What size pipe out of masport vac pump

[mrnorthshore]

Just a question about what size pipe should be used out of the vac pump. I have a masport m5 . It looks like it has a 2" opening, just want to know if I can down size it to 1 1/2 or if it should stay at 2". The vac pump is at the sugar house and I need to run a vac line down a hill about 350' to the releaser. Is 2" best or is 1 1/2 ok ??? This masport is new to me and this is my first year useing vac and tubbing, I was also wanting to find out if there is any use for a PVC balance tank (it came with the vac pump and just dont know of any use for it in the maple world!!) Thanks

[Thompson's Tree Farm]

I think 1 and a half would be fine for that distance. Larger is always better but I don't think there would be any gain to justify the extra cost. The vacuum balance tank could be used the same as a "booster".

[wiam]

Pipe size has a lot to do with tap count. I have 1000 taps on a 1.25 inch line that is about 1600 feet long with no issues.

[spud]

If all your doing is running a dry line down to a releaser then 1 1/2 inch is more than enough. On booster systems like mine you can run 1000 feet of dry line between boosters. So your 350 feet will be no problem and you will maintain max vac at all times. I hope you have a great season.

Spud

[mrnorthshore]

Thanks everyone, 1 1/2 it will be. I only have 800 taps on this side of the sugar house so this should not be to many. Thanks again