Hello all -
Hope your seasons were all good! As the 2022 season winds down, we are looking ahead to next year.
We are looking to expand our current 400 tap operation - mixed 3/16 on natural vac and some 5/16 on sureflo style pumps - to a tubing system with automated vac.
The section that we are looking to build out is approximately 20 acres with all mature sugar maples on a north facing hill. Slopes are approximately 1% as an average to our tank location. Our old collection tank was down a hill with greater slopes for the 3/16", but we will be moving our tanks to allow for easier removal in snow and ice.
I have included a drawing at the link below for feedback.
We will probably do this expansion in 2 stages, each approximately 750 taps. We do not have power so will be looking at dc systems for vacuum and some type of solar array for charging. The Bosworth Guzzler G2 systems seem to be our best(and only) real option. We do not live near our sugar bush and need remote functionality to operate.
For storage tanks we are looking at either 1500 or 2000 gallon SS for each 750 taps. Probably closer to the 1500 gallon capacity.
Mainline - we are torn between 1" or 1 1/4". It appears from research that the 1 1/4 can handle 1000 taps. Questions are:
1. Should we run the mainline along the hedge row say 1 1/4 and then the lines teeing off of that say 3/4" that will branch out to our laterals? Or keep all the same size?
2. Run a 1 1/4" line for the first section of 750 taps and then a second one up to the next section of 750 taps? or a 1 1/2 line to capture the whole system?
3. Should we tie in the ends of each line that tees off the main or dead end them all?
4. Leaning towards the spin seal, non-prelashed.
5. Color leaning towards blue.
6. Pump technology either mountainmaplefarm or bosworth sap check
7. Single line verse dual line
More on the expansion - a 2X8 oil fired arch( 0r 30"X8), a 600 or 900 R/O and a new sugar shack 25X40 that will tie into our existing 15X20.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dv8...ew?usp=sharing
Thanks in advance for any and all feedback.