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Thread: Can a Vacuum line be used as a Dry line?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
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    Garrett Co. MD
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    21

    Default Can a Vacuum line be used as a Dry line?

    My vacuum pump will be located at the top of my woods with a vacuum transfer line running down to the releaser. Can I tie the vacuum line into the mainlines on the way down the hill or do I need to take that line to the releaser and then bring a seperate dry line back up the hill?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Marathon WI
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    189

    Default

    The line from your pump to the releaser cannot be tapped into or it will pull the sap into the pump and wreck it. You will have to run a seperate line from the releaser.
    Kevin Kraft
    2x8 Lapierre evaporator
    Coster R.O. with two 4" membranes
    16x16 Syrup shack named "The Man Cave"
    2 boys full of maple syrup sugar
    A collie dog named Sam!!
    1 wife that needs to get addicted to maple

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Barnet, VT
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    2,580

    Default

    The dry line transfers more vacuum than the wet line can. Another benefit is that it lets sap flow to the releaser when manifolds or the wet line is froze.
    William
    950 taps
    3 X 12 Thor pans on a Brian Arch
    CDL 600 expandable

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Greenfield, IN
    Posts
    162

    Default

    You must pull through the releaser. Also a humidity trap is recommended. There are two types. One uses a ball to cut the air flow the other uses a float and electric cutoff switch to shut the pump off.
    The float is superior to the ball cutting off the air flow.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    NW Wisconsin
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    I agree with these guys. Dont use your vac transfer line for your dry line.
    On days when you have ice in you wet lines, you will get back ups as things thaw out, and sap is running. That sap will go where the vac is highest, into you dry line. You want that going to your releaser, not you pump.
    It will be best to build it right the first time.
    I dont mind going back and fixing stuff because I did not know better, but when I cut corners and have problems, I kick myself all day long.
    Jeff Emerson
    www.emersonsmaplehill.com
    3x12 Leader with over air, custom piggyback, 600gph CDL RO
    2500 on 25" vacuum
    350 4 wheeler, 500 snowmobile, and 1950's Ford 600 tractor, Husqvarna! (261, 372xpBigBore, 562xp), Stihl MS193 for in tree work

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Michigan (near traverse city)
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    472

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    I partiallly dissagree with everyone. If you have a large moisture trapp at the vacuum pump, that will catch what little bit of sap that MIGHT get back to the pump, BUT ALSO, if all your mains are tight, and sloped down hill to your releaser, there will be no sap or ice in your mains, nor any reason for sap to go uphill to your vacuum pump. In a properly sized mainline, where the sap and vacuum are properly stratified, sap can not be pulled uphill.

    Now, another thing to consider is making sure your vacuum transfer pipe is large enough to not create CFM loss over the distance you are covering.

    Also, if you are going ot use a sap ladder, that is a different story
    3x12 drop flue.
    1000 taps on 24 inches of vacuum, and 200 buckets.
    Bought a used springtech 500 GPH RO
    Shooting for 29" of vacuum, less than 5 taps per line, and 2 quarts per tap.
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lown-...4713586?ref=hl

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Michigan (near traverse city)
    Posts
    472

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    IM the kind of guy who would try it just to see what happens
    3x12 drop flue.
    1000 taps on 24 inches of vacuum, and 200 buckets.
    Bought a used springtech 500 GPH RO
    Shooting for 29" of vacuum, less than 5 taps per line, and 2 quarts per tap.
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lown-...4713586?ref=hl

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Barnet, VT
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    Default

    I have not talked to anyone with a wet/dry system that has not seen sap come out of the dry line at least once first thing in the morning. In my opinion that is one of the best things about them. There is still sap going in the tank when lines are still frozen.
    William
    950 taps
    3 X 12 Thor pans on a Brian Arch
    CDL 600 expandable

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