taps per line

[doop]

Just got my 3/16 tubing I have 30 - 50 ft. Drop in elevation. I'm wondering how many taps per line has worked best for you that have been doing it, as I have read many different numbers. Is 25- 30 to many? Any one do more than that with good results?

[D and D Sugar Camp]

Doop,
I would follow Dr. Tim's methods and suggestions, they are working for me . We are at 9.2 gpt after 5 gatherings and moderate runs . Best of luck.

D&D

[Ghs57]

According to the December 2014 edition of the Maple News, article by Tim Wilmont (UVM), 25 taps is the maximum, while 4-5 would be the minimum. 15 seems to be the goal. Accordingly, anything over 25 would be too many. I did 3 lines this week, one with 18, 19 and 21 taps. They seem to be running fine, but I do not have a vacuum gauge on any of them them, and I do not necessarily have the recommended 30 ft drop on each one. But, some vac is better than none.

[wurmdert]

I have between 25 and 35 on most of my lines and they work very well

[Ghs57]

I have between 25 and 35 on most of my lines and they work very well

At the time of the article, the upper limit of taps on a 3/16 line was not known, but notes the possibility that at some point the line will be overwhelmed. There are also the practical issues of line management in that each tap has the potential to add a leak, thereby reducing vacuum efficiency. He does not rule out other configurations, but proposes "best practices" based upon the research to date.

My tap count was determined by a road crossing the property. If that were not there, and I had permission to tap the adjacent land, I would probably have kept going further down the hill. But I'm glad I read this and other articles because I value the research and do incorporate many of the findings into my operation, albeit a small one at that.

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

I think the biggest reasoning behind 25 taps is this: the more taps you have on a line the morn a squirrel chew or loss of vacuum will affect more taps. If you have 10 taps a bad loss of vacuum will only affect 10 where if you have 45 it affects 45.

[Ghs57]

**** squirrels.

[doop]

Thanks for the responses. I think I'll aim for 25, and see how that goes.

[peteinvermont]

I think the length of your run is important too. 40 taps on a 150ft run would overload it and create pressure back at the tap. 40 taps on a 600ft run gives a longer column to fill. I'm no expert though.

[Woodsrover]

My three lines are all around 20 with 30 feet of drop and a 400-foot run from the top to the bottom. All pull 26-28".