feeding the evaporator

[TRAILGUY]

i have a 150 gal tank with a 3/4 plastic ball valve reduced to a 1/2 inch tubing to a t fitting with a drain then the evaporator. I had the upper 3/4 open and the lower drain open. Wanted to do one more test boil as I had done more improvements to evaporator but the line had frozen by the 3/4 valve even tho both valves were open and no water in tubing. Going to enlarge line so want to do it right this time. I have a 1 inch valve, I have both 3/4 and 1 inch pipe, 1/2 inch valve for drain. Do I need a valve at the tank to vent the line or will it drain on its own when I open the lower drain??

[brookledge]

What size evaporator do you have? 1/2" line seam awful small for a feed line unless it is real small. If you need to get alot of sap in,in a hurry the line won't flow much. I'd say 1" minimum for up to a 2X6 and 1 1/2" for larger.
Keep a valve at the feed tank and I assume you have no float. You can use just one valve to regulate the flow
Keith

[farmall h]

Trailguy, if your feeding off the factory hole of your tank and you want more flow your better off setting up some sort of light duty pumping. The drain hole restricts the flow too much. Better yet, run 2 tanks at once into one line.

[smitty76]

or if you can put a bigger hole in your tank if you can.

[TRAILGUY]

it is a 2x6 an it has two floats I will go to 1 inch