Tubing

[Neil Mast]

Hi I've a question on 3/16, I have a woods about 30 acres that I'd like to use 3/16, it's all sloped the same way, my plan is to run a mainline at the bottom of the hill and then go up to the middle of the hill and run a second mainline approximately 600ft apart. So my laterals are going to be about 600ft long. The problem is that the top 150ft is flat the next 200ft 2-3% slope and then the last 200ft to the middle mainline is 5% is this going to be enough slope to pull from the level area? I am thinking of putting a vacuum system in to but would it work without?
Another question is if I put vacuum to it with 20hg on the mainline will that be able to create vacuum 600ft up a 3/16 line?

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[madmapler]

They say you need 30' of drop past your last tap for a good 3/16 system. I'd be looking at elevation more than slope although they're both important. It doesn't sound good for your situation though. For what I'm picturing with your woods you'd be best to go with 5/16 and run your mains 150' or less apart and go with mechanical vacuum.

[maple flats]

That would give you about 15-17" vacuum. You would do better, just having the main at the bottom and run the 3/16 to whole 1200', there seems to be no max as long as you have the elevation drop. Put about 30-35 taps per lateral and watch the sap flow. Everything more than 30' above the mainline will have 28-29" vacuum, just make sure you have enough tank and evaporator to keep up, an RO will help. If necessary, have a buyer lined up to buy your surplus if you can't process fast enough.

[Neil Mast]

I know what they say about the 30ft of drop after the last tap. But 1200ft seems like a long run
That's why I wondered if a vacuum pump pulling 20hg would give me max vac at the top taps? Maybe I would be better off doing it as madmapler said. I'm just trying to find the cheapest way and still get good yields. Thanks for the input so far!

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[markcasper]

Length of run does not seem to matter with 3/16". If your going 1200 feet though, you are probably going to end up with too many taps on a run. I think 25 taps is ideal and more than that and you will probably run into the line not being able to get it away fast enough even with 29". You will have to run secondary runs of 3/16" with no taps for a ways to keep the taps from getting out of hand, especially if your talking mostly maple and not much other species. The disadvantage to this is trying to locate a leak is going to equate into WAY more walking and up and down the hill, you will get frustrated real fast! You could run a pump and you will get vacuum to the upper taps, but it won't be more than your pumping already if you put the 2nd mainline in. Keep in mind as well...without a pump, all your taps by the lower mainline get little to no vacuum either.

Not having to put another mainline in is a huge time and money savings, but as mentioned, the maintenance time of locating leaks after year 1 with 1200 feet runs of 3/16" is going to be a bear. The potential to lose yield is greater with 1200 feet runs with leaks, versus a 2nd mainline and 600 feet runs. Good Luck.

[madmapler]

The reason I say slope is a factor is because I imagine the length and amount of 3/16 lines that would have to be run in a sugarbush with any density and the amount of sap that would be filling those lines creating friction especially on the lesser to flat slope. It seems like it might be somewhat counter productive. Even at 4 to 5% its only 4 to 5' per 100'. You'd have to go 600'+ just to get 30' of drop. Maybe I don't see it right.