Vacuum design

[lords sugaring]

Looking at designing a vacuum system for next year. Thinking around 300 taps total maybe a little more or less not 100% at this moment. Will 3/4" main line be good enough ? Can the main line run up hill ? What size pump should I be looking at ? 4cfm ? I know roughly 1cfm per 100 taps. 5/16 lateral with 5 or less per and less than 150'.

[Haynes Forest Products]

With new long lasting poly pipe I would pull the trigger and go with 1" You will then be ready for expansion. Up hill is what its all about. I would try for 6 CFM or bigger. What is the down hill grade.

[lords sugaring]

Not to sure but it's nothing crazy. My sugar house will be sitting on top of the hill and I'd say it might drop 10-15' either side over 50-75'

[Haynes Forest Products]

OK I will restate that running up hill with the pipe is good but the sap will be running down hill.

[Asa Matras]

You should be fine with 3/4" but you'll get better vacuum transfer with a 1" main up the middle or side (depending on the lay of the land) and run 3/4" lateral mains into your 1". We've got this setup on a 570 tap bush and it works like a dandy.