I suggest Steve Childs' Tubing Notebook, A Cornell publication. Unless there was an update, I don't think 3/16 is covered in it. I like 3/16, but as others said, it has it's issues. You need to clean it well soon after the season, then it's best if you clean it again mid-late fall. Then, and not before change every fitting in the 3/16. That means every Tee and any couplings. To clean it, use calcium based chlorine, not sodium based which leaves a salt residue. Study the guidelines for 3/16 to determine if it's for you. If you do chose 3/16 I suggest you go with 5/16 taps and drop lines, then a 3/16 x 3/16 x 5/16 tee to tie each tap into the 3/16 lateral. A lateral is the tubing going from tree to tree, in series, never run 2 laterals into one, only end them at a tank or mainline.
Laterals want to be as steep as possible, mainlines are best at 2-3% slope. That is 2-3' drop/100'. You don't need a laser, a simple hand held site level does fine. Such as https://www.ebay.com/itm/30396704559...AAAOSwGSpgfbBj
or https://www.ebay.com/itm/37349662931...MAAOSwQ9BgTRqx
Last edited by maple flats; 04-23-2021 at 10:05 AM.
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.