Kegerator Version 2.0

When we lived in NY we built a kegerator out of an old avocado green fridge that someone gave us.  We decorated it with flames to cover some of the green and it worked well for us until we moved to MA in 2003.  We kept the beer equipment but left the fridge with some friends and over the years since we have used it for parties when we can.  We decided that it was time to build a more permanent solution so we can have beer on tap whenever we want it. 

I tracked down this small commercial refrigerator on Craig's List and even though it's a bit short we think it will make a great replacement for the original, especially after it gets a good scrubbing!

First was to swap the small, hard plastic wheels for larger rubber ones so it rolls much smoother and is a couple inches taller.

It has a built in thermometer and will actually chill below freezing, unlike consumer models that don't get much below 40 degrees.

I'll be using the regulator and some of the lines I already have but will also be adding some new parts.

I'll be able to use the same CO2 cylinder too, just need to get it filled!

The grey box is a tower cooler that I built and wired to come on when the fridge's compressor starts.

The tube pushes cold air up into the tower to keep the beer line and faucet cold.

Keeping the beer line and faucet cold helps to prevent foamy pours, when the beer in a line gets warm the CO2 falls out of solution, causing lots of foam.

The brewery hooked me up with this tap handle, I'm still waiting for railings and a mat to put pint glasses on.

The quarter fits well with the CO2 tank but I may relocate it to the outside to keep it a bit warmer and give me more space.

For the top railings I found these large drawer pulls on eBay for about $20 and they really make the top look like it came that way!

Replacing the tower insulation with a more precisely cut, thicker, closed cell foam really made a noticeable difference in that first pour.

After the first couple of barrels were gone I made a few changes, first was to move the tank outside so adjustments can be made without opening the door.

The tower cooler was wired to be on all the time and had a longer hose installed so it could be routed out of the way of the way for the future use of Cornelius kegs (old soda kegs).

I added a manifold for multiple gas connections with shut off and check valves to make going from standard to Cornelius kegs easier.

The tower got converted to have two faucets so now we have two pair of corny keg couplers.

I added two new stainless steel shanks and two Perlick stainless steel, forward sealing faucets that pour super smooth.

You can see the two new stainless steel shanks and the tower cooler hose.

Having to have both beers at the same pressure wasn't working quite right so we added a pair of secondary regulators.

Now the pressure is completely independent between the two kegs.