Vacuum question with a Shurflo ??

[TerryEspo]

Maybe I am over thinking this but need to ask.

I know little about the principals of vacuum but do know its a good thing!!

This year I will be using 3/4 mainline. Guessing 75-90 taps. The sap will never fill the 3/4 line, therefore there will be air in the line which I think is a good thing. My issue arises at the pump.

Shurflow intake at filter is a 1/2" port. I use a manifold leading into my Shurflow that allows me to have different main lines going to different directions( north, south, east west). I can build the manifold out of 1/2" PVC the same size as the intake port on the pump, or I can use larger PVC, 3/4" or 1".

I wonder if larger PVC is better to allow more air in the manifold area? Regardless what PVC size I use, it will still get reduced to 1/2" at the ice filter.

Maybe there is no difference using 1/2", 3/4" or 1" PVC ?

I always thought the Shurflow likes a nice mix of sap and air ?? That is why I am thinking larger PVC manifold would be better for me.

Any input, thoughts or suggestions are most welcome.

Thanks.

Terry

[Super Sapper]

I would go with the 1/2 inch as the shurflo develops more vacuum by displacing liquid than "air". A conventional vacuum system displaces "air" to create vacuum.

[TerryEspo]

That makes sense I guess.

I asked my plumber friend the same question he said he is not familiar with a Shurflow but feels it doesn't really matter what I use. Something to do with once sap is at manifold area the party is over and sap is two seconds away from being discharged.

We need a whole section in this forum dealing with Shurflow pumps, lol.

Thanks Super Sapper for your post.

Terry

[bcarpenter]

So I have some proof on my shurflo system with wet versus dry in the mainline. This year i purchased two vac gauges. I put one 12" upstream of the pump and one at my furthest tap/tree. My system is (1) 1/2" mainline, with 5/16" laterals coming into it. I have 1-4 taps on each lateral. 30 taps total on this mainline. I have the shurflo 4042 pump setup. I set the system up a couple days ago and dry with no sap flowing i was around 12-13in at both gauges. Today, with the sap flowing hard and the 1/2" line charged with sap the guages were reading 22-23in at each end of the system. I was shocked.

Sap started running at 11:30am here in Bedford, NH and had about 30gallons when i emptied the tank tonight at 7:30pm. I will be checking the tank tonight around 11pm to see if that same flow and vac is maintained.

Bill C.