I finished running a re routed run from my old gravity system to my vav tank, had to raise the lines at an anchor tree about 4.5' higher, now I get to the tank at 2% slope and no sap ladder needed on that run. I'll either need to tap 2 trees real high, skip them (3-4 taps) or tap low and have a single lateral as a sap ladder. Did anyone ever try that, lateral tapped below the main and climb about 4' to the main, seems like it should work (roadside trees)? Then I ran a new branch, 300', will be about 7' sap ladder.
I have not yet studied the types of sap ladder. I am familiar with the ones using star fittings, but any other type I do not know. Any input on which will be best to use, about 75-85 taps on this one. Today I will add another branch with another sap ladder needed, maybe 5-6' and another 50-60 taps. I had thought I could do these as 1 branch but as I routed the branch I decided 2 would be better because at one point the terrain rises too high and to go around would use about 75-100' more 3/4" branch and at 2% rise that would have made the rest harder to run. I also have a small section of less than 10 taps that would need another sap ladder. I'm not sure it would be cost effective, but one of the trees is about 18-20" at waist height, is a corner tree surrounded on about 2/3 by open field and has a huge canopy, the sap% could be the highest of any of my trees. Next I'll need to get enough 5/16 tubing for laterals and drops. Once I get these sections finished, hopefully by next weekend I will re route another branch, eliminating lots of long runs on laterals in another section and adding about another 25-30 taps along the way because of running thru a section that previously was not tapped.
Right now it is raining but is supposed to be dry after another hour or two. In the last few days we have lost a lot of snow, with temps in the mid to high 40's 2 of those days. Today it calls for mid 30's and it only dropped to 33 overnight, that and some rain during the night should have the snow down even more. Except where it is drifted most sections in the woods are either bare or only 3-4".
Last edited by maple flats; 01-02-2011 at 05:42 AM.
Dave Klish, I recently ordered a 2x6 wood fired evaporator from A&A Sheet Metal which I will be converting to oil fired
Now have solar, 2x6 finish pan, 5 bank 7x7 filter press, large water jacketed bottler, and tankless water heater.
Recently bought another Gingerich RO, this one was a 125, but a second membrane was added thus is a 250, like I had.
After running a 2x3, a 2x6, 3x8 tapping from 79 taps up to 1320 all woodfired, now I'm going to a 2x6 oil fired and a 200-425 taps.