If I'm reading the elevations right, it looks like you have about 20' change in elevation+/- depending on how much below the lowest contour line the tank is. In my book, with that drop you gain enough using 3/16 all the way from tree to tree and to the tank. Also, get a low tank or even set it in the ground if you can. Doing 3/16 vs gravity is like night and day, even if your average vacuum is only 10-12". Looks like the top trees would be near 20" vacuum. Remember, for every inch of vacuum you gain about 5% more sap and that's like compound interest, for every inch you gain 5% more of what you would have gotten at just 1" less. With 3/16 in essence you have no maximum line length as long as you have slope and 20 taps is good on a line. In fact I have several with 30+/- taps and one with 41 taps and 1100' long. That being said, that long one and a few above 28 taps are being split into 2 lines before next year, not because of the length but because of the sap volume at peak flow days.
Some other considerations, 3/16 costs less to install. Then after a year or 2 you could tie a diaphragm pump to the system from the extra syrup you got above what gravity would have generated and you'd have even more vacuum, using a hybrid system.
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.
Originally Posted by tonka
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