Wino24
Well-Known Member
Hi all.....anyone have or use the RIMS wizard? Thanks
Sabco RIMS Wizard
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lakeshorebrewer
Well-Known Member
I visited the Sabco shop looking at the Brew-Magic. Great stuff, nice people and a competent shop but it comes at a price. I have been considering building something comparable using the RIMS Wizard. I've been looking for the hardware to use with one that has the capacity to make it worth the effort. Are you looking to build a new system or just add to what you are using now?
I too am looking at a RIMS Wizard. I already have a Blichmann Top Tier and brew kettles so this would be the perfect addition. I have heard some concerns about the Brew Magic regarding temperature stability in the Mash Tun. Others have stated that they have had to constantly fire up the burner and then let the temp drop and repeat over and over again, meaning that it is not a set and forget solution, which for me is the feature I was looking for. If anyone has had a better experience, please let me know...I really do like this concept.
Sawdustguy
Well-Known Member
I don't understand why. The Brew Magic is a RIMS Brewery. The RIMS keeps the Mash Tun Temperature stable. There are many, many brewers on this forum that have successfully built and brewed with a RIMS system. I certainly do not have to babysit my RIMS brewery. As a mater of fact I don't have a burner under my Mash Tun any more.
lakeshorebrewer
Well-Known Member
The RIMS wizard has a built in heat exchanger that is controlled electronically to adjust the temp within .1 degree. The current Brew-Magic uses the same technology, but I can see how someone with an older one may have issues with keeping the temp if garage brewing in the cooler months.
My only fear is that I will have the same issues that these guys did in this video:
If you have had better results, I would love to hear about them to help calm my fears. I really am on the verge of making this purchase, I just need a little push to take me over the price tag...
If you have had better results, I would love to hear about them to help calm my fears. I really am on the verge of making this purchase, I just need a little push to take me over the price tag...
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Captain_Bigelow
Well-Known Member
Great video. For the price tag I would expect everything to be perfect, My $40 cooler seems to keep the temperature better this guys set-up.
Good luck on finding a perfect system at any price. IIRC, the Brew Magic system has an electric heat exchanger and a propane burner beneath the MT as an auxiliary heat source. IIRC, the propane burner is not automatic and must be manually regulated if/when it is used. The problems they are having shown in the video seem to point to pilot error coupled with unrealistic performance expectations. Reach and hold the target temp within 1/10th of a degree F while direct firing the MT and manually adjusting the burner? Really? It's no wonder they were disappointed.
lakeshorebrewer
Well-Known Member
Thanks for sharing the video. I've had my eye on the system for months now. I can understand why you are uncertain about the purchase. It would be great to see what kind of response Sabco will give.
Sawdustguy
Well-Known Member
He looks like he is a novice user. It seems that the user in the video has the recirculation flow a little fast for my liking. In the video it looks like he has the valve wide open. I would bet if he slowed down the flow his problem would go away. By having a fast flow he risks a stuck mash and the fast flow does not give the HEX enough time to heat the recirculating mash efficiently.
A good friend of mine has a Brew Magic. His is not the most recent version, but I think it functions about the same way. He has excellent results with his and he's absolutely satisfied with the performance. I would have no qualms about buying one if I was in the market for one and had the budget for it. I think the guys in the video just need to get some more experience with how to operate it properly. My friend says he seldom needs to use the burner on the mash tun.
lakeshorebrewer
Well-Known Member
Excellent point about the recirc rate. Makes perfect sense to me.
$1700.00!!! Sheesh. I just implemented one of Derrin's RIMS tube for 1/10 of that price. I guess when you add the Auberin PID and various other hardware, it probably is closer to 1/7 of the price. I already had the pump. I am here to testify that the RIMS works very well. Did not have to fire-up the BK grant once. I just can't see paying that much for this system when there is a wealth of information here on DIY, and some really smart brewers who have built/used them.
softballrob
Member
I have the Rims Wizard with new contol upgrade and it works super. It also does a great job with step mashing for wheat beers. You only have to use a burner to bring it up to temp and then it takes over within a .5 degree. Very satisfied. The only thing I ever had a problem with was after milling my grains I let too small of grist go in first and it stuck. Simply blew back into line to free and away it went.
hatfieldenator
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I came VERY close to purchasing a brew magic and even considered a RIMS wizard instead, but after finding a great deal on a used electric HERMS system I'm SO glad I didn't spend that much money on those items. I agree that Sabco has some top notch gear and I'm even considering upgrading my keg to one of theirs, but you have to pay quite a premium for their stuff. After seeing how simple it is to put together you're own rims system or herms system and seeing how much cheaper it can be, I don't know if I'll ever be able to justify purchasing the full blown brew magic or RIMS wizard.
Just my 2 cents, not to knock anyone with these systems, I think they are great, but they're better for the person with the budget for them and someone with no time to build a DIY. In that situation I think they are the best options out there.
Just as an example, I'm building a chill wizard clone right now and the parts for it to be built almost identical to theirs (minus the fancy metal stand) is less than half. I think I calculated like a little under $400 and theirs is $825. Mine will be able to do exactly the same thing and is pretty simple to put together yourself. So, before pulling the trigger on these, really consider a DIY option.
Just my 2 cents, not to knock anyone with these systems, I think they are great, but they're better for the person with the budget for them and someone with no time to build a DIY. In that situation I think they are the best options out there.
Just as an example, I'm building a chill wizard clone right now and the parts for it to be built almost identical to theirs (minus the fancy metal stand) is less than half. I think I calculated like a little under $400 and theirs is $825. Mine will be able to do exactly the same thing and is pretty simple to put together yourself. So, before pulling the trigger on these, really consider a DIY option.
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It's called the "BrewMagi" shuffle. It's a little dance we BM owners suggest to new owners tyo get them to slow the **** down and let the system flush itself to mitigate chances of cavitating the pump or sucking the filter bed down into a pillow of tears.
I am thrilled to have a BM and it was worth every penny of me not having to do it myself. Same goes for the CW.
That said, if the RIMS wizard were available at the time of my purchase I'd have likely gone with that because I already had a 3 keg system.
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