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Thread: 3/16 hybrid advice

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Carroll, Maine, United States
    Posts
    203

    Default 3/16 hybrid advice

    I currently have 2 500ft 1/2 mainlines that carry 600 3/16 taps to one collection tank. When I installed this I didn't plan to add vacuum and just accept the drop off in vacuum on the lower trees. Now I'm thinking of adding a guzzler to boost the vacuum on the lower taps. Almost all the 3/16 line enter the mainline in one spot on the very top end of each main. With 1/2" I think it probably close to impossible to get all the dips out enough so the line doesn't fill with sap in some places. Should I just cut my losses and rip it down and replace with bigger main. Or should I run another 1/2in up as a dry line and connect it in just below where the 3/16 tie into the original mainline. I know I know I should plan for vacuum even if you don't plan on vacuum, but the hybrid idea wasn't around all that much when I installed.
    2008---35 buckets--3 gal syrup
    2015---150 on 3/16 gravity&50 Buckets
    2016---350+/- on 3/16
    2017---700+ on 3/16
    2018---700+ on 3/16 added 500gal milk tank

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Peoria, IL
    Posts
    634

    Default

    You could just try it as is for a season and see how it performs. But putting up 2x 500 ft larger mains shouldnt be much cost. Another cheaper pump option would adding one shurflo per main.
    Camp Wokanda
    Peoria Park District

    2023 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, sap storage shack w/ 1100 gallon tank - 123 gallons
    2022 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, homemade vac filter & water jacket canner - 104 gallons
    2021 - 215 on 3/16 shurflo, added 2nd membrane to RO - 78 gallons
    2020 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, upgraded hp pump on RO - 66 gallons
    2019 - 150 on 3/16 shurflo, Deer Run 125 dolly RO - 73 gallons
    2018 - 120 on 3/16 shurflo, 2x6 raised flue w/hood, homemade arch w/ AUF & AOF - 34.5 gallons

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Carroll, Maine, United States
    Posts
    203

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by mol1jb View Post
    You could just try it as is for a season and see how it performs. But putting up 2x 500 ft larger mains shouldnt be much cost. Another cheaper pump option would adding one shurflo per main.
    DO you have any mainline running to your surflo or just 3/16 into a manifold
    2008---35 buckets--3 gal syrup
    2015---150 on 3/16 gravity&50 Buckets
    2016---350+/- on 3/16
    2017---700+ on 3/16
    2018---700+ on 3/16 added 500gal milk tank

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Peoria, IL
    Posts
    634

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by wurmdert View Post
    DO you have any mainline running to your surflo or just 3/16 into a manifold
    Mine is running into a manifold at the pump but I have heard of plenty of people putting shurflo on a smaller main with good results. I have read of main lines with shurflo from 1/2 in to 1 in.
    Camp Wokanda
    Peoria Park District

    2023 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, sap storage shack w/ 1100 gallon tank - 123 gallons
    2022 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, homemade vac filter & water jacket canner - 104 gallons
    2021 - 215 on 3/16 shurflo, added 2nd membrane to RO - 78 gallons
    2020 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, upgraded hp pump on RO - 66 gallons
    2019 - 150 on 3/16 shurflo, Deer Run 125 dolly RO - 73 gallons
    2018 - 120 on 3/16 shurflo, 2x6 raised flue w/hood, homemade arch w/ AUF & AOF - 34.5 gallons

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Peoria, IL
    Posts
    634

    Default

    Or another option could be to take your 3/16 lines all the way to the tank and get rid of the mains all together. My 3/16 runs go another 400 ft after the last tap to get to my pump manifold and tank. That is at a 5% grade but with a pump on the tank end you could run with less slope and still have good success
    Camp Wokanda
    Peoria Park District

    2023 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, sap storage shack w/ 1100 gallon tank - 123 gallons
    2022 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, homemade vac filter & water jacket canner - 104 gallons
    2021 - 215 on 3/16 shurflo, added 2nd membrane to RO - 78 gallons
    2020 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, upgraded hp pump on RO - 66 gallons
    2019 - 150 on 3/16 shurflo, Deer Run 125 dolly RO - 73 gallons
    2018 - 120 on 3/16 shurflo, 2x6 raised flue w/hood, homemade arch w/ AUF & AOF - 34.5 gallons

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    poultney vermont
    Posts
    870

    Default

    I'd run another one inch main and use the 1/2 for wet line. Only good thing about half inch is it thaws quick. Other than that I try to use nothing less than 3/4". If you have 600 taps I wouldn't even mess around and maybe even go 1 1/4 especially if you will add any. I have 850 taps on 1 1/2 and I'm glad it's oversized. Also this year I ran some 1 1/4 and it doesn't fill and freeze solid like the smaller mains, it freezes maybe a half inch in bottom but over a longer distance which still let's vac thru and thaws quickly
    18x30 sugarshack
    5100 taps high vac
    3x10 inferno with steampan
    7'' wes fab filter press
    10'' cdl air filter press
    D&G 3 post reverse osmosis w/recirculation

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