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How long goes the keg box usually take to cool down? The first time I had one layer of insulation around and ran it overnight empty (with no keg) and it dropped only to 48. I added another layer of insulation (just styrofoam 3/4″ thick) and sprayed a can of spray foam all around and sealed the gaps and under the fridge more. Now it dropped to 40 overnight. I’m debating whether to try unplugging, it, adding a 3rd layer (which will make a smaller box for the keg) or just keeping it running for longer. Anybody have any suggestions of what to do?
Oh, and I insulated under the floor with a pro pink and spray foam. Only one layer of pro pink though. Although now that it is build it may be a pain in the ass to tip it over and re-insulate under there.
I also have a 120mm pc fan blowing air from the freezer box to the inside of the keg box and 4 fans in the rear of the fridge circulating air over the coils.
I have found that DAP foam sucks. I bought both Dap and Great stuff at home depot and when I dropped my great stuff can on the ground and the top broke off, I had to start with DAP. Not only does it take a full 24 hours to dry, but it doesnt expand nearly as much as the Great Stuff. It only expands about 10% more than its original size. I went out and bought another can of Great Stuff and had to redo all the gaps again. With DAP only my keg box only go to 47.
Now yes, it does clean up much easier, but I would rather have cold beer and a funny slippery film over my hands for a few days than warm beer. It might help to wear gloves too when working with Great stuff.
I have successfully made a semi-portable straight kegger bar. I was able to carry the entire thing in pieces up 5 flights of stairs (by myself) and have it reassembled in about 2 hours with the help of a nail gun, a power drill and some brackets. The only part which is a pain in the ass is the insulation of the kegerator since the fridge had to moved separately. So basically every time you move it you will most likely have to reinsulate with spray foam. I will upload pics as soon as I get my camera working.
But basically I built the base and side walls and left them apart. I incorporated the fridge such that it would sit away from the walls and insulated chamber for the keg would be in the center of the bar. I also shrunk the final length down to 6 feet. The work counter was also built separately, as was the bar top. For the bar top I also put a black granite tile top. For the back, I measured and built the door and rear paneling separately, tried to fit it, then took it apart. For the rear panel I used a piece of veneer oak plywood so that it would cover the screws after putting it all together. For each separate section, I framed and put most of the finish wood on it prior to moving. I nailed the corner trim pieces on after putting it in my apartment.
As far as venting for the rear coils of fridge, I placed a fridge about 4 inches from the right side wall (when standing in the back of the bar as a bartender would), and placed the powersupply, and powerstrip for running the fridge and powersupply for the fans in that gap. I attached 4 small PC fans to the piece of plywood I screwed over the back where that gap is and aimed 2 out and 2 in to get a good air circulation in there. I drilled a series of small holes and screwed the fans behind those holes so that the air would flow through the wood and so no drunk person chops their fingers off. I also drilled a hole for the power strip to be plugged in to a wall socket at the bottom. I also made one last insulated wall to be placed in and bracketed down so that the door would fit properly.
It took a little bit more work, but since the side walls basically slide into place anyway in the base of the bar, I figured if I made the front wall also slide into place and the countertop and bar top just be bracketed down then it shouldnt be too big a deal. The only tough part I found was insulating properly. Do NOT use DAP foam insulation. Great Stuff works so much better and expands to fill your gaps, were DAP does not.
I’ll upload pics as soon as I get them. I am not taking my bar apart again to show you all the pieces, but I will point them out in the pics.