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Thread: Probe for auto draw off

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    MN
    Posts
    415

    Default Probe for auto draw off

    What kind of life span do you guys get from your temperature probe off your auto draw off systems?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Peru, Maine
    Posts
    1,044

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    2 years so far and no issues. We soak it in acid a few times per season and gently run some steel wool up and down the bottom half of the probe. Any caked on syrup comes right off and it looks like new.
    305 taps on 2 Shurflo's, 31 taps on 3/16" and 229 taps on gravity. 565 in all
    Mountain Maple S3 controller for 145 of the vacuum taps
    2x6 Darveau Mystique Oil Fired Evaporator w/ Smoky Lake Simplicity Auto Draw
    Wesfab 7” filter press

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    UP MI
    Posts
    216

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    9 years for mine so far. I always keep a spare just in case. I have found the cables that are in stainless mesh are horrible, they break constantly, get the ones that have silicone casing on the wires.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Stockbridge,Ma
    Posts
    285

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    A have a Marcland and I just replaced the probe this year. I bought it in 1997 so 23 years. The reason I had to replace it is because I think I broke it. It had a 90 degree bend about 3 inches in from the end because of the way I had it in my old syrup pan. On my new Revolution pan I needed it to be straight and after I straightened it out it didn't work any more. If I didn't try to straighten it I don't know how long it may have lasted.
    Last edited by bill m; 04-24-2020 at 06:53 AM.
    First introduced to making maple syrup in 1969
    Making syrup every year since 1979
    3 x 10 oil fired
    Revolution syrup and max flue pan
    Almost 1300 taps total with 900 on high vacuum
    Bought first Marcland drawoff in 1997, still going strong.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Oneida NY
    Posts
    11,547

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    One of my probes is 5 yrs old (that was when I bought my auto draw), the other probe I got in a deal with several used parts and equipment, over 12 years ago, I have no idea how old that probe might be. I only clean my probes as I flush the front pan with hot permeate.
    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.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    North Grenville, Ontario
    Posts
    969

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    I got 3 years out of my probe from Auber Instruments. My fault though. When I took it out to clean it I would always thread it out and not use the compression fitting and slide it out. So I had a small break in one of the wires. Noticed it at end of season. Was getting all these weird temps and swings in temp not normal. I bought a new PT 100 with a stainless steel braided wire that completely covers the whole wire from end to end. Way tougher.
    600 taps on vacuum
    Lapierre mechanical Releaser
    CDL electric releaser
    2.5 x 10 CDL Venturi ( new for the 2024 season )
    Home made modulating auto draw off
    Homemade RO 2 x 4" membranes
    CDL 16 x 16 bottler
    Wesfab 7" filter press
    Delaval 73 vacuum pumps

    12 hives of bees

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    UP MI
    Posts
    216

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Bricklayer View Post
    I got 3 years out of my probe from Auber Instruments. My fault though. When I took it out to clean it I would always thread it out and not use the compression fitting and slide it out. So I had a small break in one of the wires. Noticed it at end of season. Was getting all these weird temps and swings in temp not normal. I bought a new PT 100 with a stainless steel braided wire that completely covers the whole wire from end to end. Way tougher.
    Better buy a couple more. I used to buy the stainless braided wire, they are absolutely junk. The braid will kink and break the wire. Since I switched to the silicone covered I have never broke a single wire.


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  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    North Grenville, Ontario
    Posts
    969

    Default

    The silicone was what I had. The probe is the exact same as the CDL modulating drawoff probe. Not a cheap Chinese braided stainless probe. Was around $160. Better last.
    600 taps on vacuum
    Lapierre mechanical Releaser
    CDL electric releaser
    2.5 x 10 CDL Venturi ( new for the 2024 season )
    Home made modulating auto draw off
    Homemade RO 2 x 4" membranes
    CDL 16 x 16 bottler
    Wesfab 7" filter press
    Delaval 73 vacuum pumps

    12 hives of bees

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    UP MI
    Posts
    216

    Default

    The ones I had were from auber, about $20, probably from China. Went through a bunch before I switched to the silicone covered ones.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    West Sumner, ME
    Posts
    250

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    Do you have a link to the silicone coated probes? We too have run the stainless braided ones and they fail and fray like crazy.
    West Sumner Sugar House
    West Sumner, ME
    500 +/- Taps - 2 x 8 CDL Venturi - 3 Shurflo Solar Systems - MES Dolly 300
    https://www.facebook.com/WestSumnerSugarHouse

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