Couple of questions ...

[danno]

How many filters do you guys use? To play it safe and because I don't know what I should be doing, I've been using three filters per cycle - one for sap, another for the wash cycle and a third for rinse cycle. Can I cut down - use the same one for wash and rinse? Also, can wash or rinse filters be re-used in subsequent wash/rinse cycles. Obviously, the sap filter gets tossed after each use.

Also, RO pressure question. When I begin RO'ing, I have a hard time keeping the pressure in the system necessary to prevent the high pressure pump from kicking off. I purge the air out of the system first, but still the pressure usually drops below 10 psi and hp pump turns off. Any suggestions to keeping the pressure up? Close the concentrate valve? Tuirn the HP pump to very low pressure? Put some valves on the permeate and concentrate output lines that I can shut to allow the system to build pressure? After several tries, the pump stays on and I'm good to go and the hp pump will give me as much psi as I want.

[mapleack]

How many filters do you guys use? To play it safe and because I dont't know what I should be doing, 've been using three filters per cycle - one for sap, another for the wash cycle and a third for rinse cycle. Can I cut down - use the same one for wash and rinse? Also, can wash or rinse filters be re-used in subsequent wash/rinse cycles. Obviously, the sap filter gets tossed after each use.

Also, RO pressure question. When I begin RO'ing, I have a hard time keeping the pressure in the system necessary to prevent the high pressure pump from kicking off. I purge the air out of the system first, but still the pressure usually drops below 10 psi and hp pump turns off. Any suggestions to keeping the pressure up? Close the concentrate valve? Tuirn the HP pump to very low pressure? Put some valves on the permeate and concentrate output lines that I can shut to allow the system to build pressure? After several tries, the pump stays on and I'm good to go and the hp pump will give me as much psi as I want.

Danno, you only need two filters at a time. First, get some 3 inch pvc pipe, make storage containers that will hold a 20" prefilter each. Put a solid cap on one and and a threaded cleanout on the other. Label them wash and concentrate. You can use the wash filter for the whole season. Only use it for wash. You may get three days or more out of the filter used for concentrating. Basically, you'll put a clean prefilter in the machine, then you'll concentrate, then you'll do a concentrate flush, then you'll take out the concentrate prefilter and put in the wash prefilter. Now run the wash cycle. When its done switch back to the concentrate prefilter and run the rinse cycle. You do not want to rinse with the "wash" filter in. I'd keep using the same concentrate prefilter until it smells bad or causes a drop in flow.
As to the high pressure pump not staying on, how long are you waiting to start it after the feed pump is on?

[Maplewalnut]

Why can't you 'rinse' the wash filter and change prefilters when you go back to concentrating instead of prior to rinse?

[maplwrks]

Andy is correct --to a point. 2 filters is all you need. 1 for concentrating sap and 1 for washing and rinsing. I pull the concentrating filter out, just before doing a wash, putting in a cartridge that will be used for washing and rinsing. The reason that I would not put the concentrate carttridge back in after the wash is this--You want to rinse all of the soap and crap out of the RO before putting the filter back in. Trace amounts of the soap can be left in the wash filter. I know this doesn't sound right, but trust me, you don't want that cartridge for concentrating.

I only use a filter for 1 day and then I throw it out. They get pretty funky smelling after sitting for a night in a warm room. I also use the filter wraps to help get a little more mileage out of the filter. I sometimes will need to change the wrap 6-7 times if we have sap enough.

[venus_amos]

For your pressure problem, check if your inlet line is too small. the best is 1.5" line for 1.25" pump inlet. Having many 90 deg fitting on line may also cause your problem.