How many taps for 4x10 evap?

[CharlieVT]

Gents, and ladies,

A couple of questions from a newbee...
I have aquired the contents of a sugarhouse which includes an evaporator that is 4x10.
How many taps do I reasonably need to make use of this evaporator?
Thanks in advance,

[whalems]

I did 600 taps on a 4x11 (7'drop flue pan and a 4' syrup pan) didn't take long to go thru the sap. Could of handled double that amount of taps. Most boils where less then 4 hours.:(

[wiam]

We used to do a little over 1000 on a 4x12 (7' flue pan) This was mostly buckets, making a little over 200 gallons.

[maple flats]

Likely 400 up to several thousand by adding an RO as needed. Trying to use it for less than 500 might be hard to get your first boil. Usually you should figure on at least 3 hrs boil time for your first boil in order to have enough sweet to protect the pans when it freezes. That size with no enhancements is rated at about 120 GPH. So you would want 360 gal for the first boil basically. After that it doesn't matter much.

[MainelyMaple]

I boil on a 40"x13' and last year only had 425 taps. i figured i would just save sap to boil as i needed but with last years weather i would have 600+ gal every chance i had to boil (about every 3 days or so) so having sap to boil was never an issue. we ran 650 gal through it before the first draw. our rig is stock no hoods, steam aways, airtight front, blower etc.. and it would average 85 gph and if i really got on it i could get 100+

[michiganfarmer2]

I get abuot 80 gallon per hour evaporation with my drop flue, 3x12, no preheater, burning dry oak. We have 3 people who take turns keeping it fired over the course of about 16 hours a day.