wet line/ dry line sizing

[lew]

I currently have a woods set up with a wet/dry line system containing 1,400 taps. Dry line = 1.25 inch and wet line = 1 inch. System working excellent. Made 19.5 gal. sap per tap last year (crappy year, only 3 frosts after first thaw). Made 29.5 gal. sap per tap previous year, had 3 3gal. per tap days. System handled every thing flawlessly. I am planning on adding another section of woods onto this system. Approximately 3-400 taps. My existing system has the 1.25"/1" wet/dry lines going from top to bottom with no dcrease in size. At about 1,000 feet from the releaser I want to "tap" into the existing wet/dry line and add on the additional taps. My question is, could I use a 1" dry line tied into the 1.25" existing dry line and a 3/4" wet line tied into the 1" wet line? Or should I continue on the 1.25" wet 1" dry to the additional taps?

[Thad Blaisdell]

More info..... How long is the total wet/dry now. How far away is the 3-400 taps? After you tap in how far do you have to continue the line?

But other than that you would be fine.

[lew]

Thad,

total length of current wet/dry is about 1,200'. The new additional taps would tie in at about the 800' mark and would only have to travel 200' to the first tap.
Possibly this year, but probably next year I can add an additional 2-300 at the very end of the 1,200' existing wet/dry. This would have to travel about 500' to the first tap.

[Thompson's Tree Farm]

Lew,
Does that mean you have an eventual potential of about 2000 taps coming in a single 1" wet line? Might be pushing that. I would consider running the 3/4 inch side line all the way to the releaser but branch the dry line to insure adequate vacuum to those taps.
Doug

[Thad Blaisdell]

This is what I would do.

I would put in the new this year exactly as you stated. Then next year I would take out the 1" wet line from that connection down and replace with 1.25, I would then drag the 1" line up and make that the wet/dry line.

Actually I would probably do both this year but that is just me.

[lew]

Thompson,

Yes, I have the potential for about 2,000 taps total. I too believe this will be pushing the limits of the 1" wet line, but will up grade line size before installing another line, because of road crossings. Less number of pipes crossing roads equals less work.

Thad,

I was thinking about placing a 1.25" wet line on the bottom end also but had seen somewhere that 1" will handle 2,000-2,200 taps. Not sure where though.

Will my 1.25" dry line be big enough for the 2,000 taps?

[Thad Blaisdell]

I believe you would be fine by using the larger wet line. That is going to carry vacuum also. Actually my neighbor just had Glenn Goodrich install a new system for just over 2000 taps and it is 1.25 and 1" so you would probably be fine anyway. But I like a little over what might be thought of as good enough. If you went with the 1.25/1.25 up to the 800' mark and used the 1" up on the further end you would be fine.

[Thompson's Tree Farm]

I like Thads solution of the 1 1/4 inch wetline. I too would rather be oversized than using something that is "adequate". Much of my bush has limited slope on the mainlines so a slight sag and I have slug problems. I am currently retrofitting many areas with drylines that some experts have deemed unnecessary. My experience has indicated that the extra vacuum transfer rapidly pays for itself.