National Homebrew Club Ireland

Brewing Discussions => Equipment & Chemicals => Topic started by: fishjam45 (Colin) on May 27, 2015, 10:08:58 AM

Title: Undercounter Fridge Question
Post by: fishjam45 (Colin) on May 27, 2015, 10:08:58 AM
Morning all,
I've searched the forum and googled but cannot find an answer to my question.
I've come across an old fridge in work that I want to convert to a kegerator.
My problem being that there is no door on the small freezer compartment so I would like to
A) remove the freezer compartment altogether OR
B) remove power to the freezer compartment so it doesn't freeze over.

If anyone has come across this before or has any advice it'd be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Colin
Title: Re: Undercounter Fridge Question
Post by: DEMPSEY on May 27, 2015, 10:14:39 AM
Some fridges are made different so firstly is the freezer easily unscrewed from inside of the fridge. If so it is the actual cooling unit for the whole fridge.
Title: Re: Undercounter Fridge Question
Post by: Will_D on May 27, 2015, 10:28:45 AM
If its just a fridge with an icebox at the top then you can't remove it! It is the source of cold for the fridge.

Some brave souls have loosened it enough to reposition it so that cornys will fit inside.

This is why larder fridges are so desirable! No ice box. The cooling lines are usually set into the back wall of the fridge!

Also small chest freezers are also good but beware they temd to have the cooling coils just were you drill a hole! Don't they Mr D ???
Title: Re: Undercounter Fridge Question
Post by: fishjam45 (Colin) on May 27, 2015, 10:38:00 AM
Thanks for the quick replies lads.
I'll take a few pictures and post them later so.
Title: Re: Undercounter Fridge Question
Post by: fishjam45 (Colin) on May 27, 2015, 11:16:09 AM
As you can see there's no door on it on the freezer compartment. She's a bit battered and old but it works and it's free.

In the last photo you can see a wire coming in from the back of the fridge to the freezer compartment.
I plugged it in and the metal shelves started chilling down straight away.

So if I can't remove the freezer compartment is there anything to stop it from freezing over?
Don't wanna bother bringing it home if I can't use it to chill my corneys for serving.
Title: Re: Undercounter Fridge Question
Post by: DEMPSEY on May 27, 2015, 11:34:09 AM
That's the one I stripped before. The only cooling pipes are the raised ridges on the roof and floor on the freezer cabinet. The side walls of this freezer cabinet are just there to hold it in  a box shape
You can unscrew the freezer box and remove the side walls  then lay out the freezer box straight and put it in the back of the fridge. The fridge cabinet has no pipes in the walls.
Title: Re: Undercounter Fridge Question
Post by: Oh Crap on May 27, 2015, 01:06:23 PM
Same one as I Canabalised for a ferm chamber... The cooling coils etc are attached to the back of the fridge... And as Dempsey said you can straighten the freezer part and refit it
Title: Re: Undercounter Fridge Question
Post by: fishjam45 (Colin) on May 27, 2015, 02:30:54 PM
Nice one, I'll get it home and have a go at that then cheers.
I'll report back with how I get on.
Title: Re: Undercounter Fridge Question
Post by: fishjam45 (Colin) on May 28, 2015, 10:41:09 AM
Lads,
I'm able to unscrew the screws on the left hand side, as you look into the fridge, off.
I can't see where they are on the right hand side and don't wanna start swinging out of it.

Can you remember how you got at them?
Title: Re: Undercounter Fridge Question
Post by: fishjam45 (Colin) on May 28, 2015, 10:50:08 AM
Here's some pics
Title: Re: Undercounter Fridge Question
Post by: Oh Crap on May 28, 2015, 12:25:21 PM
U should be able to get at it from the back.... Just take your time around there....😜
It should slide out then, I hank you may have to take off the thermostat to free the wires etc
Title: Re: Undercounter Fridge Question
Post by: DEMPSEY on May 28, 2015, 12:56:09 PM
The screws are behind the switch box and that should have a way to unclip or screw off.
Title: Re: Undercounter Fridge Question
Post by: DEMPSEY on May 28, 2015, 12:59:52 PM
If you leave the top part of the cooling box connected to the sides and only  fold down the bottom part to lie against the back of the fridge cabinet it will make it neater  :)
Title: Re: Undercounter Fridge Question
Post by: fishjam45 (Colin) on May 28, 2015, 04:57:08 PM
Managed to get at the screws and fold the metal back to the back of the fridge.
Many thanks for your help lads.

I'll post up a photo of the finished article when I'm finished.
Title: Re: Undercounter Fridge Question
Post by: fishjam45 (Colin) on May 31, 2015, 06:32:23 AM
Here it is, cleaned up and pretty much ready to rock.
I can fit a fermenter on the shelf now that the bottom of the metal frame is bent back.
Thanks for the help and suggestions lads.
Title: Re: Undercounter Fridge Question
Post by: Oh Crap on May 31, 2015, 08:42:53 AM
Looks good....now go fill it  :)
Title: Re: Undercounter Fridge Question
Post by: Will_D on May 31, 2015, 09:17:23 AM
Excellent work Colin
Title: Re: Undercounter Fridge Question
Post by: DEMPSEY on May 31, 2015, 01:39:22 PM
We men are so commonsensed not like de wimmen :D.
Title: Re: Undercounter Fridge Question
Post by: Leann ull on May 31, 2015, 01:42:52 PM
It's just a pity they are better Brewers than us :p
Title: Re: Undercounter Fridge Question
Post by: DEMPSEY on May 31, 2015, 01:44:50 PM
Quote from: Ciderhead on May 31, 2015, 01:42:52 PM
It's just a pity they are better Brewers than us :p
so it t'was your wife that brewed your gold medal winner so >:D