Lawrence Brewers Guild

I am looking at a chest freezer for sale and was wondering if anyone has an opinion. I have been reading that using a chest freezer to make a kegerator is the way to go.

The freezer is a Frigidaire model # FFC05C2AW1. I can't seem to find much about it online (no manuals) and I was hoping to find some opinions posted on consumer sites but can't seem to find that either.

Has anyone has any experience with this model or Frigidaire chest freezers in general, in terms of using them for kegs? The seller wants $100 for it and says it is in immaculate condition. I have not seen it yet but thought I would not waste anyone's time if it was not worth moving forward.

dimensions are 34 inches tall, by 22 inches deep, by 27 inches wide. Wasn't sure if that is enough for a corny keg, lines etc.

Thanks!

Don

I have never used a chest freezer and personally like using refrigerators. I would think lifting kegs up and over the edge would get old after awhile.

Also, I've read that the compressor for freezer are meant to run to freeze, and to have them set to only cools actually wears them out faster. Not sure how true that is.

Thanks Rob. I was researching the use of a chest freezer after finding this post on another forum while looking around:

http://www.micromatic.com/forum/us-en/k ... rator.html

Also, I was at another LBG member's house, Devin Zell, and I seem to recall that he has his kegs in a chest freezer. I could be wrong about that.

Obviously you are using a mini-fridge successfully. What brand and model are you using? I have looked around at pre-made setups like Danby but they just seem so expensive.

Chest freezers are a good option if they can be scored on the cheap/free. I use mine as a fermentation chamber since it fits two sanke fermenters nicely. Rob is right that it's hard on the compressor to have them constantly cycling, they don't actually run "cooler", the compressor is either on or off. I've had mine for three years and it's still going strong.

I have a Kenmore 15 cu. ft. that is about 18 yrs old. I have had it hooked up to a digital controller for about a year now and it works great. I don't try to keep the temp nailed at one setting unless I need it for lagering. If you set the temp range at a wider variable, it lets the compressor run longer at one time but less often. Setting them on a tight (2-3 degree window) causes the compressor to run a lot on short cycles. (bad mojo)
I have no problem lifting the kegs in and out and with the extra room, you can have a lot of different beers on tap at once. I even keep my CO2 in there. Just make sure your tap hoses are short enough to prevent them from falling down between the kegs and pinching the tap, causing your favorite stout to expel itself all over the floor of the kegerator.
BTW, you can buy a brand new GE 5 cu. ft. (that's what size the one your talking about is) for less than $150.

I use an upright full size freezer (it was free) hooked up to a Renco controller. I use it for lagering and cold crashing beer from 33-65F. I agree with Chuck, set the tolerances wide to give the compressor a break. Have mine out in the garage and have not had a lick of problems.

A lot of people who use chest freezers put a ceder 2x8 frame around the top of the freezer and then attache the top of the freezer to the frame. This gives you more clearance from the top of the kegs to the door and you can drill hole in the ceder for your taps and attach all your hardware without messing up the freezer.

Here is a good example of what I am talking about.

http://www.west-point.org/users/usma198 ... erator.htm

I like my upright for lagering, but if I was using it for a keg dispensing, I would go with a chest freezer.

At a $100 you can't go wrong...free is better...

Jason

That is ridiculously cool. I never thought of the idea of putting a collar in between the lid and the actual freezer. That is a great idea because frankly, I would be very concerned about drilling through something that would ruin the operation of the freezer itself. That would just be my luck and I am not experienced with this sort of thing at all.

Thanks much for the link.

[EDIT] I just ran across this from our own forum - viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1948

Don

I have not done so yet, but you can plumb your taps through the lid. There are no working parts in there. Although, I have to admit that the finished look of the cedar is pretty cool. Nice link, Jason.

That is ridiculously cool.

BTW - I use a normal sized refrigerator, not a mini-keg refrigerator. It is an older side-by-side. This is my second one. My first was a freezer-over-refrigerator. I liked it better.

Lawrence has a Habitat Restore shop which will sometimes carry the 2x8 or 2x12 cedar boards. It is hit or miss, but if they have them, they are cheap.

Jason