Marcland Auto Draw

[highway]

Good morning,

I just picked up a new auto draw off and am trying to figure out how and where to mount the control head. The control box appears to be water resistant so I was thinking of mounting it to a portable base so I can move it from one side of the evaporator to the other when alternating sides. Also, i was thinking of putting a tee in the draw off to get the syrup out of the pan in case the auto valve malfunctions.

Any thought or picture of how you mounted yours would be helpful.

Thanks,

ED

[Sugarmaker]

Ed,
Both ideas are good. I have my controller on the wall. When I change sides its not in easy reach but is only a few steps away to allow minor adjustments.
Not a bad idea on the bypass valve. I used to have one. but don't have one now. Just was not using it much at all. I did add a throttling valve between the pan and the valve to control the flow. Gets it closer to a continuous draw off mode.
BTW I really like having the auto draw off system.
Regards,
Chris

[maple flats]

I have both. My syrup pan is same side draw. I have a "throttling" valve, then a T, on one side of the Tee is my auto draw valve, on the other is a ball valve. On that side of the pan I have 2 sush set up's and a temperature probe where the thermometer used to be. I then only need to swap the auto draw valve when I reverse the flow. My control box is mounted on a board suspended over the counter opposite the draw offs. To change flow I move the valve and swap the electric leads from the temperature probes. It takes maybe 30 seconds total at most.
I find mine easy to use and I really like it.

[BAP]

I bought one of these to hang off the side of my pan for the control box. I don’t have Leader pans but it still fit fine.
https://www.bascommaple.com/item/admarb/automatic_drawoffs/

[highway]

Thanks for the info, so is it necessary to install the bypass valve? I would prefer not to because it will add extra weight and leverage on my welded pan outlet box. Sounds like the units are very reliable.

Ed

[maple flats]

If you want to relieve the weight, devise some sort of brace, if the valve dies at draw off time (power failure?), you will be glad you have an alternative.

[plabarr]

I agree with Maple Flats, its worth having the bypass in case an emergency happens. Its probably not best to trust everything on a computer board in a damp location. I made a mount for mine out of stainless strapping so it can hang over the edge of the pan near the draw off point. I think I'm going to try mounting it on the wall this year though and see how I like it. Having a ball valve before the valve is handy too so you can control how much draws at a time, if its like mine those valves are open or closed- no in between.

I feel the Marcland valves are really good though, I've been using it for 2 years boiling outside without a roof (a couple times in the rain) and it is still in perfect condition. The man who makes the Marcland products lives right down the road from me and I know he takes pride in building them with quality.

[Sugarmaker]

Yea I would be in deep do do if the power went out.:) If you wanted to make some syrup with the power out you would also need a very accurate thermometer that could be used at a moments notice too! Yea they Marcland and others are very reliable. But they are not fool proof. Just another very good syrup making tool! Its the equivalent of having another person in the sugarhouse that is as good or better than you are at making syrup!! They are always ready to work and dont need much coaxing to get a good job done all day!
Ed, Your going to love it! You operation is similar in size as mine.
I mounted mine on the wall just to be out of the way. I get sloppy with syrup or water, and it is not close to the hot evaporator. Also I only play with the temp for a couple of the first draws.
Regards,
Chris