Kegging Setups

[brettprevans]

mate ive got exactly the same as you (700l). ive thought about it long and hard and decided to go the collar route. you can just unsrew the taps and put them in ther fridge so they are always cold, your not cutting up your freezer and it allows you to add taps as you need to.

 

[captaincleanoff]

so is the dispensing temperature really affected by an unflooded font?

I'm thinking about building a small enclosure that I will fit onto the top of the freezer, and attach my taps to this. I can then insulate it, and it will be cooled through the gap to the freezer. Improvised font... Think this will work?

 

[Bugglz]

so is the dispensing temperature really affected by an unflooded font?

I'm thinking about building a small enclosure that I will fit onto the top of the freezer, and attach my taps to this. I can then insulate it, and it will be cooled through the gap to the freezer. Improvised font... Think this will work?

You will ned a fan to blow the cool air up into it, otherwise it will just harber a pocket of warm air (warm air rises)

 

[samhighley]

I've just finished my 4 keg collar system using a brand spanking new Fisher and Paykel (F&P) chest freezer.



It features 4 stainless Celli taps, kegs and fittings, courtesy of Craftbrewer:




The Fridgemate is integrated into the collar:




The Fridgemate is isolated from the fridge by a baffle. All electrical lines run inside the collar between the inner and outer wall. Access to the Fridgemate electrical and temperature probe connections is via the removable plate fixed with 3 stainless screws (below). The grey cord protruding from the electrical box is the temperature probe lead.




Due to vagaries in the spring system used by F&P to hold the lid in the upright position, it had to go. As a result the lid is now held up by a stick. I'm not bothered about it, as the lid doesn't need to stay up much




The finish on the collar is White Knight Appliance Paint in white. A cold Canberra winter coupled with an increasing level of impatience meant the finish is less than perfect, but i'm happy with it for now. I've already got ideas for improving the collar design, so I may rethink it come summer. It may never happen though After a couple of beers the quality of the finish improves markedly!

It would have been great to locate some of that rubber seal strip in white rather than biege, but I guess it creates a bit of contrast. I contemplated using silicon between the collar and the freezer, but the rubber strip means I can remove the collar with minimal mess in the case of future upgrades.




The back side of the front mounting plate was designed to allow the Celli taps to fit without the use of a shank. The aluminium bracket that fixes the front of the collar to the top of the freezer will shortly be painted in gloss white.

 

[samhighley]

An early construction photo illustrating the use of malt extract tins as glue weights:




Side profile showing the electrical box:




Top-down view showing the electrical cables coming out the back-side of the collar.

 

[cliffo]

Sammy,
That is a sweet looking setup you have there - certainly looks like no further work is required from what I'm looking at. :beer:

cliffo

 

[razz]

:super: Absolutely first class effort Sammy.

 

[samhighley]

Early construction photo before the top plates went on, indicating the gap between the inner and outer walls, providing insulation benefits and allowing the electrical cables to be run inside the walls:




A close-up of the electrical box before the top plate went down:

 

[samhighley]

The last of the construction photos:




Getting a smooth finish between those MDF joins, particularly when you paint with gloss appliance paint, is a total beeee-arch. I don't recommend it

Sam

 

[KHB]

wow im gonna struggle getting something like that built im a total tool tard. Lovely job

 

[etbandit]

:super: Absolutely first class effort Sammy.

Awesome setup Sam.

Where is the powercord outlet for your fridgemate temp controller coming out from? Couldnt see it in the photos.

Cheers.

 

[samhighley]

Etbandit, you can see both ends of the electrical cables in the two photos below.

The cables run inside the collar, coming in through the back of the collar, and entering inside the electrical box.

Side profile showing the electrical box:

View attachment 20204


Top-down view showing the electrical cables coming out the back-side of the collar.

View attachment 20205

 

[reg]

Great job Sammy!!!!!

Looks like it is a long term beer enjoyment machine.

 

[Ross]

Sammy that is bloody Beautiful :super:


Cheers Ross

 

[Zwickel]

wow, Im gobsmacked :huh: Thats really awesome. Compliments for that great work.

:icon_cheers:

 

[MVZOOM]

Geez, it takes a bit to Gobsmack our german friend - but it's an awesome piece of work, well done.

 

[joecast]

1st class stuff Sammy. another example of why celli taps are so popular. not only do they look good outside, but not having meters of beer line inside is another plus (if you can afford them ).
joe

 

[pokolbinguy]

Thats awesome. Leave my collar for dead!!!

I hope the MDF holds up to the moisture otherwise things could get interesting.

Anyway good work there mate, its a work of art.

Cheers, Pok

 

[SJW]

I've asked a few sign stores for black vinyl laminate... they cheapest I have been quoted is $30psq/m. I'd need about 8m, so thats a bit too expensive!!

Anyone know where I can get some large roles of normal black contact, instead of vinyl laminate?

I got a sheet of this recycled rubber mat stuff from Clark Rubber for about $20. Its got some weird funky name but its great and just glues down.

Steve

 

[Chad]

Got a new beer fridge today, and it is a thing of beauty. Completely reconditioned, and a slap of paint to boot. Only cost $100 and a few beers . Big thanks to Jye who gave a hand with picking it up :beer:.
Can hold 12 kegs on the lower level, but have it setup to hold 7 at the moment; 4 on tap and 3 conditioning. The rest of the space will be for bottles.
To the right of the fridge you can see the beer lines which run through the wall to my bar. Didn't have time to connect these to the kegs today. I also need to put up some blinds to the glass to block out the light.

Here is the bar. 4 taps with room for a 5th. It's modest, but sits well along side the master dining table.