Can a Vacuum line be used as a Dry line?

[archerybs]

My vacuum pump will be located at the top of my woods with a vacuum transfer line running down to the releaser. Can I tie the vacuum line into the mainlines on the way down the hill or do I need to take that line to the releaser and then bring a seperate dry line back up the hill?

[maple connection]

The line from your pump to the releaser cannot be tapped into or it will pull the sap into the pump and wreck it. You will have to run a seperate line from the releaser.

[wiam]

The dry line transfers more vacuum than the wet line can. Another benefit is that it lets sap flow to the releaser when manifolds or the wet line is froze.

[delivron]

You must pull through the releaser. Also a humidity trap is recommended. There are two types. One uses a ball to cut the air flow the other uses a float and electric cutoff switch to shut the pump off.
The float is superior to the ball cutting off the air flow.

[Jeff E]

I agree with these guys. Dont use your vac transfer line for your dry line.
On days when you have ice in you wet lines, you will get back ups as things thaw out, and sap is running. That sap will go where the vac is highest, into you dry line. You want that going to your releaser, not you pump.
It will be best to build it right the first time.
I dont mind going back and fixing stuff because I did not know better, but when I cut corners and have problems, I kick myself all day long.

[michiganfarmer2]

I partiallly dissagree with everyone. If you have a large moisture trapp at the vacuum pump, that will catch what little bit of sap that MIGHT get back to the pump, BUT ALSO, if all your mains are tight, and sloped down hill to your releaser, there will be no sap or ice in your mains, nor any reason for sap to go uphill to your vacuum pump. In a properly sized mainline, where the sap and vacuum are properly stratified, sap can not be pulled uphill.

Now, another thing to consider is making sure your vacuum transfer pipe is large enough to not create CFM loss over the distance you are covering.

Also, if you are going ot use a sap ladder, that is a different story

[michiganfarmer2]

IM the kind of guy who would try it just to see what happens

[wiam]

I have not talked to anyone with a wet/dry system that has not seen sap come out of the dry line at least once first thing in the morning. In my opinion that is one of the best things about them. There is still sap going in the tank when lines are still frozen.