r-o overnight

[howden86]

Dow anybody run their r-o overnight in an unheated sugarhouse

Thanks

Tom

[ennismaple]

There may be someone out there who does this but everyone I know has put in a small insulated room for their RO. If the membrane freezes it will pass sugar.

[KenWP]

Would hate to freeze up a peice of equipment worth that much money. Way to many places for sap to freeze on one and bust a fitting.

[smitty76]

Seems I would have to agree with KenWP. Way to risky

[802maple]

While it was running it would be fine,heck you could run it right out doors. It would be while it wasn't running is when you would be in trouble with a unheated area.

[Brent]

I ran my little GE Merlins overnight regularly. I had them recirulating on a 275 gallon tote. Some of the energy from the pumping puts a bit of heat into the sap and in the mornings I found only a tiny bit of ice on the top in the tote. The pump and RO's were still doing there thing. I did throw a tarp over the tote which was outdoors to help retain a bit of heat. They still don't pass any sugar.

I suppose the real fear factor is how cold it's forecast to get on a given night and wind chill.
At 0 deg F I wouldn't chance it. At 28 deg F I think it would be pretty safe.
But a 4" x 40" membrane is $ 800 to $ 1100 .........

[Russell Lampron]

Brent you are looking in the wrong place if you are paying $800 plus for a 4"x40" membrane. I have found them for $300 through more than one source. www.formembranes.com is one place.

[Brent]

Rus that's the name you gave me a few months back and this is the quote I got from Joe

=============
Hello Brent,

I used to sell the PVD1 (8 x 40) at a slight markup. Then Hydranautics
gave an exclusive to Dominion Grimm in Canada, where you can but it for an arm
and a leg, and your first born.

So after protesting their disloyalty (since I am a large Hydranautics
distributor) I switch all my customers over to FilmTec NF270-400. It is
dimensionally identical and performs as well or better, at $777.00 each.

I used to inform Hydranautics whenever I switch a customer, but that upset
them too much. So I just do it, to the delight of my customers.

Cordially,
Joe Pasulka
Atlantic RO
910-457-9336

==============

Now that I review it again I see that he offered 8" x 40" and I only need a pair of 4" x 40".

Guess that would make a difference eh !

[howden86]

I have a 4 foot by 4 foot room. Do you think if I cut some holes in the insulation board and put a light bulb in the room it would be ok to run the r-o overnight until it ran out of sap.

Thanks

[maplecrest]

my first r/o was a cdl 600 and i had it in a 4x4 closet. was tight but worked will i insulated it with the silver foam board 1 inch thick. and still use the same 35 dollar heater i bought at home dept. that is 6 inchs square. cost next to nothing to heat that room all winter. heater keeps it at what ever temp you want. mine is 45 degrees all the time.one thing i learned put heater on floor under the r/o for best results.