Busch vacuum pump

[christopherh]

What model Busch Mink vacuum pump would I need for 500 taps? Would a M1104AV work?

[unc23win]

That depends on how you want calculate your desired cfms. A lot people say 1 CFM per 100 taps. Some say 2 cfms per 100. Myself I like to try not to exceed 60% of the available cfms. So if my pump is 100 cfms I would not put more than 6000 taps on it.

For 500 I would say you want a pump with about 8-10 cfms.

[christopherh]

That's a start! Thanks!

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

2 CFMs per 100 is what is recommended now if you want to pull good vacuum. If you are only interested in 15" then 1 cfm per 100 taps is fine.

[BreezyHill]

What is more of a guide is how much time you have to check your lines for leaks and your releaser style.
If you can check them daily than I would go with 1/100 if you don't have the time then go with 1/50 taps.
Electric releasers make CFMs while mechanical ones eat CFMs.

In 2014 I had no problem running 29" at less than 1 cfm/100 taps. In 2015 I was chasing leaks all the time and had a back up pump running and was only running around 25" with 1/50 taps. The issue ended up being some 30 P that was not staying attached to spouts and on the top of one ladder. 300 new drops ready to go for tapping time and the ladders are getting an upgrade also.

Be realistic about having time to check for leaks and size your pump accordingly.

I use an electric Releaser.

I hated watching the vac gauge drop with every cycle of the releaser.

Good Luck!

[christopherh]

Thanks for the input everyone, very helpful!