Personally, I believe that it would be better to convert it for serving since you will be able to fit many batches of lager in the area.....

 

You won't burn out the device but you will have trouble with moisture accumulations since the freezer box is just designed to freeze and freeze.  All moisture turns into wall ice until you defrost.  The lower duty cycle of the refrigerator requires that you constantly clean up the melted mess or live with black crudites. 

 

I would suggest that before you load up your unit, try a test freeze for about 30 minutes.  Note where the frost first gathers on the walls. 

Get some brass door striping that is bent in a V, some small copper tubing, and some strong silicon adhesive (not caulk). 

Form one end of the weather strip around a small copper tube and solder like a miniature gutter.

Check the gutter for leakage. 

Glue the gutter to the wall of your freezer at a good angle and position it below the lowest freeze point (if possible).  

Route the copper tube into the freezer drain

Remove the outlet from the drain and insert a rubber plastic tube

De-level the freezer so anything that spills on the floor will naturally migrate towards the drain. 

Note:  You don't need to cover each interior wall with this gutter but the more gutters you use, the dryer your freezer will remain. 

 

Our Freezerfridge has been working well for about 6 years.  It has a little interior corrosion that seem to be cause by paint scratches. 

 

Oh and by the way, we also found out that it was a challenge to dispense accurately carbonated beverages from our device so we drilled a hole where the Freon tubes were not and plumbed in C02 from an outside tank.  The C02 moves through a multivalve manifold allowing the operator to dispense small quantities of gas into the gas lines.  Valves were purchased from Superior.  

 

Hope this helps.  What are we brewing next? 

 

Rick O (and the troublemakers) 

>>> <allan.boyce@usbank.com> 08/30/02 12:27PM >>>
I have just installed a chest freezer that I want to convert for a lagering
fridge.  I have a Johnson Controls thermostat that I plan to use with it,
but I have read recently that running a chest freezer at less than 32 F. in
that on/off manner would burn out the freezer prematurely.

What is your experience?  Are there other options?

Thanks!

- Al