Keezer collar holes

[ScottK]

I'm interested in hearing how any of you have sealed holes in the keezer collar for temperature probe wires, gas lines, fan wires, etc. I can think of a few ways of doing it, but I'd like to be able to remove them fairly easily should the need arise. Any suggestions?

[jward]

I let the Ranco probe wire deform the gasket. It's worked for years. I do keep the probe in a thermowell in a plastic bottle of water. CO2 is in the keezer; I use paintball bottles to lose less CO2 when I get a leak.

[ScottK]

Thanks John. That is an option I'm willing to do. I also have a small fan and a heating wrap with cables as well. I suppose I could just let those deform the gasket as well.

[CurtisG]

I had some condensation issues when I just closed the door on it. I cut the gasket underneath the magnetic strip ran the wires through and then used some caulk to seal it back up. Worked for me and I can just pull the wires out if need be.

[WillL]

I wanted to keep my co2 tank outside my keezer, so for gas lines I drilled a hole and put a small piece of pipe through the hole and attached the gas line to each end of the pipe with hose clamps. I sealed any gaps around the pipe with silicone caulk.

[DrDually]

No longer use keezer, but when I did the temp probe and low voltage fan wires went thru 5/16" holes
Sealed with caulking
No issues and can be easily removed if needed
As for temp probe, used 3" ABS drain pipe with caps on both ends
On top drilled and tapped hole for brass fillting
Crimped and sealed copper tube then inserted into fitting
Filled pipe with anti freeze and placed on bottom of keezer
Worked very well
At least until I went to a Beverage Aire commercial keg cooler
I do have pics if interested...also looking to re-home the piece

[ScottK]

Thanks all for the feedback. I feel like I was overthinking it a bit. Good ideas here.

[ctninh]

Some people drill holes to do what is said in this post. Very likely, you can ask the manufacturer about safe locations to drill holes. They should be willing to help since you spent cash on their stuff. You will need the drill bits to do the project.

There is also a putty made to seal holes for this purpose. It seals and hardens well and can stand cryo freezers. I can get more details if needed. Removing it takes scrapes with a screwdriver.

I am not fond of sliding the probe wire through to deform the gasket. Then again, I am not rich. Thus I have a deformed chest freezer gasket.

-Calvin

[DrDually]

I would not recommend drilling thru freezer sides
The Freon lines run thru it
However, you can confirm line location by letting unit run for 5-10 minutes
Feel sides and if warm then lines are there

[lexuschris]

The putty around the wires on the collar sounds like a good safe bet to me!

As for drilling the sides of the freezer/fridge, a very risky proposition. However, I've read of a corn starch paste test to find the lines.
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/forum/thre ... ll.257814/

I used this on my kegerator before drilling the top for my tap tower. YMMV.

--Lexuschris

[lars]

I would not recommend drilling thru freezer sides
The Freon lines run thru it
However, you can confirm line location by letting unit run for 5-10 minutes
Feel sides and if warm then lines are there

I used a soldering iron to melt through the sides from the inside to make sure I didn't hit any lines in my kegerator.