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Author Topic: Tap handle locations?  (Read 3676 times)

Offline dean

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Tap handle locations?
« on: May 20, 2010, 06:42:23 am »
I don't know how to make this a poll or I would have.  How do you mount your tap handles if you use a refrigerator... on the door front or on the side of the fridge?

I mount mine on the side that way I can still use the shelving in the door, I don't have to worry about any tubing moving around getting tangled when the door is opened and closed.  I think a lot of people are afraid to drill into the sides because they don't know where the gas lines or wiring is located.  If that worries you, I can tell you this, I've never seen refrigeration lines in the sidewalls unless its a specialty unit, nor wiring.  I used to work at the Hobart refrigeration department as a field engineer, manufacturers take the most effective route that also makes repair work accessible.  Most refrigeration lines run up the back and through the back wall to the evaporator, commercial fridges sometimes don't even penetrate the cabinet with the refrigeration lines.  Wiring is another issue altogether, it can depend on whether the unit has mullion heaters etc. but they generally run up the corners or edges and yes they can be inside the expanded foam cabinet but still they are generally along an edge.  So... in 99% of the time... you can drill as many holes in the side of your fridges as you have taps... just stay 4 inches or so away from any edges or corners.   ;)

Offline beerocd

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Re: Tap handle locations?
« Reply #1 on: May 20, 2010, 07:38:02 am »
Front door, I lost the butter and egg bins at the top of the door but all other shelves on the door are holding beer and/or yeast. There is another fridge to the left of it, and shelves to the right of it. Thus, the taps are on the front.
The moral majority, is neither.

Offline tom

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Re: Tap handle locations?
« Reply #2 on: May 20, 2010, 10:07:30 am »
Front door, I lost the butter and egg bins at the top of the door but all other shelves on the door are holding beer and/or yeast. There is another fridge to the left of it, and shelves to the right of it. Thus, the taps are on the front.
ditto.
Brew on

Offline hamiltont

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Re: Tap handle locations?
« Reply #3 on: May 20, 2010, 10:31:03 am »
If I had a choice I would place the faucets on the side. I didn't have a choice so they're on the front.... 

I did run the CO2 line in the side at the bottom.  The unit's diagram was attached underneath & it showed a line running diagonally from the bottom/back to the top/front so I did the pilot hole on the inside, feel for lines technique.  With my luck I would have hit it if I mounted the faucets on the side.
« Last Edit: May 20, 2010, 10:36:13 am by hamiltont »
If Homebrew & BBQ aren't the answer, then you're askin' the wrong questions... Cheers!!!

Offline yugamrap

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Re: Tap handle locations?
« Reply #4 on: May 24, 2010, 02:15:17 pm »
I have four faucets in the front door of my fridge.  They're evenly spaced, but all shifted to one side a bit.  Doing it this way, I was able to keep the butter keeper, and the shanks are high enough that I can fit cans of soda on the top shelf under the shanks and tubing.  I use a few of the reusable zip ties along the top shelf to keep the lines neat.  I have four kegs and a 20-pound CO2 cylinder inside the fridge.  Here's a picture taken before I added the fourth faucet which is between the three pictured and the fridge handle.

 
...it's liquid bread, it's good for you!

Offline jimbo44

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Re: Tap handle locations?
« Reply #5 on: May 25, 2010, 01:30:33 am »
I like the side mount but you can also connect the fridge and the freezer door.  I like it that way because I build my own taps and I can make a nice tall tap and not worry about one to many pints making me open the freezer to grab hops and opening all my taps in the process.
"The problem with the world is that everyone is a few drinks behind."
-Humphrey Bogart

Offline mainebrewer

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Re: Tap handle locations?
« Reply #6 on: May 25, 2010, 02:07:09 pm »
I mounted mine in the side.
Just didn't want to deal with five sets of beer lines whenever I needed to open the 'fridge door.
"It's not that people are ignorant, it's just that they know so much that just isn't true." Ronald Reagan