Beer Forum

fubarman · #1 (**permalink**) 01-17-2006, 06:03 PM

I'm sick of the warm beer being built up behind the elbow shank, and I would like to install a small blower in my kegerator in order to correct the problem. However, I have no experience with wiring, and based on the pictures I have seen of the blower, I have no clue as to how to begin to mount such a device. Basically I'd like to know all that I'd need in order to install such a blower, how to wire the connections to an electrical device, and where exactly the mounting piece and blower are made to fit inside the kegerator. Also, does the time and money which it takes to make this effort happen pay out in the end? Thanks for your time.

tony95 · #2 (**permalink**) 01-18-2006, 01:40 PM

How far is the shank from the frig? To get power to it you may need to cut a small hole in your frig, are you comfortable with that?

Scott Zuhse · #3 (**permalink**) 01-18-2006, 07:20 PM

Conduct a search in the forum under "blower". If you do not find any answers, check back and we'll straighten you out.

Scott Zuhse, Instructor Micro Matic Dispense Institute

fubarman · #4 (**permalink**) 01-21-2006, 10:38 AM

I've searched around and I think i've found an idea that could work. Instead of buying a blower and all the accessories for one, this simple idea seems to be quite logical . . .

Sometimes it is best to think simpler. I had a great idea that works quite well.
Go to a hardware store and get 20-25" of 1/2 copper pipe. Solder the bottom closed, fill with water and add a little salt to keep the freezing range low, solder the top closed. slide this down your tower and rest the bottom on the keg, so that the metal is touching metal. The top should touch the metal for your tap and run the entire length of the line. Thanks to the specific heat capacity of water and copper, you will have a cold beer line

-n

I have a problem though, I've had no welding experience nor do i have access to the tools in order to solder. Is there anything else I can do to insulate the copper pipe with water inside besides welding? Any thoughts would be great, thanks for your time.

tony95 · #5 (**permalink**) 01-21-2006, 01:54 PM

You can buy a soldering kit for 10 bucks just about anywhere (radio shack, walmart, etc) and soldering is not the same as welding, soldering is much easier. I have no idea if your idea would work or not. A small fan may be your best bet. If you have a nice kegerator then I don't blame you for not wanting to drill a hole in it. You may be able to buy small wires for a fan that you can run out the bottom of the kegerator door and back underneath the fridge and still get the door to close tight around the wires. Wiring is easy. My fan has three wires (white, black and green). Green is the ground wire which is not connected to anything. The white and black wires power the fan. I just bought a cheap extension cord, cut off the end and connected the white and black fan wires to it with black electrical tape. You don't have to match up positive and negative because with alternating current (AC) it doesn't matter. Go to Lowes and ask for a small exhaust fan (use your best judgement on whether the fan will meet your needs) and the smallest wire they believe you can get away with. You may also want to buy some stick-on hooks and string to mount your fan. You could also get a soldering iron while your there. Try the soldering iron bit and if that doesnt work try the fan. If you do decide to drill a small hole in the frig then drill through the surface and check for coils before drilling further. Once you get through the surface you should not feel anything more solid than some insulation until you get to the other side. Let us know how it turns out.

topgun3208 · #6 (**permalink**) 01-21-2006, 04:12 PM

I could add a few tidbits bout wiring and soldering, but me thinks i'm going to leave this one alone!

"If I had to live my life over, I'd live over a saloon"

Scott Zuhse · #7 (**permalink**) 01-22-2006, 08:18 PM

Yup!

Scott Zuhse, Instructor Micro Matic Dispense Institute

fubarman · #8 (**permalink**) 01-28-2006, 02:28 PM

I just installed the copper pipe today . . . I will have to wait and see if it actually reduces the foam which comes out of the first pour. If this doesn't work, I'll finally give in and buy a blower.

Scott Zuhse · #9 (**permalink**) 01-29-2006, 04:30 PM

Fill us in.

Scott Zuhse, Instructor Micro Matic Dispense Institute

fubarman · #10 (**permalink**) 01-29-2006, 05:23 PM

After waiting, I can say that the pipe has had some effect on cooling the beer in the shank/tower, yet not nearly enough for me to be satisfied. I plan on buying the small blower soon, with the smaller mounting bracket, with 4 feet of hose; I still have a few questions . . . 1)Where should I mount the blower/what hardware should I use? 2)If I must make a whole for the wiring in the kegerator, should I make one large enough to fit a CO2 line to be able to place the cylinder outside the kegerator itself, rather than inside? If so, would I fill the space around the tubing/wire with the spray insulation you sell on this site? 3)Dose the flex tube literally "go over" (surround) the existing beer line up until the shank? And finally, how is air flow reintroduced into the kegerator to be re-circulated? I'm sorry for all the questions but I'd like to be well informed before making any more decisions and cutting up my kegerator. Thanks for all the time and all the help.