Float boxes

[Greenthumb]

This will be the first year using a float box. I have a head tank in our shack any pics or ideas how to plumb. Pics would be great.

[whalems]

I used pvc and some clear vinyl reinforced tubing with an inline valve. I have a 300 gallon head tank and the valve helps the throttle the weight against the float back a bit. The vinyl tubing was so I could see sap in the line.

[kiteflyingeek]

Greenthumb,

This is what I put together for last year which was my first year with a head tank & I developed this from input from this site.

10044

Some explanations:
- I use a 55 gallon barrel on its side about 5 feet in the air.
- I wanted to have a way to flush/clean the barrel with water.
- I wanted to remove as much sap as possible.

Starting on the left, this is the part that gets screwed into the 55 gallon drum. One of the bungs on the barrel is 2" NPT female so that is what I used to start. My actual float box uses 1" input line so I had to reduce to that. The other fittings on the 2" fitting (the stuff to the left) are used to reduce it down to 1" as well so I can put the 90* fitting on -- this was my solution to empty the barrel. That elbow goes to the edge of the barrel which is the deepest part when the barrel is on its side.

Next thing to the right is a 1/2" barb that I put clear tubing on for a sight gauge. The tubing I used last year was not clear (ordered wrong part :cry:) so I've picked up new tubing that really is clear.

Next, there's a 'T' and two valves. I connect a garden hose to the valve with a brass connector as a drain and the valve with a barb goes to 1" hose to my float box.

Here's another shot:
10045

I hope that helps. Ask questions if you have them.

--andrew

[SeanD]

Outstanding pics and description! Where did you find the male 2" threaded NPT fitting? I had a heck of a time finding one and ended up using the 3/4" knockout.

Sean