The issue is, that while 2 at 3/16 may fill a 5/16 (I didn't do the math) a 5/16 is vastly different. In a 3/16 the sap never passes the gasses in the line, the sap thus fills the tubing, you will see a parade of sap/air (gases) sap/air etc. The fall in elevation on the sap is how a vacuum is generated. With 5/16 the sap will pass the gases and will not fill the tubing to allow gravity to generate any vacuum until you have enough taps feeding the line that sap fills the tubing.
You can get vacuum on 5/16 but it will take more than 2 lines of 3/16 and it may only give any vacuum on the better flow days.
First, on your 3/16 you are far better having at least 15 taps on a line, 25 is a good average (15-30). But you need good fall in elevation. If the area where you currently used 5/16 (as mainlines?) is not at least 2% slope, use a 1/2" or a 3/4 " mainline, if it has over 2% slope, remove the 5/16 and tie in 3/16 instead, all of the way down for best performance. The % slope will translate to feet/hundred feet. 2% is 2'per100'.
Last edited by maple flats; 01-15-2019 at 05:11 PM.
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.