Micro2 setup question

[Goggleeye]

New to having an RO and have a few questions.
Does the raw sap have to come from a head tank, or will the feed pump siphon the sap adequately? I usually bring in sap in 60 gallon barrels, and stick a pipe in the barrels to pump them out. Also, I was wondering if getting air into the line as I go between barrels will affect the performance.
Thanks

[heus]

I would suggest not trying to siphon from a tank. Plumb from the bottom of your sap tank. Use the bleed valve on the inlet to get out excess air before firing up the machine. I think trying to siphon would cause the low pressure switch to prevent the pressure (top) pump from staying on.

[Goggleeye]

Thanks. I kind of figured that. Once I had posted, I had figured out a way to rig up a sap tank and permeate tank to gravity feed for this year. You know how things go, constant improvements and makeshift riggings to get you through the year. Any thoughts as to how far I can send the concentrate? The shed with my evaporator is about 150 feet from where I’m keeping the RO for this year And the head tanks feeding the evaporator requires me to lift the concentrate about 10 feet max. I have run three-quarter inch mainline over that distance, and I have a pump that I could use to lift it if I needed to. I was just wondering if the RO would send it that far.

[Goggleeye]

OK, need some advice here. Have a one year old used micro2. I ran all the preseason cleanings as prescribed and then when I checked my flow rate with water at 70° I was getting 4 gallons per minute on the permeate side that seems really high to me. I think it supposed to process 250 gallons per hour. But when I added the concentrate and permeate numbers together it was a lot more than that. Does it make that much difference when you are running cold sap?

[Goggleeye]

Got the RO running well, but have question about pH of alkaline soap wash. The membrane directions say pH up to 12. But what would be the minimum pH I should be looking for? I seem to be able to get it to 10.8-11, but it seems like I have to add a lot of soap to get it any higher. Thoughts?

[maple flats]

My RO is not the same, but I use a SS booster pump to move the sap thru the RO before I ever turn the RO on. In your case, even a small diaphragm pump may be a good idea. Then get the RO fully primed, then turn the RO on.

[western mainer]

I have the micro 2 How big is your wash bucket? Mine is a 5 gallon pail I use about 4 gallon of permeate and only 2 tablespoon of alkaline soap wash and it stays at 12 for the ph. What are you using for soap? I'm use the leader soap.
Brian

[Goggleeye]

I'm using about 4 gallons of permeate with the Leader soap as well. But it's taking a lot more than 2 Tablespoons to get to even 11.
I'm using a cheap Hanna pH meter - I wonder if it's off. I calibrated it on permeate, and the permeate reads right around 7 How do you check your pH?

[DrTimPerkins]

Got the RO running well, but have question about pH of alkaline soap wash. The membrane directions say pH up to 12. But what would be the minimum pH I should be looking for? I seem to be able to get it to 10.8-11, but it seems like I have to add a lot of soap to get it any higher. Thoughts?

Many (but not all) of the RO soaps are buffered, so no matter how much you add beyond a certain point it won't go any higher. This is to prevent accidentally going too high and damaging the membrane. Use the type of soap and amount recommended by the equipment/membrane manufacturer/supplier.

[DrTimPerkins]

I'm using a cheap Hanna pH meter - I wonder if it's off. I calibrated it on permeate, and the permeate reads right around 7 How do you check your pH?

pH test strips are cheap and pretty fool proof. No batteries and no calibration needed. Quick and easy. Just store them away from the RO soap or acid.

[Goggleeye]

Many (but not all) of the RO soaps are buffered, so no matter how much you add beyond a certain point it won't go any higher. This is to prevent accidentally going too high and damaging the membrane. Use the type of soap and amount recommended by the equipment/membrane manufacturer/supplier.

Thanks, Dr. Tim. I hope this was the case for mine. I did some concentration calculations and found that I was probably at 13.5 for straight Sodium Hydroxide (No buffers). I've done two soap washes so far this season. How will I know if I ruined the membranes?

Thanks,
Mark

[western mainer]

Use the test strips. To calibrate you have to use a ph calibrate solution.
Brian

[Maple River Sugar]

On a totally unrelated question/comment. I just picked my Micro 2 up and I need to put a plug on it. Is it possible to get the description of your plug or a picture. I think a Nema 6-15 configuration is needed.
Thanks

[western mainer]

Where do you need a plug? I have nothing plugged off.
Brian

[Maple River Sugar]

Where do you need a plug? I have nothing plugged off.
Brian

Electrical plug configuration.

[western mainer]

https://www.amazon.com/Legrand-Seymour-PS5466SSANCC4-Straight-250-volt/dp/B009VYC8AG/ref=sr_1_5?crid=280PTTS6YXCYE&keywords=220+volt+plugs+and+receptacles+3+prong&qid=1581072895&sprefix=220+volt+plug%2Caps%2C586&sr=8-5

This is what I used got it at the hardware store.
Brian