Tubing install, low slope and no power

[Brien]

Hi Guys/Gals
Last year was my first year making maple syrup and I think I ended up tapping 72 trees with buckets. I thought this year it might be nice to try and run some tubing and am looking for some input. The terrain where I am tapping trees is fairly flat. Over a 100yards I might have a 3 to 4 foot drop in elevation. So my question is could I run some 5/16 tubing to 10?to 20? trees and run them down towards my evaporator into a 45gallon drum.
I've been doing some reading and it seems my searches always end up going to the 3/16" tubing because it can draw a vacuum over enough elevation. Im assuming 3/16" will not be suitable for my application because of the low slope. So I would be relying on gravity mostly to get the sap into the drum.

FYI I do not have electricity..no vacuum pump

And what would the set up look like if it is possible... Say 10 drops to a 5/16 main line that runs to the barrel, or am I way off?

[Openwater]

Hey Brien,
I'm pretty new to this stuff too, but I'm basically trying to do the same thing for the upcoming season: putting 20 trees on 5/16" line on perfectly flat ground. Since I can't generate any natural/gravity vacuum, I decided to put the 5/16 line on a solar powered vacuum pump. Still in the assembly process. The most expensive items were the deep cycle marine battery and (2) 100w solar panels. I used Bob Sookochoff's set-up as a general guide and customized as needed per this "Instructable":
https://www.instructables.com/Off-Gr...Vacuum-System/

[buckeye gold]

All my experience is with 3/16th on good slope, but I will add my thoughts. Hopefully some experienced tubing guys will add more.

I think the best application for you is to install a mainline through your bush and get it set up with the most slope you can, it doesn't take much. Then run 5/16 laterals to it. This way you can more easily pick up your individual trees and keep some slope on all them. With 72 taps I think you may want 1/2" mainline. Maybe someone with more experience can chime in with advice.

[Brien]

Hey Brien,
I'm pretty new to this stuff too, but I'm basically trying to do the same thing for the upcoming season: putting 20 trees on 5/16" line on perfectly flat ground. Since I can't generate any natural/gravity vacuum, I decided to put the 5/16 line on a solar powered vacuum pump. Still in the assembly process. The most expensive items were the deep cycle marine battery and (2) 100w solar panels. I used Bob Sookochoff's set-up as a general guide and customized as needed per this "Instructable":
https://www.instructables.com/Off-Gr...Vacuum-System/

I checked out the video seems like a neat setup. I don't think I'm going to go that route yet, trying to keep it pretty simple.

[Brien]

All my experience is with 3/16th on good slope, but I will add my thoughts. Hopefully some experienced tubing guys will add more.

I think the best application for you is to install a mainline through your bush and get it set up with the most slope you can, it doesn't take much. Then run 5/16 laterals to it. This way you can more easily pick up your individual trees and keep some slope on all them. With 72 taps I think you may want 1/2" mainline. Maybe someone with more experience can chime in with advice.

I guess I should start researching a main line,I see in my CDL catalogue the smallest mainline is 3/4". Whats the easiest way to connect a lateral line to a mainline.?? In the catalogue it looks like the only option is some SpinSeal tool, sounds pricy?

[MISugarDaddy]

Go with 3/4" mainline with as much fall as you can achieve, as Buckeye Gold suggested. I highly recommend using DSD Star saddles (dsdstars.com) to connect your laterals to your mainline. Then, if in the future you want to add vacuum using a 12 volt RV pump you are all set up for it. We have no power in our woods and we use 12 volt RV pumps for vacuum and generally get 20 to 25 inches of vacuum. Installing an RV pump is also nice because it can allow you to have the outlet of your mainline lower than the barrel or tank that you collect sap in because not only is the pump creating vacuum, but it can then pump the sap up into your collection tank.
Gary

[buckeye gold]

There are a bunch of tutorials on youtube and other sites. Here is just one simple one

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5m1FW76Cs1k

Here is a link to SugarBush Supplies catalog that shows the fittings you need

https://www.sugarbushsupplies.com/ca...alog%20Web.pdf

[DrTimPerkins]

Given your low amount of slope, get a decent hand level and learn how to use it. Focus on getting the mainline wire tight and just slightly downhill from the top to the bottom of the run. A slope of 1% will be OK, 1/2% is OK if you're EXTREMELY careful. Then wire-tie the mainline to the wire very well to avoid any sags. There are several types of saddles you can use from different manufacturers. SpinSeal (CDL) is great, but not for you. Go with 5/16" laterals and droplines (not 3/16", due to your lack of slope).

[Openwater]

Then wire-tie the mainline to the wire very well to avoid any sags. .

In my flat woods with just (2) 5/16 laterals going into a 4008 vacuum pump, how essential is it to not have any sags in the 5/16? What's the worst that could happen if there's a slight sag in one of lengths between trees?
I'll start the run as high as I can on the first tree, but it still needs to finish high enough at the pump for the outlet to drop into my collection tank.

[DrTimPerkins]

In my flat woods with just (2) 5/16 laterals going into a 4008 vacuum pump, how essential is it to not have any sags in the 5/16?

Sags in lateral lines are far less detrimental, but still should be avoided to the extent possible.