Gravity Releaser?

P.S. Gee, it's too bad the UV light wasn't up for grabs on stuff like this. I know, this is too easy! :D

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ZZZiiippp. Ouch, that hurt! :oops: Kind of like being at the end of the chain of people grabbing the electric fence, I guess.

Alright, I get the concept on 34'. 14.7 psi divided by 4.3 psi per 10' of water head. Hence why you can get 450' up, with around 100 psi. Don't think air plays much part there, besides scrubbing the tubing.

So, ok on the roughness call, but I've thrown the red flag on the bypass (not meant to be a pun). Seen the new leader catalog yet? What about that vacuum ladder that they sell in there? Just a small tank with a vertical line, then a bypass. How does that work?

Should I be removing the vacuum bypass on my ladders? Maybe I'm mixing up my theories by # of 6 way stars per # of taps and having a bypass line. Are they depending on differential area between (6) 5/16 lines and say one 1" line? Guess I could always use it for a large gage port. :D

Brian

UPDATE: Just talked to Leader. The bypass is only for washing. Guess I have to lose a time out on that one... :cry:

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Yeah, Brad is who I called twice today. He said, from his experience, that after 14' of ladder height (either in a single or multiple ladders), that you have to put in an air leak to get any higher. He suggested that I put a small hole in my lowest ladder at the very end of the line and give it a try.

I asked about the whole theory on sap ladders and air, and he is still under the impression that the air/water mixture has less specific gravity, so therefore does not necessarily hold up to the rule of a maximum of 34' or so total lift. I guess the gravity releaser still lives, though you or Russ still haven't answered my original question about how much vacuum at the taps using that type of releaser. 8O I'm afraid it would not be enough to run my ladders?

Also talked to him about the new sap lifter. He wasn't very revealing in how it worked. So I guess both of you are tight lipped on this one. :wink:

I'm wondering if you are running into pressure drop issues when using straight water with no air. In a 5/16 line, you can't get very much flow without building up back pressure. I am speculating that if you lowered the flow rate (like it would take all day type flow rate), you would be able to reach the top. But, with all the benefits of your snazzy air/water tubing washer, who would want it any other way? :D

Guess I'll have to open the window while the sun is shining to get that "UV light", eh?

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Aren't we, in the end, just creating a "maxed out" sap ladder here with the gravity releaser? The only way I can see to keep good vacuum plus use the gravity releaser is to bring the line in straight at the top of the 30' column so that the vacuum is maintained in to top of the main line and the sap falls down into the 3" PVC that goes down to the barrel. The problem is...I'll be getting a nose bleed putting everything in, unless i have a valley to work with or dig a well.

And, I'm a little confused since your sketches with Russ showed the main line coming in at the bottom then turning upward to the top of the tower (with a hole drilled at the bend upward). Are we assuming there is some vacuum left after pulling the sap and air up 20' ? Or are you assuming that if you are pulling it up 20', you still have 10' or so worth of vacuum to spare?

My mechanical/electrical releaser is looking better all the time...

I suppose you could do two vacuum pumps or plumb up some way to act like two systems from a single pump. One to pull up the sap into the releaser and one to supply vacuum to the taps.

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...Works the same way. Hence why Brad talked about 30' being about the limit.

So, is that why the gravity releaser posts kind of died out? Think I'm dizzy from running in circles here...

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