Refrigerator Thermostats and The Perfect Temperature

[Lush]

What's the best thermostat to get to get my future kegerator refrigerator cold enough to keep my keg cold? I've kept a glass of water with an outdoor thermometer in it and the liquid temperature is at a solid 42 degrees.

Is there such a thing as an ideal temperature range to keep a keg cold and fresh?

Please help. I'm new at this. I want my first kegerator to be a great experience.

Thanks.

[edramshaw]

38 degrees is ideal. As are thermostats there is the Brewers Edge that I have heard good things about and one made by Johnson Controls that I have had good luck with.

[jmc1972]

I've run into the problems that you will find if installing into your current system. I did the initial check and I got a reading of 34 degrees which should have been perfect, however - after installing the coversion kit and keg I got with my co2 setting at 5', 10' and 15' I had 50/50 beer, foam mix (meaning that I lost about 25% draft volume). I've since obtained a freezer and purchased a Johnson Control thermostat unit and am in the process of getting the freezer to 0 or less (since its an old unit - about 30 years old) and will transfer all our food out of our old freezer and covert the Westmore into my cooling unit with the temp control. I've tried every step provided by the experts and came to the conclusion that my fridge simply won't handle the task. Don't waste your money and do it right the first time. Of course, I must quantify my comments by saying that I'm at an elevation of 5,868 ft. so the combination maybe different.

Check out my threads by doing an advanced search for my user name and you'll see the problems I've run into. I honestly think the experts were thinking that I needed a freezer to complete the task, but wanted me to figure it out and I'm thankful for it. I'm going to search on ebay for a certificate of Masters in Beerology once I have the unit fully operational and will update the site as to my progress. Remember - beer is good - beer is brain food, the more I drink the brain cells which can't handle it are ridden of. It's survival of the fittest and I'm evolving!!!!!

Actually - my problem was so bad that I went through a 16 gallon keg in less than a week (appx. 75% turned to foam) because of a serious temp. problem.

Good luck and I hope you all goes well!!!!

[Lush]

Holy Crap JMC1972!!!

Thank you a million for sharing your experience with me! I live in Richmond, Virginia and with the extremely hot and muggy summers and having a fridge that won't get cold enough would totally suck.

I think I've drawn the conclusion that this refrigerator won't be the ticket to my desires. I had my doubts when the water temp in the glass was above 40 degrees.

Please explain to me: I read quickly through most of your past threads and might have missed it...did you get a thermostat to lower the temp in the fridge and did it work a little? I read about the 7/8" holes to the freezer and from the responses I take it that that wasn't a good idea.

I don't want to buy a conversion kit for this fridge until I have a definite answer to the temperature issue.

I just told my wife that I'll probably sell it for a couple hundred bucks and put it towards a freezer.

What kind of freezer is suggested? The kind with a table top lid?

Let me know. I'm learning too. Thank you for sharing your experiences and teaching us new guys the biz.


Thanks a Million

I look forward to your reply.

[jmc1972]

No Problem - glad to help and keep anyone from my mistakes!!!

I just converted an old freezer to a kegerator and have a perfect pour with approximately 3/4" head on every draw with the glasses at room temp. My freezer is has a glass of water in it with a thermometer and I'm getting a reading of 37 degrees. Everything you read about temp on this site is dead on accurate - the recommended temp is 36 to 38 degrees (liquid temp). If you purchase a Freezer you will also want to pick a temp regulator (control) like the Johnson Control Unit (not Cialis or Viagra - lol). It's a great unit which will save you on foam as well as energy expenses.

If you do an advanced search under my username you'll find several posts which the fine people of this site have attempted to help me fix my problem. I'm hard headed and direct which stems from my 10 years in the Army, but you'll find that I finally came to the conclusion that a coverted Freezer is the only way to go. Many may disagree, however depending on where your unit is located and your local temperatures/weather, etc. you'll have to find the right combination of co2 and line. The temp however is undisputable. Everyone here say's 36 to 38 as does the Anheiser-Busch people. The only real difference is the length of the line and pressure. I've found that my unit runs sufficiently at 12 psi at 37 degrees with a 7' 3/16" I.D. at 5,868' elevation. I also have a friend who lives at an elevation at around 6,000' and he swears by 5' 3/16" I.D. at 8 psi. I don't agree with his decision, but in the end - it's his money.

Stay away from the fridge if your in an evironment that is not conducive to a steady cooler temp outside, if you plan on keeping your unit in the garage as I do. As I write this post I'm enjoying a very nice draw from my kegerator which is currently holding a liquid temp of 37 with a nice mix of carbonation with excellent body, pleasant to the nose, and just simply tastes great.

My days of perfection, however, are not over - I'm going to try and install a wort controller hardwired to a wort chiller which will be connected directly to my shank to get a faucet draw around 26 to 28 degrees (but that's to come in my next keg or so).

If I can assist you in any way (and I am by no means an expert, but rather a beginner such as yourself) please PM me and I will give you the information which I've researched and obtained from my experience as well as the information I've recieved from the members and draw masters from this site!!!! They were very instrumental in my success and I hope I can help you become successful the first time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jmc1972]

Please explain to me: I read quickly through most of your past threads and might have missed it...did you get a thermostat to lower the temp in the fridge and did it work a little? I read about the 7/8" holes to the freezer and from the responses I take it that that wasn't a good idea.

I don't want to buy a conversion kit for this fridge until I have a definite answer to the temperature issue.

I just told my wife that I'll probably sell it for a couple hundred bucks and put it towards a freezer.

What kind of freezer is suggested? The kind with a table top lid?

Are you a member of Freecycle? I picked up a standup freezer for free from Freecycle - just took some time, gas, strength, and effort, but in the end was free.

The holes in my door are based on the specs of the conversion kit (I actually followed instructions). And I'm not sure what you mean by table top lid.

I got lucky and the freezer which was given to me was better than the freezer we already had - it's a 30+ year old JC Penny and they just aren't made that way anymore (very good quality). I can post pics of my new unit to display what I've done. In fact, along with the wort chiller which I posted on my earlier post I also plan on welding a platform that will sit directly above my current Barrel and co2 tank and add a second keg (though it will only be a pony with something like Guiness, 90 Shilling, or some other type of very high quality beer (since I'm in Colorado - the capital of microbrew I have many choices). Though with the addition of Guiness I will need a Nitro kit to do a 70/30 split of nitrogen/co2 - but than again - I'm really getting into this and just can't stop.

I'm in the process of repairing the holes in the fridge I converted using Great Stuff to seal the holes and bring it back to use for chilling soft drinks - however I might just go a bit nuts and convert to a soda draft (kegs can be gotten from my local brew shop). Don't know quite yet.

[THE ICEMAN]

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