Converting an under-counter fridge for corny kegs

[Dave 666]

Well I've just bought the family a nice new big fridge freezer, for which as far as the missus is concerned I never had an ulterior motive in doing so, honest, even though I already knew I was moving to corny kegs, honestly no ulterior motive for this act of generosity in the slightest!.

Now whilst I await delivery of said fridge freezer I find myself with an under counter fridge that we have no use for!, dam. Oh wait a minute, coincidentally it's just about big enough to house the 2 corny kegs I bought just before new year. What a coincidence eh?. Seems the missus is into recycling than binning these things, more so if it keeps these kegs out of sight!.

So, do many members convert unwanted under counter fridge for their corny kegs?, and is there much work involved such as temperature control etc or is the current temperature in under counter fridge sufficient?.

 

[Hoddy]

If you just search "kegerator" in the search function you will find many, many, many threads on this to help you.

Either that or someone less lazy than me will actually post you links to the best threads.

 

[cossie.j]

Great forward planning I’d say and definitely use that fridge. I didn’t bother with any temperature control to mine,i just put it on the lowest setting and serve. I prefer my beer cold so it suites me to be fair, however i have noticed people adding temperature control to theirs

 

[pms67]

You can install a tubular heater and buy an Inkbird and it doubles as a fermentation/conditioning chamber when no kegs ready

 

[Leon103]

Picking up a 6 foot fridge tomorrow to convert.

I will be following this

https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/blog/our-kegerator-build/

 

[Dave 666]

Great forward planning I’d say and definitely use that fridge. I didn’t bother with any temperature control to mine,i just put it on the lowest setting and serve. I prefer my beer cold so it suites me to be fair, however i have noticed people adding temperature control to theirs

Yep, I do like most beers cold, more so with most lager & pale ales etc. Only in my excitement I only measured the night of the fridge, seems the width is about 3 inch to narrow to fit the second leg in!. Dam, ah well 1 at a time is better than nothing I guess. Then again (though dare not mention this to the missus) we also have the old under counter freezer that won't be needed . Not that I have room for that to, but I am on about doing a man Dave of sorts in the back hard this year so certainly options for both of I want at least 2 kegs on the go at once lol. And I was thinking would an unmodified fridge on the lowest temp be suitable for both serving and even fermenting a lager?.

 

[Dave 666]

You can install a tubular heater and buy an Inkbird and it doubles as a fermentation/conditioning chamber when no kegs ready

I am also wandering if the lowest temp in a fridge would be a workable temp range for fermenting lagers?. Great if so, but somewhat problematic if I wanted to serve a ready ale during what would be a longer fermentation period for low temperature fermentation?. Also can corny kegs be used for primary fermenting? Or just stick to the bog standard plastic fv assuming it fits.

 

[Leon103]

I am also wandering if the lowest temp in a fridge would be a workable temp range for fermenting lagers?. Great if so, but somewhat problematic if I wanted to serve a ready ale during what would be a longer fermentation period for low temperature fermentation?. Also can corny kegs be used for primary fermenting? Or just stick to the bog standard plastic fv assuming it fits.

Not knowing exactly what temperature fridges actually get to I would imagine it would be well below 12c which is what most yeasts go down to.