Another ladder question

[sapman]

Is it common, or proper, to jump ladders up anywhere into an overhead mainline? If so, would it matter which kind of ladder you use? I've always terminated an upper line, then dropped down to my lower line, to make a ladder.

Thanks,
Tim

[Thompson's Tree Farm]

Tim,
I have several side lines that are laddered into the mainlines in the middle of a run. They work well. Most are in the 4 to 6 foot range in height.
Doug

[sapman]

Doug,
Thanks for the reply. Are you running star ladders or 2-pipe? With all your ladders, I'm sure you're not draining them when the temps drop way down. Have any of them ever broken from ice?

Thanks,
Tim

[ennismaple]

I have 2 ladders that rise 8 feet using a single "spider" that tees into a mainline that continues a long distance uphill and they work well.

[Thompson's Tree Farm]

Tim,
Sorry, I didn't notice your question the other day. I use either star ladders or commercial "lifts" (where I am lifting 300+ taps). The lifts have a drain that closes when the vacuum is on. The stars have no drain. Freeze up has caused no problems other than blocking some early morning sap flow-a small price to pay to get the extra taps on line and on vacuum.

[sapman]

Thanks for the advice, guys! I figured it would work fine, but wanted affirmation. Guess I'll run mostly stars, then probably two-pipe at the end to bring all 3-400 or so taps up to go into the releaser.

Tim

[woodshillmaple]

I believe I read that you can't have a ladder linked into a wet/dry line system but can you have one linked into one of the lateral mains coming off of the wet/dry line?

[mtnmeadowmplfarm]

Thats correct, sap ladders should be tied into mainlines, not your conductor system