This is a good post. I might suggest that the moderators considering making it a "sticky" thread. There are a lot of us smaller producers using these or looking into it and several different configurations so it would be nice to have one thread to look at reviews and information. Here's ours, just started messing with these pumps this year.
1- 4048 Shurflo, S3 Controller on 145 taps connected to a 1" mainline that branches off to a 3/4" mainline. Total length of 1" mainline is 500' and total length of 3/4" mainline is 300'. 28 laterals (spin seal saddles) and 5/16" tubing. Probably 70/30 sugars to red maples in this area.
No recirc line
Only getting 13"-15" of vacuum on a good run. 8"-10" on marginal days. Don't really know why, the woods is tight. We verified by putting vacuum gauges on the end lines. They read the same as the controller does by the pump.
Deep cycle battery (biggest I could get at auto store), 100 W solar panel. We had to move the solar panel to get the sun best and once we did, we have not change out batteries although we do have a couple spares in case.
1- 4048 Shurflo, NO controller on 125 taps connected to a 1" mainline that is 100' long. 26 laterals (spin seal saddles), 5/16" tubing.
Probably 40/60 sugars vs. reds. These trees just haven't run that great this year despite being good in size and along a rock wall by the wall.
No recirc line
Only getting 8"-10" on marginal days, with no real good runs like our other bush.
Another large deep cycle, 100 W solar panel. Gets good sun, battery has yet to drop below 12v after several days of pumping.
I think we need to try a recirc line or maybe even a 4008 pump. Our issue could also be too much mainline?? I dunno.........
Should also add that we replaced diaphragms once on each pump so far this season. They were pumping fine and we took them apart (but did not see anything). Only reason we knew they were bad was because the vac at the end of the line was at 0. Note that it was still reading 10" on the controller by the pump but nothing on the end line.
Last edited by mainebackswoodssyrup; 04-01-2021 at 02:51 PM.
Reason: added more info
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