1 Wire, 2 mains

[backyardsugarer]

I have a run of about 100 feet that I want to run two 3/4" mainlines on. Will the #12 wire be strong enough or should I run a seperate wire? I am not putting in a T because both lines are running about 300 taps.

Chris

[maplwrks]

I wouldn't be afraid to run the 2 on 1 wire, or you could put up 1 run of 1"?

[backyardsugarer]

I could do 1" but I like the idea of having 2 seperate lines with shut off's at the releaser so I can isolate vac. leaks. I also like to see which side of the woods is running better.

Chris

[Haynes Forest Products]

Side tying your mainline will take alot of the stress off of it. Trying to judge what your line will look like when there first installed dry verses full of sap is hard to do. Walking the lines with a roll of wire and a pocket full of tape and your linemens pliers is the best thing you can do for the mainline. PlUS your kids following behind with pockets full of beer helps;)

[backyardsugarer]

I do side tie with #17 regularly to take the stress off the main and help me control how high it is. Sounds like running 100' should not be a problem. Better safe than sorry.

Chris

[sapman]

Did you consider running a wet/dry line here, then isolating with valves in the woods? That's how I did it. Maybe this wouldn't work in your situation.

Tim

[Dennis H.]

I did just as you ar saying and I didn't have a single problem.
Now one is wet and the other is just for carrying vac but seems to work good.

[backyardsugarer]

Tied it with 5" zip ties last night and it looks pretty slick. I love the way ties work. They are a lot more expensive than the twist style ties but it may be worth it.

Chris

[halladaymaple]

I also used zip ties.... at least for a while, they go on faster and do a good job at staying tight. However, Watch them over the next 2 years as UV rays make the ties brittle and they will break. I have since gone and replaced with metal ties and in 6 years on the mains... all is good.


Darrell

[Russell Lampron]

Am I reading this right? 600 taps in 100 feet? Or do you have 2 longer mainlines coming together at this point and running 100 feet together? Holy Maple Trees if you have 600 taps in 100 feet!

[Amber Gold]

I've found that zip ties break down in the sunlight and turn fragile/brittle in a relatively short period of time, say less than a year.

[Z/MAN]

I have zip ties on my mainline for 5 years now and haven't had one break yet. There is a difference between the good ones and the Chinese.

[NH Maplemaker]

The phone companys has a zip tie that they use to hold cables to the stranded support wire. I have taken them off that had been on for years and they were still very serviceable! But as in any thing, its all in the quality.Jim L.

[vermaple]

Always use black zip ties, carbon black is one of the best UV inhibators there is.
vermaple

[backyardsugarer]

Russ,


No, I have over 1,400 feet of mainline now. The last 100 feet is where the 2 sides of the woods meet and I tied the two 3/4" lines together on 1 wire at that point. I used the ties round both maines and the wire.

Chris