Basic pump/extractor

[Mapledawg]

Looking for any ideas on an economical way to install a pump/extractor on my lines this season. I have 100 taps (2, 3/4 mainlines, 5/16 laterals) with most all on hillside coming down to shack (10X14). Approx 30 more taps slightly below level with shack. Shack is approx 450 ft from the house, down hill, with no existing power (yet). I have a small ETQ 1000 w generator, 5hrs on tank (gas/oil mix). I also have a suspended water line. Gravity feed worked, but wasn't so great last season (needs vacuum). Thinking about suspending a power line, rather than burying, but not sure. Ideas greatly appreciated.... Thx

[maple flats]

450' run is a long run for power. For example, if you run a 30A circuit at 240V 450' you will lose 13.61% of the power using 10 ga. CU. With 8 ga CU it loses 8.75% and 6Ga CU is 5.52% loss. 4 ga loses 3.46. In reality you need 3 Ga cu to keep the loss under 3%. If you use aluminum you need 1 ga Al to be under 3% loss. Generally 2% is considered ideal limit for loss. However, if you used a step up, step down transformer, go up to 600V to transport and then step back down to 240 to use it you can use 6 ga Cu and be at 2.2% but even then you need to calculate the transformer (2) losses. This is why the grid transports power at ultra high voltages, to keep line loss to a minimum. If you had a different power line voltage or amperage in mind, let me know and I can give you the specifics on line loss.

[mapleack]

Put the vacuum pump at your house and run an 1.5" line to the sugarhouse / releaser location.

[wiam]

If you will not have many more taps you do not need 1.5 in vac line for that distance. I have 1.25 in running about 1600' to my releaser on 1000 taps and most years get close to half gallon of syrup per tap.

[maple flats]

I agree, I think even a 1" is big enough on small systems. I use a 1" dry line on a 900' wet dry and if kept tight I get only 1-2" loss from pump to upper end of my system.

[wiam]

I did not say a size, but I agree with Dave. 1" would be plenty.

[Mapledawg]

Thanks all, and makes perfect sense. Why didn't I think of that :). Hopefully I don't make myself sound like more of an idiot here, but any suggestions on the size pump and extractor? I would probably place the pump above my garage rafters, run 1.25" 450ft down hill to sugarhouse extractor. Best case scenario, I could smooze the neighbors with syrup and/or lease their trees (all on upside of sugar house) and would have a total of est 250 taps. Also, below the sugarhouse, I have another 50 taps. That said any suggestions for sump pump system from a further lower gathering tank (50 taps), up hill to sugarhouse main collection tank? (300ft away and 100 ft below sugarhouse grade grade)? This may justify why I may need a Gator. Go ahead, twist my arm :) Thanks in advance.

[rchase]

a sump pump will not pump 100 ft of head. sta rite makes a nice pump that sucks right off the bottom. i think its called a dominator.