TreeTops taps in Southern NH

[CampHamp]

Hello fellow NH Maplers!

I put my 150 taps in over the past 2 days. I run long verticals (an equal mix of 5/16 and 3/16) downhill with about 10-20 trees each to the mainline in a valley. I'm using the seasonal check valves and they seemed to snug-in nicely. Do people clean holes out before they put in a check valve spout (I didn't)? I wonder if the drill shavings will pass through thee ball or mess them up.

Over 3' of fluffy snow here in the Temple hills (Southern NH) - snowshoes and gators required. I fell over twice, quite dramatically (those backwards steps can be tricky!). It was dripping today but didn't amount to much, but it was down to 4 degrees last night. Next two nights are looking mild, so the trees might give us a run before the Monday freeze strikes.

If we get some sap this weekend, I think that I might leave it in the tanks through next week's cold rather than sweeten the pans. Then I won't need to worry about an evaporator full of ice next week.

Last year, I used a small 12V diaphragm transfer pump (one of those RV pumps) to put some vacuum on my 2 mainlines and it worked very well (24" of vacuum and helped me find leaks/breaks). So, I'll do it again this year, starting tomorrow morning.

Looking forward to the sweet maple steam! Good wishes to you all this season, from TreeTops.

[MapleCamp]

How long do you run the pump for? I have not started drilling yet to cold and don't want the holes to dry up but I want to try some sort of vac this year and have a couple of these pumps. Does it clear the line out at the end of the flow? I have about 150 on tube and 50 tube to buckets. Good luck this year

[CampHamp]

Decent run today, almost a gallon/tap. I hunted leaks around noon (a couple of squirrel-bitten tubes bubbling away and had to re-seat almost every tap because I was a wimp with the hammer the first round). I'm itching to boil but will probably just hold it as ice through the cold week ahead - not sure yet.

How long do you run the pump for?

I run after a thaw and as long as it is above freezing (or earlier, if I go to bed before it freezes). Since I have a 12V pump, the battery wouldn't last long enough and I'd have to haul it out to recharge it. So I ran an extension cord down to the tanks, hooked up a 2/6AMP battery charger and constantly charge the battery at 2AMPs when running the pump (which is about the draw of the pump). I put all three pieces (battery, pump, charger) into a plastic bin with two holes drilled on the sides for my tubing. This lets me run it in the rain and leave this equipment at the tanks overnight.

Does it clear the line out at the end of the flow?

When you shut down for the night, disconnect your mainlines from the intake to the pump and put them into the tank. Then just let the pump run air through itself and blowout the end line section (you don't want ice inside your pump). A couple other things to think about... Pump should be able to "run dry" (most diaphragm pumps can), it should be certified "food safe", you should have a screen just before its intake connection to prevent ice and other stuff from puncturing the diaphragm. Otherwise, be sure you're lines are completely thawed before running and stop before freezing (I've let the pump run into the freeze a couple times and the screen stops the ice and the pump was dry). My pump is rated for "intermittent use" - I think this is an over-heating concern because they sell the same type with fins on the housing for "continuous use". Since it's cold out and the sap is cold, I don't worry about it and have been fine so far. I use a ShurFlo 4048 (sells for $140 from RVpartsOutlet) and have two 1/2" mainlines I bring together with a barbed "Y" when pumping. I don't like any fittings at the end of the mains when not pumping so that ice can run out easily.

[Loch Muller]

Thanks for sharing your setup. I had a couple questions about it too. I'm new to vacuum setups and haven't actually seen one in person. If I understand right the main line feeds directly into the pump and the pump dumps into whatever you have for a sap tank with this setup right? (No releaser needed) Also, what type of 12v battery are you using? Do I need a deep cycle trolling motor type battery or would one of the cheaper lawn tractor type batteries have enough amps to run it? I already have the charger so this looks like an affordable way to get into vacuum. Thanks.

[CampHamp]

I'll take a picture next time I'm up there to help describe. I just ordered a 12V temperature switch as well and will test automatic ON/OFF with it when it arrives.

If I understand right the main line feeds directly into the pump and the pump dumps into whatever you have for a sap tank with this setup right? (No releaser needed)

If you have a single mainline, then that would go directly to the screen fitting to block ice, then to the pump. I have 2 mains that I first connect with a "Y".

Also, what type of 12v battery are you using?

I'm using an 8-yr old car battery that doesn't hold a charge very well but still functions. A riding lawn-mower battery would work fine. All it is doing is rounding-out the corners of your charger's signal.