wet line/dry line questions

[Tapped Out]

Can the bottom line (wet line) be connected to 5/16 lateral lines, or do I have to run a mainline with a whip connection(off the conductor lines) to the lateral lines?
This is a sugar bush that I want to make provisions for high vacuum even though we will be just running a sap guzzler to start off. Thanks!

[doocat]

conductor lines should not have 5/16 attached.

[JBUTCH2450]

You should not run 5/16 lines off a wet/dry system. The 5/16 need to be ran off seperate mainlines that are connected to the wet/dry with a T booster allowing the seperation of sap and vacuum.

[BreezyHill]

More information is needed to make a specific answer. Systems are designed around slope distance, number of taps, tap density, for the basic parameters. Then the directional facing of the face of the slope...like south will typically have a longer peak flow than an east facing slope, with north facing receiving the least amount of direct sun, thus have the shortest peak flow time. Elevation and wind sweep also have an affect on the answer.

For a quick answer: yes you can have laterials into a W?D system you will just need to design it for that setup, by using whips.

Booster tanks...degasser tanks, or manifolds work very well and can be made ou of 3" PVC and tapped to accommodate the W/D lines and several laterals into star connectors or onto a short section of mainline with saddles.
Tapping a threading PVC is rather easy with the correct tools and supplies.

Ben

[GeneralStark]

If you are planning to do it right the first time, don't connect lateral lines (5/16) to your main wet line conductor. Reason being is if you have a leak it will reduce the effectiveness of your whole system.

Perhaps there is some confusion in wording here, but assuming you are referring to the main conductors and not lateral main lines. Lateral mainlines would be connected to your main wet/dry conductors using whips or manifolds and would have 5/16 laterals connected to them.

[Tapped Out]

Thanks,I had an idea that the conductor wet line should only channel sap from mainlines and not be connected to lats.

[rayi]

Now I'm really confused. I thought the bottom line the wet line had the lats and the top carried the vacuum and they are tied together with a whip

[GeneralStark]

Nope. Sure it can be done this way and people do, but it's not the most effective way. Main wet/dry conductors are for carrying sap and air. Lateral mainlines carry sap and air from 5/16 lateral lines and are connected to main wet/dry conductors.

[maple flats]

The best way is to have mains connected to the wet/dry, either with a manifold or a whip. I used to use manifolds (a larger pipe, that joins the wet/dry with a main entering in the middle or slightly below). I now use the whip method and like it better. For a whip, a few feet (4-6' maybe) I have a tee, or Y. The straight thru goes to the wet line and the side of the T points straight up and a length of the same size line as the main loops up and then down into the dry line. This method holds up better if a tree or large limb comes down on the wet/dry. Then all laterals are connected to the mains.
On my system, I have 1.25" wet/1.5" dry and my mains are all 1" except one that only has about 20 laterals on it, that is 3/4". All future mains will be 1" for better vacuum transfer.

[rayi]

I need to find a good example in southern michigan and go take a look. Most likely won't go wet and dry for a year maybe two but I like to plan ahead

[GeneralStark]

I suggest finding some producers that have high yields and see if they will let you walk their woods. Professionally installed systems can be especially worthwhile examining but there are many producers that do their own set-ups the right way as well.

If you plan on designing and installing the system yourself, get a copy of the cornell book on tubing system design, and consider taking a workshop. There are many ways to installation a system but if you do it right the first time, it will quickly pay itself off.

[wiam]

I believe General is right on the money. I based my set up on Goodrich's advice and a walk in his woods. I have gotten almost .5 gallons / tap on good years.

[Moser's Maple]

here's an example to maybe help.98099808

just remember you can have the best professionally installed tubing system, but if you're not willing to do the work and walk the lines and leak check, then you'll most likely not reach the high vac and yields you are hoping for.

[1tapattack]

More information is needed to make a specific answer. Systems are designed around slope distance, number of taps, tap density, for the basic parameters. Then the directional facing of the face of the slope...like south will typically have a longer peak flow than an east facing slope, with north facing receiving the least amount of direct sun, thus have the shortest peak flow time. Elevation and wind sweep also have an affect on the answer.

For a quick answer: yes you can have laterials into a W?D system you will just need to design it for that setup, by using whips.

Booster tanks...degasser tanks, or manifolds work very well and can be made ou of 3" PVC and tapped to accommodate the W/D lines and several laterals into star connectors or onto a short section of mainline with saddles.
Tapping a threading PVC is rather easy with the correct tools and supplies.

Ben

I may be new to this industry, but for trying to sound so smart, you need to read the original post. can 5/16 be added to a wet/dry?? not south facing slopes, degassers, or pvc tapping.
tapped out, from what I have read and been told you do not want to connect 5/16 to wet/dry conductors. trust me I know it's tempting to pick up those close taps, but that's what I think the main line lateral is for

[PerryFamily]

A large producer here (26k taps) does have some 5/15 entering his wet line. Is it right...depends who you ask. Does it work... Yes.

[maple flats]

A 5/16 carries both sap and air (gases), the wet line should not be used to transport the gases. The biggest advantage of wet/dry is that the vacuum is better transported out into the bush. To do that you should run only mains, separating the sap and the gasses, into the wet/dry and just run the laterals into the mains. I suppose if you just have 1 lateral in an area that the wet/dry conductors pass thru, you might enter the wet line, but don't do it as common practice. Reserve it for truly special situations if at all.

[spud]

I installed booster tanks in my woods with 1 1/2 inch wet/dry lines going into them. My mainlines are all one inch going out of the booster tanks into the woods. A year later i decided to run 1 1/4 back-up wet lines to my booster tanks just for better vacuum transfer. I do have about 35 taps on lateral lines going into the back-up wet line. I do know this is not advisable but i did it with no ill effects yet. You can bet I keep a close eye on those 35 taps for any sign of a leak. To have a leak on one of those 35 taps could result in a large drop in vacuum throughout my woods. I do plan to add a one inch mainline to those 35 taps in the next year while I am setting up a new section of my woods.

Spud