Ghillie's Keezer Build Thread

[Ghillie]

So due home on Thursday and hope to start throwing the keezer together over my leave. Thought I'd be as well starting a thread for it. Complete with pictures, etc.

Was day dreaming yesterday watching the snow falling and thought: "*****, I never considered a heater for inside the keezer!" With the cold snap we're having, it's been as low as -10C at home, so may prove problematic with the keezer being in the garage.

The garage is built on to the side of the house, but I have seen it at 0C in there before, as it's uninsulated. So I'd better stick a tube heater in there just in case! I'd bet it'll drop below freezing on the really cold nights.

The other concern is the compressor getting damaged when running at really cold temperatures. I'm hoping for a couple of things:

1. Logically there would be no need for the keezer compressor to cycle when the ambient temperature is <3C (planned keezer setpoint).

2. The concept of winter can get to **** and leave us with respectable ambient temps all year round.

3. The freezer is in fact one which is rated for outbuildings, etc (designed to run at low ambient temperatures.

Anyone else got a keezer in a garage/shed/outbuilding?

 

[Hoddy]

You won’t regret building it

Do you think you’ll need a heater? The freezers are pretty well insulated so if the freezer doesn’t run I would hope thermal mass would keep it there or there about. Plus alcohol freezes at like well below 0C so maybe it’ll be ok?

It don’t get that cold consistently down south.

 

[Ghillie]

You won’t regret building it

Genuinely can't wait, dying to get home to get started!

Do you think you’ll need a heater? The freezers are pretty well insulated so if the freezer doesn’t run I would hope thermal mass would keep it there or there about. Plus alcohol freezes at like well below 0C so maybe it’ll be ok?

In all honesty I don't think so @Hoddy. My kegerator has been absolutely fine and is a fridge/freezer with the original thermostat in place. Beer has never frozen and every time I've opened it for whatever reason it reads 6C or so.

I'm also under the impression that freezers have good insulation properties (certainly better than fridges anyway), further reiterating your point. I think for the kegs to freeze inside the keezer would require an extremely cold and consistent ambient temperature. i.e. -5C in the garage (highly unlikely) for a number of days.

I will hold off on the heater in that case, save myself £16 as well. Can easy fit one if needed. There's always that element of doubt isn't there? Anyway, if carbed beer freezes you can just carb it up again!

 

[Hoddy]

Genuinely can't wait, dying to get home to get started!
In all honesty I don't think so @Hoddy. My kegerator has been absolutely fine and is a fridge/freezer with the original thermostat in place. Beer has never frozen and every time I've opened it for whatever reason it reads 6C or so.

I'm also under the impression that freezers have good insulation properties (certainly better than fridges anyway), further reiterating your point. I think for the kegs to freeze inside the keezer would require an extremely cold and consistent ambient temperature. i.e. -5C in the garage (highly unlikely) for a number of days.

I will hold off on the heater in that case, save myself £16 as well. Can easy fit one if needed. There's always that element of doubt isn't there? Anyway, if carbed beer freezes you can just carb it up again!

Or you just freeze the water off your beer and get a spirit

 

[Sambill]

I'm running my freezer in the garage with an uninsulated collar... its set to 3.3 deg c and hasnt gone below 2.4 despite the garage dropping to -3. I think you'll be ok without a heater - i'd worry about the electrics when you're trying to cram in the 5th keg

 

[Ghillie]

I'm running my freezer in the garage with an uninsulated collar... its set to 3.3 deg c and hasnt gone below 2.4 despite the garage dropping to -3. I think you'll be ok without a heater - i'd worry about the electrics when you're trying to cram in the 5th keg

That's good to hear Sam.

What electrics would you be worrying about? I've already resigned to the fact that 4 kegs will likely be the maximum for this build. I'm yet to even collect the freezer, but I did a scale drawing and it was very tight. Would have to shift other kegs to remove the kicked one, etc - 4 will be fine though!

 

[Bigcol49]

Hi @Ghillie
If you're worried about the freezer in an extremely low temperature, try a tubular heater positioned outside the freezer, near the compressor. Switch it on when you think the temperature will fall.

 

[skulltat280]

Good luck ghillie, I shall watch this thread with interest

 

[Ghillie]

Good luck ghillie, I shall watch this thread with interest

Cheers! Hope to start the painting ASAP and get my pal to measure up for the collar. Photos to follow!

 

[Hoddy]

You know it makes sense

Cheers! Hope to start the painting ASAP and get my pal to measure up for the collar. Photos to follow!

 

[Ghillie]

That looks amazing!

 

[BarnBrian]

View attachment 17720

You know it makes sense

Where did you get the drip tray Hoddy? How much?

 

[Sambill]

That's good to hear Sam.

What electrics would you be worrying about? I've already resigned to the fact that 4 kegs will likely be the maximum for this build. I'm yet to even collect the freezer, but I did a scale drawing and it was very tight. Would have to shift other kegs to remove the kicked one, etc - 4 will be fine though!

I think id be concerned with the tube heater electrics, mainly because of the tight space. You may get 5 kegs in, my freezers about as small as they come and i can just about squeeze in 5. The collar lets me get 2 on the higher back part of the freezer. Good luck! I'm chuffed to bits with mine

 

[foxbat]

Definitely go for it - I'll be watching this thread since I'm also building one at the moment and documenting it as I get around to each part in my brewday thread starting at the bottom of the first page.

Drip trays are available on ebay. I'm planning to get one and stick it on with some neodymium magnets. It looks like @Hoddy has opted for a complete false front which looks great and has given him the ability to screw things in.

 

[Ghillie]

I think id be concerned with the tube heater electrics, mainly because of the tight space.

I plan to mount it on the collar, directly below the 120mm fan so that when the heat rises the fan blows it throughout the keezer. There will be plenty room for it, and it's IP rated with a cable gland at the entry to the heater. Length of flex running out the collar so there's no exposed plugs/sockets anywhere near moisture, beer, etc. In all honesty I'm still not sure if I will use it or not... Need to decide.

There's no compressor hump which will make things a lot easier too!

Good luck! I'm chuffed to bits with mine

Thanks pal, cannot wait to get going with it

 

[Hoddy]

Where did you get the drip tray Hoddy? How much?

I found here https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/product/40cm-door-mounted-drip-trays/ at £34 was the best value. Had to wait a while until they got the 40cm in stock to cover all 4 of my taps (as you can seen in the pic) that spacing allows just enough to be able to stand a filling glass under every tap at once.

All my pipe work is adapted pipe work from the malt miller premium party tap kits.

Taps came from BrewKegTap as a complete unit of stainless tap and shank when they had a mega deal on and got a tap, shank, handle and push fit for something like £40 each.

 

[Hoddy]

That looks amazing!

Yeah really happy with how it turned out. Painting it just transforms it though, you will be amazed at the diff it makes.

 

[Ghillie]

Is that matt black enamel @Hoddy? That's the exact finish I'm after.

 

[Hoddy]

Is that matt black enamel @Hoddy? That's the exact finish I'm after.

Matt blackboard paint. I gave it a rough key with some course wire wool and then that was two coats with a gloss mini roller which got the finish

I used this paint from Amazon. It was the best value for the smallest tin as you don’t need much at all. But I’ve got plenty for other blackboard projects around the house.

 

[BeerCat]

Matt blackboard paint. I gave it a rough key with some course wire wool and then that was two coats with a gloss mini roller which got the finish

I used this paint from Amazon. It was the best value for the smallest tin as you don’t need much at all. But I’ve got plenty for other blackboard projects around the house.

How was it fitting the drip tray? My fridge door is curved so I didn't think one of those would be suitable. Does look the dogs balls.
Also what pens do you use? I bought a white chalk pen but I couldn't rabbit off so ö had to paint it again. Perhaps I need to try using a roller like you did.