Kegerator advice.

[devinjames]

So, Ive reached the point in my beer endeavors that I want to have my beer on tap in my house. I want to have a 2 tap system. What do you recommend?

Is it better (and cheaper) to buy one pre made or try my luck finding a used fridge and modifying it?
I was looking at this one in particular:
http://www.beveragefactory.com/draftbee ... SS-2.shtml

To me it seems that unless you can get a really good deal on a fridge it costs just as much if not more to build your own.
What have you guys done?

[PhillyBrewer]

I'm shocked to see that price for a two-faucet kegerator. I guess you also have to factor in delivery. The good thing about commercial kegerators is that they're built for commercial sanke kegs so they're much bigger than the Sanyos of the past. I converted a Sanyo 5-6 years ago into a kegerator and fitting 2 cornies and CO2 tank is tight to the point of being a bit of a PITA. I'm pretty sure the Sanyo model that I and many others converted into a kegerator is discontinued too. For those two reasons plus not having to spend time/energy making one yourself and Haier being a well-known brand, I think the model you linked is a very solid deal. Consider upgrading the faucets to forward-sealing ones.

[mthhurley]

I did the Sanyo conversion as well a couple years ago and maybe I just had a bum unit, but I had to trash the thing just a few months ago as the coil plate on it continually encased itself in solid ice. I'm talking 2" thick.

Depending on your space, you should really consider a Keezer conversion. If you're serious into brewing, you may soon find that 2 handles is not enough variety to have on hand. The nice thing about the keezer is that you buy the freezer and temp controller...a little bit of wood and it's done. You can expand the tap faucets as your needs grow, you don't need to put 5 or 6 handles on now...Just drill another hole later when you do want to put #3 on and you're done. That's what I'm doing now...Have 2 handles, getting ready to add a third.

[CRBrewHound]

My position on this is build one yourself, old fridges or freezers are very easy to come by, check your local news paper or craigs list. The commerical systems from what I have seen are very pricey usually over $300. For which I can build an full 6 tap rig with used freezer and ranco, corney prices and co2 not included in that, as they would not be included in a commercial rig. Plus you usually have to replace the keg connections as the commerical systems are all set up for Sanke kegs.

The other thing I would say is plan bigger then 2 taps. You are interested now in 2 taps but that will grow as your brewing interests grow and inventory grows. I currently run six taps in my rig and I wish I had more room for several more taps. I would like to have 10 or 12 taps running in my rig. I have 22 corney's I think so I can brew and age beer.

They are fairly easy to build there not that complicated. I have a horiztonal freezer on a single stage Ranco that has a collar mounted on it. Then I build a 6 tap system to a stainless steel back glued and screwed to a sheet of plywood mounted in a box in my wall. I ran insulated lines through the collar to the back of the taps. I like this for several reasons. I don't have an ugly freezer in my bar area taking up room and the taps on my wall look very professional.

[bluelou6]

I have that Haier model and I really like it. It's big enough to hold 3 cornies plus the 5 gallon CO2 tank that it comes with. I updated it with forward sealing faucets and longer beverage line.

[devinjames]

I know im going to want more than two taps eventually but im a grad student with limited space/money/time.

[devinjames]

bluelou6, what was wrong with the faucets that it comes with?

[PhillyBrewer]

They're not forward-sealing. Search for info on forward-sealing faucets to find out the benefits.