Fan line cooling instead of blower

[chopper515]

My setup is as follows: My kegerator sits in an unfinished portion of my basement. The line goes through the side of the fridge directly to the shank which is installed through the drywall and a 2x4 block between the studs for support. So the faucet is on the finished side of the basement. I was able to get the fridge directly next to the wall so the gap between the side of the fridge and the shank nipple is only about 3”. I bridged the gap with 2” steel pipe which I insulated. I only drilled a 7/8” hole in the side of the fridge in case I were to ever move I could just patch the hole in the wall and put the shank in the fridge and have a normal kegerator. I did all this prior to researching this forum and I’m obviously having trouble getting the temperature inside the gap below 55.

I want to avoid buying a $70 blower for this small space and I would like to avoid drilling a bigger hole in the fridge (since it is the side of the fridge and I have read that there could be coils in there. I guess I lucked out the first time).

Do you guys think a small AC (3”-4”) box fan similar to a car amp fan mounted inside the fridge directly in front of the hole would circulate enough air into the gap to cool the air space around the shank? If not, does anyone know where to get a low CFM blower for cheap. I shouldn’t need much CFM at all considering the small space I’m cooling. Also should I keep the fan or blower running nonstop or should I put it on a timer.

[chopper515]

Here is a link to the fan.

"Sprite" Box Fan — 3in., 115V |Fans + Blowers | Northern Tool + Equipment

[ernestbud]

chances are is that you will still have a small foam issue at the first draw or two of the day until the faucet cools down from the beer and the shank that is in the 2x4 as for the fan as long as you have a keg hooked up leave it on continually otherwise you will have a shot of foul tasting beer when it reaches the 45-48 deg range secondary ferm begins

[chopper515]

I was doing some searching and I found an intersting idea that I might try. Cap a 1/2" copper water line (around 18" or so for my case), fill it with water and cap the other end and stick it in the hole in the fridge to the shank. Supposedly the fridge will cool the entire length of pipe and water thereby cooling the opening and beer line. It's worth a shot consider how easy it is to do.

[brewski121]

Chopper

rather interested to hear if that works /ed ?

[dmathieu]

I want to do the same exact thing, so I every interested how you made out.

Please advise, thanks
Dmathieu