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This topic and question was brought by people replying to my Haier Diary about fans in a kegerator or conversion. All have said you should have a fan running 24/7 to keep the temperature stable, I have several viewpoints I’d like to explore.
1) Most desktop fans were not designed to operate 24/7 and if used should be allowed to be turned off every so often. Computer fans were designed for 24/7 use, but the A/C adapters that are used may not be designed for 24/7 use. I was going to use an old cell phone charger but on the back it says, “For Overnight Use Only”, I had to look for another A/C adapter which I could use that could handle being on for extended period of time. Unless you make the right combination of fan and adapter would you running the fan 24/7 if it risked, at best a short circuit or at worst a fire?
2) Should the fans run when the compressor is off and no one is drinking beer? I can understand running a tower cooler 24/7 to keep the beer in the line chilled (especially if the tower isn’t fully insulated). I use a timer to turn off the unit for 2 separate hours in the early morning to prevent the unit from auto defrosting during drinking time. I noticed the 2 thermometers would read nearly the same after a few minutes and then slowly rise together after the compressor turned off, when it turned back on the difference between top and bottom temps was about 10 degrees without fans. I figure this would be enough to keep a full to 3/4 filled keg below 39 degrees without much fluctuation until dawn when the fan goes on and the second fan goes on when beer is consumed till the timer turns the unit off.
From what I've monitored the temps were pretty stable, keg didn't freeze or get too warm, not much of a foam problem. From what I've read through the forum, a fan is essential to keep the temperature stable in all the low end kegerators, I honestly I don't think you need to create a entire weather system in the kegerator, but you do need circulation, but how much is the question.
KB
1) Most desktop fans were not designed to operate 24/7 and if used should be allowed to be turned off every so often. Computer fans were designed for 24/7 use, but the A/C adapters that are used may not be designed for 24/7 use. I was going to use an old cell phone charger but on the back it says, “For Overnight Use Only”, I had to look for another A/C adapter which I could use that could handle being on for extended period of time. Unless you make the right combination of fan and adapter would you running the fan 24/7 if it risked, at best a short circuit or at worst a fire?
2) Should the fans run when the compressor is off and no one is drinking beer? I can understand running a tower cooler 24/7 to keep the beer in the line chilled (especially if the tower isn’t fully insulated). I use a timer to turn off the unit for 2 separate hours in the early morning to prevent the unit from auto defrosting during drinking time. I noticed the 2 thermometers would read nearly the same after a few minutes and then slowly rise together after the compressor turned off, when it turned back on the difference between top and bottom temps was about 10 degrees without fans. I figure this would be enough to keep a full to 3/4 filled keg below 39 degrees without much fluctuation until dawn when the fan goes on and the second fan goes on when beer is consumed till the timer turns the unit off.
From what I've monitored the temps were pretty stable, keg didn't freeze or get too warm, not much of a foam problem. From what I've read through the forum, a fan is essential to keep the temperature stable in all the low end kegerators, I honestly I don't think you need to create a entire weather system in the kegerator, but you do need circulation, but how much is the question.
KB
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