Kegerating on a budget (with limited space)

[luke]

So anyone else got pics of their keg setups?

This fridge has room for 3 by 19 ltrs keg's or 1 by 45 ltrs keg, the freezer compartment is underneath, tap is on front door, VT gas bottle (last's 18 month's) sit outside fridge to the left,Tho one hassle I have with this setup is the fridge is outside in the laundry, gregb setup looks to me INHOUSE right on !!!fridge was for free what a score !!! When my mate's get wind that the beer's are on !! that 45 ltr last 6-7 days max !!!

[rwh]

OK, set up the taps today. Photo:

[pixelboy]

Man I REALLY want a Kegerator !@!@

If someone would be so kind could they measure those 19L "Cornelius" kegs so I can see if ill be able to fit a couple in my bar fridge.

And if someone else would be so kind as to convince my wife that its a good investment that would be even better!

[gregb]

I'll do the easy bit for you Pixel.

The corny I grabbed is 640mm tall and 685mm circumference. Note that there is variations out there.

Cheers,
Greg

[Ross]

Diameter might be useful - 210 mm

Cheers ross

[pixelboy]

Thanks guys..

Ill measure her up tonight.. the fridge that is

[rwh]

Let's see... good investment... well, in my case:

costs:
Fridge: $160 off ebay
2x cornie kegs: $160 from G&G
1x 12L SS keg: $160 or so from Australian Winemakers (xmas present)
2 tap font: $170 from drsmurto on this forum (birthday present)
Pluto gun (now superfluous): $135 from G&G
Picnic tap (now superfluous): $8 from craftbrewer
Hop ball: $6 from craftbrewer
Disconnects, nuts and tails (5, 1 of which is now superfluous): $138 from G&G
Beer line (6m): $12 from G&G
Gas line (4m): $8 from G&G
Gas bottle: er, something like $30 a year from G&G?
Check valve: $23 from craftbrewer
Tee piece for gas line: ~$7
Regulator: ~$100 (christmas)

Total (excluding superfluous stuff): $951.

Another cost is that my GF now thinks I am completely obsessed with beer. I don't know where she gets that idea from.

benefits:
Save 2-3 hours with each batch.
Have beer on tap.
Get to fiddle with gadgets.

Edit: forgot the check valve and tee
Edit2: forgot gas reg

[yardglass]

Turned a 20(odd) year old freezer into the start of my bar, the cladding is just cheap tongue and groove from bunnings held in place with no nails, it went fine for a month but then $hit itself, i'm assured by a fridgie mate than it can be resurected though.
I'll build the bar at 90 degrees off the right hand side, just a simple steel frame with some varnished slabs or flitches.

Yard

[Cortez The Killer]

My setup was a bit more expensive (but I did buy a bit of extra stuff)

$ 0.00 - 1 x Free Fridge
$ 9.00 - 1 x Two-Way divider - OD 5/16 (8mm)
$ 18.00 - 2 x Equal Tee - OD 5/16 (8mm)
$ 35.00 - 5 x Female Adaptor OD 5/16 x 1/4 FFL
$ 23.00 - 1 x Single Check Valve - Tube OD 5/16 (8mm)
$240.00 - 4 x Cornelius Kegs
$107.00 - 1 x Dual gauge CO2 Regulator (Micromatatic-Premium Range)
$ 35.70 - 3 x Quick Disconnect MFL (Gas in)
$ 23.80 - 2 x Quick Disconnect MFL (Beer out)
$ 11.90 - 1 x Quick Disconnect Barb (Beer out)
$ 21.50 - 1 x Carbonator Cap
$ 20.00 - 10 x Gas & Beer line (ID 5mm - OD 8mm) - CobraPlus+
$ 1.60 - 2 x S/S Stepless clamp 5mm
$ 11.80 - 2 x Seal Kit (For cornelious keg)
$ 14.90 - 1 x Bronco Faucet & hose
$150.00 - 2 x Fridge Tap Kit (Micromatic)
$ 13.50 - 1 x Paraliq GB-363 (Lubricating excellence)
$ 6.00 - 1 x Faucet Spout Plug (5 pack)
$299.00 - 1 x 6.8kg Gas Bottle (MyKegOnLegs)
$ 47.50 - 1 x Fridgemate - MashMaster
$ 19.00 - 1 x JayCar Fittings for Fridgemate

Total = $1,108.20

I must say that I did buy some extra stuff that isn't necessary but it's a killer system.

But I must mention that the John Guest fittings are the bomb - I can't thank Ross enough for recommending them over the conventional barb fittings - You just shove your line into them and that's it - they're good to seal up to 120psi. They also swivel which makes moving things around much much easier. And they are really easy to pull apart.

Essentially I have a 4 keg system with the ability to have 3 kegs hooked up to the gas and am able to dispense from 2 fridge door mounted taps and a bronko tap - should the need arise.

Also a mate the other day said "Hey I've got some of those kegs things from when I had my keg setup - You can have them!" - So hopefully I'll have a few more kegs to play with.

The fridge has the capacity to hold 6 kegs although I currently have the gas bottle sitting inside with the kegs but I'll put it outside should the other kegs eventuate.

I can also highly recommend the fridgemate controller - I also have the Aldoheat model for my fermenting fridge - but the fridgemate is by far is a superior model. The wiring (while a little fiddly) is relatively straight forward.

Overall I am extremely happy with my keg setup.

Eventually I would like to move it into a chest freezer - but I'll leave that as a project for another day.

Now all I have to do is brew beer to keg the kegs full!

Cheers

[benson]

here's my holiday set up
not quite a fridge but very mobile
has had a few mods since ,
i also am using a soda stream gas bottle with it


and the fridge in the garage

[pixelboy]

Awesome, I love the wheelie bin..

Fill it with ice and away you go.. sweet

[juzzy]

Luke i think ur system rocks if you had kegs goin like that i wood b ur mate as well, luv the big guns and ur spill tray. Hows the beer taste? got it sussed? anyhow keep up the good work

[luke]

8) Luke i think ur system rocks if you had kegs goin like that i wood b ur mate as well, luv the big guns and ur spill tray. Hows the beer taste? got it sussed? anyhow keep up the good work

Hmmmm,, is that you justin. If so get on ya bike, get up here & have a beer ya mug!!

[gibbocore]

Awesome, I love the wheelie bin..

Fill it with ice and away you go.. sweet

I rock a wheelie bin too, its awesome at parties, you make lots of friends

I attached an unbrella off mine also to shade it for Backyard cricket.

[Noodles]

For those who've got a kegerator set-up, can I get some advice as to whether this fridge would be a good place to start if I'm looking to make my own kegerator?

I think it would be suitable, it doesn't have a freezer and looks big enough to hold a couple of post mix kegs, but I don't want to buy it and then find out it's not suitable because of this or that.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/BAR-FRIDGE-WESTI ... dZViewItem

[rwh]

At a guess I'd say that'd be absolutely ideal. Best check the inner dimensions with the seller, with specific reference to how deep the step is.

[Noodles]

Thanks rwh, will do.

[Kevnlis]

Greg can you tell me what model of fridge that is your using? That is exactly the size I am after!

[gregb]

I'll check it when I get home.

Cheers,
Greg

[Kevnlis]

I'll check it when I get home.

Cheers,
Greg

Thanks mate, looks to be a Westinghouse, but the ones I have seen do not appear to be that big! Can I ask where you purchased it from?