Crusader Kegerator and Taps

The forum for discussing all kinds of brewing paraphernalia.
Uncle Albert

Crusader Kegerator and Taps

Post by Uncle Albert » Fri Jul 11, 2014 4:21 am

More stupid questions :oops:

Based on information from Fil and others, I have been thinking about a fridge / kegerator device. Objective to cool in summer and reduce the winter exposure.

Does anybody have a more elegant and better solution (preferably one they can sell to me) than:

Buying a used 60cm wide fridge of dubious origin from Gumtree and then hack chunks with my dremel out of it to run the gas in and beer out hoses?

My plan is to have plugged in from March to October, then just unplug it when it get nippy outside in the hills. Will live in my woodshed.... Pain for pouring drinks but never mind, I'll buy some 2 pint glasses.

Obviously concern is not being able to remove and clean the hoses in and out of the fridge.. Guess I could starsan through but will the beer in the lines go bad over the course of a fortnight?

Hope to have 2 x 20L kegs in there normally, maximum of 3. CO2 will be outside.

If no body has a good solution to sell me, then my concern is a crappy 2nd hand fridge compressor packing in after a few weeks and spoiling the fun.

Therefore is there a new fridge available which is both cheap and has sufficient space to fit 2 or 3 slimline crusader 20L kegs with Sankey S Couples?

No idea about taps.... What is considered a good option? ..bearing in mind it not a decorative item, just functional.

Many thanks. I'm sure this going to be another rapid learning curve as well.

James

kev93_10
Piss Artist
Posts: 124
Joined: Mon Aug 29, 2011 8:54 am

Re: Crusader Kegerator and Taps

Post by kev93_10 » Fri Jul 11, 2014 5:53 am

Plenty of fridges go for £20-30. Worth the risk IMHO.

In my garage now there are 4 of these fridges. All from Gumtree and all working perfect. Have been doing so for years.

K

Uncle Albert

Re: Crusader Kegerator and Taps

Post by Uncle Albert » Fri Jul 11, 2014 6:55 am

Thanks Kev.... seem a decent new one called the Hotpoint RLA36....looks smart enough to put in my study if I can drill through the top and install twin Perlick type Taps.... Problem is I have downloaded the product manual from t'Internet and it does not show where coolant / wires are... Any ideas? It is too low to drill through door I think.

User avatar
IPA
Under the Table
Posts: 1823
Joined: Wed Dec 07, 2011 9:29 am
Location: France Gascony

Re: Crusader Kegerator and Taps

Post by IPA » Fri Jul 11, 2014 8:21 am

Uncle Albert wrote:. Will live in my woodshed.... James
It's worth checking that which ever one you choose it will work in an unheated environment. Many don't! read the small print.
"You're not drunk if you can lie on the floor without holding on." Dean Martin

1. Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, thoroughly used, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming... "f*ck, what a trip

It's better to lose time with friends than to lose friends with time (Portuguese proverb)

Be who you are
Because those that mind don't matter
And those that matter don't mind

kev93_10
Piss Artist
Posts: 124
Joined: Mon Aug 29, 2011 8:54 am

Re: Crusader Kegerator and Taps

Post by kev93_10 » Fri Jul 11, 2014 8:28 am

I just drilled through and hoped. Then again, I've never bought a new one so was never risking £100 or more.

All the fridges I have (4) have all the cooling on the back and nothing anywhere else apart from insulation.

K

Uncle Albert

Re: Crusader Kegerator and Taps

Post by Uncle Albert » Fri Jul 11, 2014 11:13 am

Don't think many of the modern CFC ones work in less than 10C by the looks of it...

Uncle Albert

Re: Crusader Kegerator and Taps

Post by Uncle Albert » Fri Jul 11, 2014 6:11 pm

Going down the chest freezer and STC1000 route. Hopefully more efficient on the old electric.

More confident about drilling holes in freezer top.

Seen an Indesit at curry's.... Just not certain 830mm external is enough for the kegs and S couplers. Started another thread on the subject.

Cheers

Ta!

User avatar
alexlark
Under the Table
Posts: 1403
Joined: Thu May 02, 2013 12:29 pm
Location: Rhondda, South Wales

Re: Crusader Kegerator and Taps

Post by alexlark » Fri Jul 11, 2014 7:46 pm

I've got a Hotpoint fridge with STC controller (just cooling) in my shed. 2x Crusader Slimline kegs and an external clamp on dalex tap and drip tray. I dont shut the fridge off in the winter but the STC never kicks in as it's too cold! I'll measure the minimum hight and take same pics for you. As I've also got to go out to my shed for a pint I just bought a 1.2L stainless thermos jug off ebay £10. I fill that and pour my beer from it. Stays colder longer!

Uncle Albert

Re: Crusader Kegerator and Taps

Post by Uncle Albert » Fri Jul 11, 2014 8:34 pm

Hi Alex.. Sounds very similar to my intentions... Almost identical... Be great to get some pics and dimensions and perhaps a model #. I haven't even seen or sniffed a pint in 6 weeks - bloody Ramadan haha.
Are you dalex clamps drilled though or not.... Taps are the next issue once freezer ordered.

Cheers James

User avatar
alexlark
Under the Table
Posts: 1403
Joined: Thu May 02, 2013 12:29 pm
Location: Rhondda, South Wales

Re: Crusader Kegerator and Taps

Post by alexlark » Fri Jul 11, 2014 9:43 pm

:D As i was reading you're thread I though it was exactly the same setup as mine!

Right, I use EWL Couplers. From the bottom of the keg to the top of the 90 elbow is approx 690mm. The fridge I have is a Hotpoint RLA31. I have to tilt the keg in as the fridge ceiling is higher than the door opening. I have about an inch to spare.

The dalex bracket is clamped on and is very secure. I wrapped bubble wrap around the external beer line, then insulation tape, pipe lagging and finally duct tape. Seems to work OK in between pints. Only about an inch of foam if I don't pour until the next day. Obviously no foam in the winter!

I paid about £6 for the dalex tap and didn't use it for a while as I had a party tap. Then I decided to get the bracket, which was £30 new (including drip tray).
As I then wanted more precise temp control (and I like gadgets!) I added the STC Temperature Controller.

Here are some pics and detailed keg dimensions:

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Uncle Albert

Re: Crusader Kegerator and Taps

Post by Uncle Albert » Sat Jul 12, 2014 4:51 am

Looks very organised Alex.
Started looking at Curry's then got completely sidetracked and ended up buying a LOGIK LTL60W14 larder fridge....... Think it could a good solution to brewing and also keep the girlfriend happy with more storage..

Just not sure whether to drill it for CO2 and taps...... Hmm mm.....

User avatar
alexlark
Under the Table
Posts: 1403
Joined: Thu May 02, 2013 12:29 pm
Location: Rhondda, South Wales

Re: Crusader Kegerator and Taps

Post by alexlark » Sat Jul 12, 2014 8:50 am

Cheers :wink:
I think my shed is tidier than the house! lol

Nice LOGIK fridge. Mine only cost £40 on ebay :D

I too was thinking of putting taps in the door of the fridge but I thought I would see how I get on with the bracket first. I've always got the option of putting taps in the door at a later date. These taps on aliexpress seem to be popular:

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/BEER-FAU ... 86943.html

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product ... 88240.html


If you're going to drill the fridge I would recommend using a dremel with a burr bit to make a hole through the outer skin (exposing the foam), then use a small screwdriver to pick and poke the foam out until you reach the inner skin (which is very thin). That way you shouldn't break any cooling lines if they happen to be there. I would say you'd wanna keep your gas outside the fridge.

Uncle Albert

Re: Crusader Kegerator and Taps

Post by Uncle Albert » Sat Jul 12, 2014 6:31 pm

Yeah Alex. Gas absolutely outside, although the outside is colder than the fridge 4 months a year!

Will look at those taps you.....
..I have taken a fondness to the rototaps, problem of course, is high cost & import duty.

Fil
Telling imaginary friend stories
Posts: 5229
Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2011 1:49 pm
Location: Cowley, Oxford

Re: Crusader Kegerator and Taps

Post by Fil » Sat Jul 12, 2014 7:59 pm

look at the pegas bottle filling taps too perhaps, :twisted:
ist update for months n months..
Fermnting: not a lot..
Conditioning: nowt
Maturing: Challenger smash, and a kit lager
Drinking: dry one minikeg left in the store
Coming Soon Lots planned for the near future nowt for the immediate :(

Uncle Albert

Re: Crusader Kegerator and Taps

Post by Uncle Albert » Sat Jul 12, 2014 11:02 pm

Hello Fil, Pegas..? I shall investigate. :)

Looked at Ali express, never seen it before. Looks OK but shipping overpriced and the bits are all chrome plated and not SS.

Think I'll pay a bit extra for 3 chunks of SS......

Post Reply