Making a Kegerator? (calling skyst3alth)

[stoney]

Prefacing that while I am relatively handy, I am far better at following instructions when it comes to building *complex* things.

I am trying to sort out everything that I need to build a Kegerator that is Wifey approved. I want to setup a double keg system so that I can add to it in the future. I've figured out some of the things I need, but the internals are what I am lost on. My end goal to to end up with something like this:


Know I need:
4.6-5 cu ft refrigerator - no freezer, or easily removed freezer w/ no exposed cooling lines
Double tap - for example: (http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/d...-3-column.html)
**Is there a clean way to add two taps in a more cost effective manner? Mind a have a small child that can reach low levers**

I currently have the following pieces of the assembly:
5-gallon keg system with dual gauge regulator, plastic "cobra" picnic faucet, and all necessary tubing and fittings: http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/b...-used-keg.html
5# CO2 cylinder - http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/c...r-5-empty.html

I am trying to sort out if I am missing any appropriate hardware. I assume that to do the double system I will need a regulator for 2 kegs? Anything else that I should be aware of?

[pnj]

Can you serve two kegs now with your dual regulator? All you need is a split-er from the regulator.

Then you need a tap tower and you need to find a fridge that you can modify/cut a hole in for the tower to sit.

LOTS of people end up with broken fridges because they cut into the cooling lines.

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/xxxx...deshow-220712/


http://www.kegworks.com/draft-beer-towers-407
http://stores.kegconnection.com/StoreFront.bok

As for a young child grabbing your tap handles, you can come up w/ many different locking systems.

[stoney]

It looks like I have everything I need less the tap and fridge. I'm running up to the Sears Outlet today after work to see what they have in stock.

[Pesqueeb]

It looks like I have everything I need less the tap and fridge. I'm running up to the Sears Outlet today after work to see what they have in stock.

Craigslist? Get a used fridge or freezer for cheap.

I still want to do something like this, but I've been given an old fridge by the neighbors so I'm going to go with whats free for now.

[CrabJoe StretchPants]

My friend/old roommate/former lover Adam made a really awesome looking one, I'm sure he'll chime in at some point (posts on here as skyst3alth). I demanded he help me make one for myself next time he's visiting from CO.

EDIT - did I miss his name in the title completely, or did you edit it?!

[Pesqueeb]

My friend/old roommate/former lover Adam made a really awesome looking one, I'm sure he'll chime in at some point (posts on here as skyst3alth). I demanded he help me make one for myself next time he's visiting from CO.

EDIT - did I miss his name in the title completely, or did you edit it?!

It was there when I first posted. You suck.

[CrabJoe StretchPants]

I have brought shame to this dojo.

[stoney]

EDIT - did I miss his name in the title completely, or did you edit it?!

Yes. There will be a short bus picking you up for work tomorrow. Please have your orange helmet and velcro shoe on.

It was there when I first posted. You suck.

^^^This guy is smarter than you. 'I'm a gonna lern ta reed"

[CrabJoe StretchPants]

I don't have work on Fridays. So there.

I know what it was.....I read the thread title in the home page "Latest Topics" section and it cuts off his username. SO THERE!

[skyst3alth]

Yeah jump on craigslist and save yourself some dough. I don't have experience cutting up chest freezers to install the tower, but it looks like everything you need is there. Hitup homebrewtalk for instructions on that.

If you don't have dual outputs on your regulator you just need a gas splitter/mainfold to run two kegs. And of course another keg, fittings, etc.

http://www.ritebrew.com/product-p/843672.htm

If you go the standard freezer collar route I can throw together a quick parts list. Pretty straightforward though: tap, shank, tap handle.

Get quick disconnects for your fittings (at least the beer side), makes cleaning much easier. Stolen from my post on thebeerengineblog.com:

I’m usually doing two kegs at once since I usually do double batch brew days. So, once a keg kicks I either finish off or bottle off another. Pull the kegs, yank the gas and beer line/tube connectors and soak in PBW. Unscrew the Perlick from the shank, and unscrew the pinlock quick disconnects to soak in PBW too. Rinse all thoroughly.

Add a couple gallons of water/PBW to keg, scrub and rinse thoroughly. Reassemble everything.

Fill that bad boy in the pic up top with PBW, run through the beer line once. Fill with straight h20 and run through again to clear PBW out.

Fill the keg with a couple gallons Starsan/Water solution. Shake thoroughly to coat the inside. Hookup the gas line, then run a hose from the Perlick to another washed keg. Open up the tap until the keg is emptied. Repeat with the second keg into a bucket.

Now the kegs are sanitized and purged with c02 – go ahead and rack your carboys into them.

Clean and sanitize your carboys. I can get all this done during my first mash (of a double brew day).

Rejoice with fresh pours from clear beer lines.

And Joe, we're coming back the weekend before July 4th again so we'll hook something up.

[pnj]

Do it right and use bike parts for tap handles.



You can save money by making your own collar. PVC pipe, like shown in my picture, can be used pretty well. Make sure you buy the correct size shank though...

[stoney]

Yeah jump on craigslist and save yourself some dough.

I found a refurb at the Sears Outlet for $100. That's cheap enough for me.

[quote]If you go the standard freezer collar route I can throw together a quick parts list. Pretty straightforward though: tap, shank, tap handle. [/b]

I don't know what that means.

[skyst3alth]

No tower

[stoney]

Gotcha. I would love to do that, but I think Wifey would blow up.

[skyst3alth]

It's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission