Pre heater

[emq]

Would a 24 x5 1/2x16 pre heater pan be ok to use on a 2x3 flat pan with dividers
Or would it be to big
Thank you

[phil-t]

I use the stock preheater pan that came with my half pint (24X32) it is 24X6X8. I have my sap holding tank gravity into that with a float - the pan is set on an arch extension off the flue in back of the arch. Sap runs about 200° F and is fed into the continuous flow pan to keep it at 1 1/2" depth at boil. I keep about 4 gals in that preheat pan. I think your would be fine. You can keep it any depth you wish. I don't know that it could be too big.

[emq]

Thank you I’ll probably go with it’s a deal I
Shouldn’t pass up

[maple flats]

Using that size pan for pre-heater pan on a 2x3 main pan will create issues to be dealt with if your plan is to fill the pan with cold sap and just have it rest on the syrup pan. The biggest one is if the pan just rests on top of the syrup pan directly it will send large amounts of condensation back into the syrup pan to be boiled again and again and again. If you want to use that size, find a way to catch the condensation and channel it away from the pan.
If you get that solved, things will be good.