam you'll have. Watch out for the defrost cycle too, that will slow down the chilling of the keg.

jackbauer · #7 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 10:10 AM

the one thing i noticed is that if i get a real frosty and cold mug, it foams a little less but every pour has the same amount of foam in it. also i still have the thermometer in and it is still reading 36deg and has not changed.

lunkhead · #8 (**permalink**) 10-10-2007, 04:24 PM

What is your beer temp? Check it with calibrated thermometer. Put the thermometer in a ice water cup and check it for 32 deg. Your first post says your pressure is at 11 psi. This may be a little low for 36 deg beer, is to low if beer temp is warmer.

aceuass · #9 (**permalink**) 10-10-2007, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackbauer

^^^ did you do the resistor and blower mod??

sorry took so long to reply
I did the full mod
rip out the danby controls and plug into a brewers edge controller,rip out the tiny fan inside and installed a 4" fan,installed a blower with a pvc pipe up the newly insulated tower
I also drilled a new faucet hole in the tower for double tap
Like I said-works great
Paul

jackbauer · #10 (**permalink**) 10-10-2007, 04:43 PM

i put a cup of h20 inside with a thermometer and it is at 36. now i looked at Coors site and it says that 10-12psi is correct. should i retap the keg?? i dont know if that would help or not.

lunkhead · #11 (**permalink**) 10-10-2007, 05:02 PM

Check the beer temp with a calibrated thermometer. Also check out Scott's reply about coors here How long should i let a new keg sit before worrying...

jackbauer · #12 (**permalink**) 10-16-2007, 09:12 PM

well the temp is at 36deg abd i up'ed the psi to 16 like in the link you posted and all it did was make it come out even faster and gave me more foam. it seems that if i turn down the psi, i get a little less foam but i dont want to go lower than 10psi. with it at 10, i can get at 10oz of beer after the foam goes down in my 22oz mug. with it at 16psi, i get a full glass of foam and only about 6oz of beer left.

when i change the psi should i relieve the pressure with the valve on the tap?? or should i retap the keg?? or did i just mess it up by tapping it before the temp got all the way down to 36... i am really getting tired of all this foam.

i also have not changed the length of the hose. it is still stock. i am thinking about getting a new fan and some blower hose to get some colder air up in the tower. you think that would help??