Diaphragm Pump.

[tonka]

Who here is using a Diaphragm pump? I talked to one of the gentlemen over the phone at Roth's Sugar Bush picking his brain about what is the best alternative for setting up a woods on vacuum with no more then 150 taps, he suggested a diaphragm pump that would run about $1,000 and I would need to buy a generator that would run around $200-$500, he said the pump would only need 4 amps. Would like to get as much in-put on the matter before I commit, so any advise is MORE then welcome!!

[GeneralStark]

Do you have any slope?

[Super Sapper]

How many taps? If enough elevation drop 3/16 works great. Shurflo pumps are under $100 and can handle 100 or more taps and can run about 3 days on a deep cycle battery.

[jimsudz]

You can get a diaphragm pump way less than 1000. Ones with gas motors on already are less than that.

[RIVERWINDS]

I've got a small 12v shurflo on 120 taps and pull 24-25" on it. About 900 ft of 1" mainline. I've got less than $250 in the entire setup, pump wise that is.

[sam2145871]

River winds,
Which shurflo are you running?

[Bricklayer]

What is used as a releaser? Or does the diaphragm pump basically act as it's own releaser?

[BreezyHill]

No releaser...these pumps move liquid very well and can move air as well, to create the vacuum on the system.

[Bricklayer]

What model shurflo is best to use?

[Flat Lander Sugaring]

Maple trader sells pumps at a good price and only need a 89.99 generator from harbor freight will go 8 to 10 hr on one tank of gas.

[tonka]

I will have around 150 taps in the woods. I think the mainline will be about 1,000 ft long and in spots, little to no slope and in others it has real good slope. I currently have 5/16 tubing in the woods and I do get some natural vacuum with that but I want to get the holding tank by the road so it's easy to access which will be about 200 ft away from where I originally and that will take away from the slope some. I am liking the sound of the shurflo, any recommendations on the size of pump for 150 taps? I think if I can get the setup on the edge of the woods (facing south) it would pay to get a solar panel to keep the battery charged at all time.

[RIVERWINDS]

River winds,
Which shurflo are you running?

Shurflo 4048153E75 Electric Water Pump from amazon with a 12v temperature controller off ebay. I use the controller to turn the pump on at 34deg and shut off at 31deg. I also bought a few spare diaphragms just in case of any failures but the pump and original diaphragm lasted all of last season.

My trial and error on this has found the more you can keep the diaphragm in some liquid the better it will pull. If you have steep slope where your getting possible surges and times of dry running it hasn't performed that good. I moved this setup to my line with 1.5% slope and the needle is just below 25" vacuum. I credit the constant trickle of sap into the pump with the higher performance. I averaged 26.9 gal per tap last year with the Shurflo.

I have the pump in the tote, where I have a light bulb I can turn on if it's going to freeze hard.

1188611887

[jimsudz]

sorry supersapper don't mean to steal your thread but riverwinds do you have a inline filter/screen to stop the ice from getting into the pump?

[RIVERWINDS]

sorry supersapper don't mean to steal your thread but riverwinds do you have a inline filter/screen to stop the ice from getting into the pump?

Yes, the pump came with one. It collects pretty much any bigger items i.e. ice, shavings, etc.

[tonka]

How many gpm would you need for 150 taps with one of them Shurflo pumps?

[Bricklayer]

I've been looking into the Lunchbox. It's been discusses on this site a couple times. It's basically an air operated diaphragm pump. Would a 12v shurflo be better? I've got around 60 taps maybe a possible 80.

[RIVERWINDS]

I've been looking into the Lunchbox. It's been discusses on this site a couple times. It's basically an air operated diaphragm pump. Would a 12v shurflo be better? I've got around 60 taps maybe a possible 80.

Guessing it would depend on how close to power you are. I have my shurflo on a cheapy battery, but also have a cheapy battery tender hooked up to it because I'm extension cord distance away to my pump. That way I don't have to change batteries. But I have a section of woods if I were to run tubing it would warrant me changing batteries out for the 12v setup. Then I would think about the lunchbox as that can be 500'+ away and just need the airline ran to it.

[tonka]

So, if you would have a shurflo pump say every 1000 foot on the mainline, would each pump act as a boost/pump at the same time? or would it play with the flow or vacuum in the line?

[Flat Lander Sugaring]

just picked up two breast pumps, havent pulled them out of their carry bags but I should be able to hook them up to pipe line

[n8hutch]

just picked up two breast pumps, havent pulled them out of their carry bags but I should be able to hook them up to pipe line
That is funny you say that. I was looking at my wife's breast pump thinking to myself "wonder how many inches of vac that thing pulls", I bet that 6 week old baby of mine could suck the SAP out of a tree 48" at breast height judging by the number she's doing on my wife's Twin peaks.

[Flat Lander Sugaring]

That is funny you say that. I was looking at my wife's breast pump thinking to myself "wonder how many inches of vac that thing pulls", I bet that 6 week old baby of mine could suck the SAP out of a tree 48" at breast height judging by the number she's doing on my wife's Twin peaks.


HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA ROFL :lol::lol::lol::lol:

[sugarsand]

Sounds like sugaring season needs to get here real soon.:mrgreen:

sugarsand

[Flat Lander Sugaring]

I pulled one out of the bag, look like it would hook right up to 3/16 line

[n8hutch]

Lol, the guy that started this thread is either laughing his @** off or is making a list of people to block in the future, either way I agree with the guy who said sugar season needs to come again soon. My real job feels a lot more like getting a tooth pulled every day.

[Bricklayer]

Anyone have a picture or diagram on how they setup the shurflo on 12 volts?

[Super Sapper]

http://mapletrader.com/community/showthread.php?22328-1st-Day-Sap-Puller&highlight=day+sap+puller

Check out this thread, there is a lot of info in here.

[Mr. Red Maple]

I have the lunchbox pump. I have only been able to test it with tubing and air and tubing with water. I was getting roughly 24 inches of vacuum but it is all adjustable with the amount of air pressure you give it. I am going to buy a shurflo as a back up probably the 115volt 4008 model. Anyone have any experience with the 4008 model? The lunchbox is something to consider if you have a compressor handy that has a good sized air tank.