Coincidently, I'm right at that exact same point in the same project as you are!
In my case, the existing draw-off nipple is right at the bottom of my pan. I plan on doing the same with my second nipple at the opposite corner, since I want to being able to use it as a reverse-flow as well as for the float pan so I am going to match the original.
As for my float box, I made one also very similar (though with a 1/4 steam pan); but luckily I built and tested that last season. Because I used a SS "ball" type float, it requires the sap to be deeper than it is in the evap pan. I tested out my float pan prior in my kitchen sink by marking lines on the inside every half inch up from the bottom. Then i filled the pan to figure out where the ball started to float and where it would shut off the incoming flow (with the ball in the middle of it's adjustable range). Then it was just a matter of figuring out where the float box needed to be mounted to the side of the evap pan so that the sap level chosen from my tests for the float box would be at the same level as my ideal sap level in the evap pan.
Incidentally, the way I "field" tested my float box last season during actual boils was to rig up a siphon. Was pretty easy to set up and that way I could test all components out before I committed to drilling into my precious evaporator pan.
Last edited by SyncroScott; 03-02-2019 at 08:40 PM.
-Scott
2017: Found a new addiction/hobby!: 6 taps, Coleman stove/turkey fryer, graduated to barrel arch, 1.75 gal
2018: Increased efficiency - 22 taps on 3/16 gravity vac, 10 buckets, homemade extended barrel arch w/ firebrick, warming pan, 20X30 baffled pan, small home-built RO, 11.5 gal
2019: Same as above now with AUF, home-built float pan, gas sap pump, fewer fire brick but more insulation, maybe a few more taps if the wife lets me. ;-)