Looking to buy a kegerator

[ctchandler]

This is basically what I use... There's a probe that you hang in the freezer, and then you plug the power cord of the freezer into this. Requires no modification of the freezer itself...

Refrigerator or Freezer Thermostat (AnalogTemperature Controller) - Learn To Brew

JerryWall,
Mine didn't require modification to the freezer, but I did agree with the electrician that he should drill a hole to cleanly hang the probe inside. Ten years ago (or more) I would probably have done it myself, but not at my age.
C. T.

[Martin]

Martin,
Yes I could have, but I wanted a really good one and the Johnson Controls unit (also sold on Amazon) came highly recommended by several members of a kegerator group on the web. I know price isn't everything, but Johnson Controls are rated very high and I would do it again if I had a need for one.
C. T.

sorry, ct... i didn't mean to come across as second-guessing your choice of parts. my comment was directed more to anybody else looking at building a unit. i didn't want them to get sticker shock from a $100 part. -M


edit: ok... i think i found the one you used. while it's more expensive, it doesn't require you to re-wire anything. i can see how that'd be worth the extra $$.

[ctchandler]

sorry, ct... i didn't mean to come across as second-guessing your choice of parts. my comment was directed more to anybody else looking at building a unit. i didn't want them to get sticker shock from a $100 part. -M


edit: ok... i think i found the one you used. while it's more expensive, it doesn't require you to re-wire anything. i can see how that'd be worth the extra $$.

Martin,
No need to apologize, it didn't cross my mind that your were being anything but helpful to the gentleman that started this thread. I won't even attempt to figure out why I went with the Johnson, but I did some research when I chose it and there was a reason. Part it I'm sure was name recognition but part of it was functionality and the fact that it was recommended by the "kegerator group. Are they better? I don't know, but it worked for me.
C. T.

[PhiAlpha]

I have a chest freezer one as well. If I had it to do over again, I would do an upright freezer. 2 Reasons.

1. It's a real you know what to get a half barrel into the freezer.
2. The tower doesn't stay cool, which means the first pull of the day is room temp or worse. With an upright, I'd have just a door tap, and not a tower.

Very true...my memory of how awesome my keggorator was led me to gloss over this. Huge pain in the a** to lift and lower the big kegs and almost impossible to do by yourself. I would still recommend a freezer but an upright would certainly be preferable...though they seem harder to find.

[PhiAlpha]

Martin,
No need to apologize, it didn't cross my mind that your were being anything but helpful to the gentleman that started this thread. I won't even attempt to figure out why I went with the Johnson, but I did some research when I chose it and there was a reason. Part it I'm sure was name recognition but part of it was functionality and the fact that it was recommended by the "kegerator group. Are they better? I don't know, but it worked for me.
C. T.

I used the Johnson control one as well. Slightly pricy but a Great product.

[Easy180]

Well I finally bought a Danby kegerator from Home Depot. Had to break it in right with a keg of Kings Gold from Royal Bavaria. This will be a great weekend.