diaphragm pumps

[madmapler]

Will any type of diaphragm pump move sap through them or are some sensitive to liquids? I'm looking at a gast diaphragm pump and want to know if it will work without a releaser. Thanks.

[gmcooper]

I have a diaphragm pump from Goodrich's and the material the pump is made from is different than the only other diaphragm pump I have seen the inside of. I would suspect that not all of them will not be suitable for sap.

[madmapler]

I know that his (Glens)pumps are actually modified bilge pumps. This pump I'm looking at produces 29 hgs and 3.5 cfms. Thats a great little pump if it could work. Thanks for your input. Anyone else know for sure?

[Brent]

that 29" sounds way off to me. Only the best piston pumps can get that high.
better double check it.

[sugaringman85]

The highest atmospheric pressure or vacuum you can get is 29.92" of mercury at sea level...That is at sea level. As you go up on elevation it gets more and more difficult to achieve a vacuum of 29.92" 29.92" is also in a perfect environment. At 1500 feet above sea level the best possible vacuum you can get is 28.3" of mercury. Again that is in an ideal situation. So any pump that says it can achieve 29" of vacuum is the biggest load of crap going. Pretty much you will be lucky to achieve 27" on the best of best pumps on an absolute solid system, and there are very very few perfect systems out there.

[heus]

About these diaphragm pumps... I know that my money would be better spent on a releaser and regular vacuum (I already have a Gast 3040 rotary vane). However, the diaphragm pumps just intrigue me for some reason. I thought I was talked out of them a while back, but something keeps pulling me toward them.

[Jim Brown]

jason; Won't have anything to do with the display the Goodrich had set up at LEME would it?

Jim

[madmapler]

that 29" sounds way off to me. Only the best piston pumps can get that high.
better double check it. I'm sure your right about that however Gast is a reputable company and if they claim 29"(DAA model on their website) then it cant be all that bad. I dont think now that it will work without a releaser though.

[heus]

Jim ive been interested in the diaphragm pumps before that, but it was a nice display. Also the fact that the maple guys had the same pump in the next booth over for half the cost of goodriches. It just didnt have the shrouding.

[Jim Brown]

I think the most interesting part was that it would run about 6 hrs on a car battery!
The only problem I see is the young lady said it could run dry but it could not freeze

[madmapler]

I think the most interesting part was that it would run about 6 hrs on a car battery!
Are you referring to the maple guys pump? Thanks.

[gmcooper]

I run my Goodrich pump on a 12v dual purpose battery for 8-12 hours per charge with an inverter. They can run dry and use less power when dry than when pumping sap. Freezing inside the diaphram is a problem as well as pulling in ice from the lines. I have started mine before when it was froze and did not have any trouble, not recommended!

[madmapler]

Thanks a lot. It sounds like what I'm looking for.

[heus]

gmcooper,
How many taps do you run on your pump? Is it the 100E model?

[jfroe939]

If I could, I'd like to give a plug to a guy on Ebay who sells used pumps that were yanked out of oxygen machines. Depending on the style, they get from 3-4 cfm and cost next to nothing. Now, these will need a releaser as liquids can't be pulled through them. They run on 110 and use less than 500 watts so you could use one of those $100 generators and you're set. I personally use one on a small setup. You can pick off one of these for less than $60. The seller is Tcurtsinger from Kentucky. I was skeptical, too, before purchasing. Not afterwards. I was hitting 26.5" hg. I had a tight system, but that's no lie. There's no way I could find a cheaper vac. I bought 2. One for backup in case something happened to the first. Then, as a safety measure, use a Culligan water filter with a raquet ball in it in case the releaser fails to stop vac before it ruins your vac. The most expensive thing I had to buy was the hobby releaser at 600 buckaroos, but that vac at that cost is nothing short of fantastic. Here's one of his ebay auctions: in case the link doesn't work just search "thomas pump" and look for tcurtsinger. jf


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Thomas-Compressor-Vacuum-Pump-2619-2639-Aerate-Pond-With-110-V-Power-Chord-/170949688530?pt=BI_Pumps&hash=item27cd653cd2

[wiam]

jfroe939 how many taps are you running on this pump?