Freezer Options

[justsomeguy]

Hi all,

Spent the weekend looking at chest freezers after the one I've got decided that getting cold was not an option anymore. Anyway I looked at a F&P 261 litre slimline model which was nice but I'm not sure I'll be able to fit 6 kegs in there with a collar.

There doesn't appear to be too many optinosn for chest freezers so I was wondering if anyone has tried using an upright freezer instead. I've seen some that have the coolant running through a couple of the shelves and wanted to avoid some thing like that. I suppose I could very gently bend the shelves out of the way but would like to avoid it if possible. I'd be looking at fitting 6 kegs inside with, say 4 on a top self and two on the lower and CO2 outside. I'd certainly be building a shelf to hold the weight of the kegs.

Does anyone have any experiences with using upright freezers and what are the pros and cons of doing this ?

Thanks,

gary

 

[joecast]

would be interested in any info on this as well.

also, would temp control be any different in a freezer compared to a fridge??
joe

 

[justsomeguy]

Hi,

If you are using a fridge then you shouldn't really need a temp controller unless you are wanting to use the thing as a fermentation chamber. If you are going to use a freezer then you will need some sort of external temp control to make sure the freezer doesn't do what it was designed to do, freeze !

Got the 'ok' from SWMBO to start looking for a new freezer. She reckons a reasonably new secondhand one would be preferable but is willing to let me get a brand spanking new chest freezer as long as it ain't too much ! Woohoo !!!

gary

 

[BenH]

would temp control be any different in a freezer compared to a fridge??

You'd have to have something to keep the freezer from getting to sub-zero temps. Just use a fridgemate to adjust to your desired temp by cutting off power when cool enough.

So are looking at an upright freezer (as opposed to a fridge) because of the better insulation? (Not that I know anything about that, but if there wasn't better insulation, I don't see the difference between an upright freezer and a standard fridge. One of the 'good' things about a chest freezer is you don't lose all that cold air when opening it up.)

 

[BenH]

doh, too slow!

 

[joecast]

So are looking at an upright freezer (as opposed to a fridge) because of the better insulation? (Not that I know anything about that, but if there wasn't better insulation, I don't see the difference between an upright freezer and a standard fridge. One of the 'good' things about a chest freezer is you don't lose all that cold air when opening it up.)

going with the freezer for two reasons. time and money. free freezer available now :excl:

 

[glenos]

going with the freezer for two reasons. time and money. free freezer available now

Joe,
I have it on good authority, that, the freezer you are getting is about 400D x 500W and all the shelves are removable. It is frost free, fan forced type.

I have a cyclic defrost as well, in kitchen, and it has the cooled shelves that can not be moved, I didn't check the other frost free freezer I have but from memory it has the removable shelves too, it definitely has a fan in the back.

 

[joecast]

thanks glen. a very nice freezer it is. i like the removable shelves, and i think the seals on it are better than the seals on the fridge in the kitchen!

 

[glenos]

make sure you give it a good clean, I didn't and it has been used to store samples from your work, if you know what I mean.

 

[justsomeguy]

hi,

Well I know I'm looking at an upright freezer because chest freezers are becoming harder to get a hold of and the prices are getting pretty steep. The Centrex ones a lot of folks managed to get are apparently no longer available. I've been told that the company has gone out of business.

Looking for a chest freezer to something to hold 6 kegs means something pretty expensive if you were to buy brand new. I've not been able to find much second hand either. I'm therefore considering an upright freezer. I reckon it would be more efficient than a fridge and, if I get the right size, should let me hold 6 kegs. Upright freezers are also a lot easier to get a hold of secondhand here in Perth. Unless someone in perth has a spare chest freezer they want to part with... (hint hint )

gary