RO bucket

[Msboucha]

The idea is that you set it and forget it. I start the RO and leave for hours, it auto shuts down when it runs out of sap. You can't do that with an evaporator. Then when you do boil you are boiling higher concentrate sap, which actually boils faster because it has less water in it. The math works because otherwise people wouldn't do it..

[snoskier16]

...it auto shuts down when it runs out of sap.

What type of sensor/switch are you using to auto shutdown at sap runout? I’m wired for float switches, but haven’t set one up for the feed tank.

[Msboucha]

snoskier16 -- Are you 24VDC? You can grab bilge pump float switches on Amazon pretty cheap. I have my RO set with a bypass switch allowing me to run the system if the pressure/float switches aren't satisfied, reason being, you may still have some sap in your tank when the float shuts off and want to force it to run. For the low pressure shut off, its easier to flip a switch to start initial pressure building than fool with some of the built in bypass switches on the low pressure sensor itself.

[snoskier16]

Gotcha! My controls are 12vdc and I'm using inexpensive float switches from Amazon to shut the RO down when my concentrate containers get full. Here is a photo of the switch on the 3D printed bracket that I designed for a 5-gallon bucket, but I typically use the switch mounted in a 3D printed cap for 5-gallon water jugs as they are easier to handle and put into the refrigerator for storage prior to boiling.

[Msboucha]

Ah nice! I don't have any floats on my concentrate tank which is just a 30 gallon Xtreme cooler. I run a calculator and know my flow rates, so I know if my tank will be too full or not based on what I'm feeding. I throw frozen jugs of water in it to keep it cold during the week. A lot of the bilge floats are 12-24-36vdc, so check it out, just mount it to the bottom of you feed tank.

[Daveg]

what size of ro will produce 20 gallons of sap an hour? by only runinng it through once then into pan ?

RO membraes are typically rated by their gpd (gallons per day) capacity, so you could estimate the size your need by: 20gphX 24 hours= 480 gpd minimum membrane capacity to suit your needs.
A quick internet search showed this one:
DOW Filmtec TW30-3012-500 Reverse Osmosis Membrane. Processes up to 500 gallons per day. Filmtec TMF-500 RO replacement water filter membrane that fits many newer RO systems with wider, 3" housings. Newer technology of the membrane film, Polyamide thin-film composite.

[David Wayne]

I have been thinking of getting one of these. How much
Maintenance is involved? Do you clean and flush at the end of each day. I think I would want to feed directly to my evaporator each day and not run ahead. I have a leader half pint supreme so 7-8 gph. or a little less.
Thanks

[Daveg]

No, you do not clean and flush every day. Change the 5 micron filters when they look bad or performance slows (the housing is clear so you can see if there's a lot of debris accumulating). The decision on whether or not to process ahead of time depends on a lot of factors, including the forecast, your sap inventory, your storage capacity, your time.

[Msboucha]

Do you clean and flush at the end of each day?

David - You don't necessarily need to clean, as in do a soap wash each run, but I would say you definitely want to do a flush and change your filters each time you run. When you are done running, pull out your filter and toss it (or else put it in a bag and keep cold so it doesn't grow bacteria) . Throw a clean filter into the filter housing to use for the flush. Suck the the water out of the permeate tank, and send the concentrate line to the drain. Remove any restriction and let it cycle the water, you'll send any residual sugar down the drain. Run all the permeate that you have. I know people say to wash/rinse with as many gallons as their membranes are rated, but I don't generate enough permeate in an an entire season to do that. I generally run 40 gallon batches of sap and have had good luck with flushing using the 20-30 gallons of permeate it generates. When I do a soap wash, I substitute with well water as needed to get the PH back to normal and then some additional flushing for good measure. Pull out the filter after the flush, store for next flush and leave the housing open to the air until next use. At the end of the season, do a soap wash, add preservative, store the membranes in a vessel and in the spring do a soap wash.

[David Wayne]

Thanks, I have 100 trees tapped, collected 130 gallons tonight witch is just what I boiled today. Thats a lot for my little set up but I am retired and have the time.
The forecast looks like I will start getting behind. But with the RB15 I should be able to run 150 daily and keep up without boiling 16+ hours a day.
So I am going to give it a try but it looks like they are running behind on shipments.

Thanks again,
David