Size of line for pumping sap uphill

[Biz]

A question for the pump experts out there. I have a 30 gallon barrel and a Shurflo 4008 12 volt pump to pump sap from my tank in the woods, 500' in distance and about 20-30 ft of elevation. I tried using a 5/16" line because it doesn't take as much sap to fill it - I figure about 2 gallons, versus 5 gallons if I used 1/2". I don't care much about speed, within reason. So last night it took nearly 90 minutes to pump 30 gallons through the 5/16" line. A little too long, I was hoping for 30 minutes or less. Thinking it is slow because of the small diameter tubing, or the elevation that it has to pump. Maybe a combination.

What would happen if I used 1/2" tubing instead of 5/16" - would this work better because of less restriction with the 1/2", or worse because I am pumping a heavier column of sap?

Dave

[DaveB]

I use an older 3/4" mainline with a shurflo pump and it takes under half an hour to empty a 150 gallon tank I have in the woods about the same distance but about 10-15' below my sugar house. My only difference is that I'm using AC. I just bought a bunch of 100' extension cords and ran those back there.

[arcticmaple8]

too much friction loss over that distance 1/2" pipe will definitely solve that and should be about 3 times faster than your 5/16. 500' of 5/16 has 2 gallons in it and the 1/2" will have 5 galllons

[Biz]

Great, thanks for the replies. Now what is the best pipe to use? Looks like 1/2" mainline sap tubing from Bascoms is about 23 cents a foot, $115 for 500'. Pex is more expensive. Black plastic is the cheapest, $80. Another option since I already have the 5/16" is get another roll of 5/16" and use both of them in parallel. A little less capacity than 1/2"

Dave

[RollinsOrchards]

I would go with the 1/2" sap line for the additional cost of a half gallon of syrup over the black plastic. I have always been told to avoid black plastic as it gets hotter in the sun and bacteria grows faster.

I don't think a second run of 5/16 will do what you want.