We have learned a lot about building RIMS in the DYS over many years and multiple generations of systems. so I thought I would include a few general "rules of thumb" for those who are just getting started designing their own:
1) Keep it low! generally the burner top height should be between 16" and 22" from the ground. A lot of the first generation RIMS used commercial two-burner cooktops as the starting point and they have proven to be too high for comfortable brewing.
2) Put all of your controls together in one place! putting your burner gas valves next to your electronics and switches makes it much easier to brew. Pilot burner controls may be place near the individual burners since they generally only need to be adjusted during lighting.
3) Always keep the intake side of your March pumps pointing straight down! This makes cavitation less of a problem.
Other tips: Put a bleed valve on your kettle fitting to make priming your pumps a snap. (I like the stainless ones from Swagelock)
The 1/4" 8262 Asco valves are dirt cheap on ebay and work very well.
Try to minimize the number of loose or exposed wiring on your system. Ideally, only the main power cord and the temperature probe wiring would be visible during brewing.
See as many other working systems in operation as possible before building your own. Steal the best ideas for yourself and avoid things that work poorly or not at all.
Parts:Okay, I was posting the various links individually and they have sort of gotten lost, so I'm putting them in one place. When I have bought one over another, it is the first link listed.
Burners:
rose burner:
http://www.agrisupply.com/product.asp?pn=3029510-inch Banjo:
http://www.agrisupply.com/bg-high-press ... n/5400000/ Pilots:
Pex supply keeps moving the address of these pilots. Just enter pilot burner in the search if the right page doesn't come up.
http://www.pexsupply.com/Honeywell-Q314 ... -4113000-pAutomatic pilot relighters:
http://www.amazon.com/Robertshaw-785-00 ... +relighterControllers:
http://auberins.com/index.php?main_page ... ucts_id=14http://www.virtualvillage.com/PID%20Dig ... 001480-138http://www.dwyer-inst.com/Products/Prod ... e=OrderingTemperature Probes:
(I decided to go with Auber Instruments because the temperature probes are stainless and screw in.)
http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_ ... b97c29979bTimer: Unfortunately, this needs a 12VDC power supply which would also require a rectifier.
http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_ ... 215c55f82fNeedle valves: It turns out that Guidry's hardware on Jefferson has the best deals of all on these. 20/20 hindsight.
http://www.bigway.com/CARTgallery6.htm3-way ball valves:
Maybe not the best deals around, but if you need them you need them.
These turned out to be in the wrong configuration for me. They are L not T.
http://www.globalindustrial.com/gcs/pro ... paignId=WII bought these and they are perfect. The only snag is the shipping department left the handles out of the box, but a quick call to customer service cleared it up.
http://www.valvestore.com/prodinfo.asp?number=536602http://www.sk-automation.com/ballvalve/ ... valve.htmlBleeder valves: ???
http://oem.cadregister.com/asp/PPoW_Ent ... er=SS-4PM8This is the only source I have found so far. They don't appear to be sold online.
http://www.swagelok.com/distributors/cu ... &LangCD=ENChugger pumps are virtually identical to the same pumps from morebeer, but cheaper. Your best value is for the ones with stainless heads.
http://www.chuggerpumps.com/product.php?prodid=196Sanitary quick disconnects in 1/2" size.
http://store.proflowdynamics.com/module ... el_C68.cfmhttp://www.austinhomebrew.com/advanced_ ... s=cam+lockRecessed male outlet:
http://www.amazon.com/Leviton-4937-Weat ... B00074USHYhttp://www.leviton.com/OA_HTML/ibeCCtpS ... site=10026This is called a propane plug adapter. All I know is it makes switching propane tanks a breeze with no wrench required.
http://www.amazon.com/Camco-59203-Propa ... 67&sr=8-52Fittings and parts: I have not used this company but have seen it suggested by other home brewers. Fair warning. Please let me know your experiences if you do buy from them.
http://www.buyfittingsonline.com/