Trying to build a under-bar refrigerator?

Question

I am trying to build a refrigerator that will completely fit under my bar. This refrigerator will store at least two half barrel kegs along with space for other items I want to keep chilled. I have looked into having them cooled with a thermoelectric cooler, but was too inefficient. I am thinking about taking apart an existing refrigerator (compressor) and modifying it to work under my bar. Can anyone give me some advice on doing this? I would also be open to alternative cooling options. Thanks!

Answer 1

You are certainly not the first to want to do this. I would expect you could find some specialty refrigerators listed in the yellow pages or the internet. You might check the restaurant supply vendors. Also look at house trailer manufacturers for their sources of small refrigerators. If you do not know enough about refrigeration to have even considered thermoelectric, I recommend you find a as-built as above or forget the under-bar arrangement and use a standard refirgerator. You can modify it to provide a spigot thru the door from the keg.

Answer 2

Hire a building systems engineering tech, specifically a refrigeration technician.

Refrigeration is NOT a trivial process; the system has to contain gases under partial vacuum pressure so the tiniest leak will cause it to stop working, and release freon. You don't want that to happen, and neither does the ozone layer.

Answer 3

I built a bar in my basement from plans on this web site:



The plans are NOT free but there are many to choose from and there are lots of examples and pictures.