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Thread: 4x40 RO - What would you do different??

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Freeport,ME
    Posts
    78

    Default 4x40 RO - What would you do different??

    As the title suggests I’m building a single post 4x40 RO with a 190 GPH procon and 3/4hp motor. This will be similar to the single post from the RO bucket. Here’s my plans -
    • 190 GPH procon - sap tank above pump level.
    • 3/4 hp Dayton Motor.
    • 1/2” stainless fittings and Goodyear hose
    • Recirculation needle valve with 3/8 line.
    • 3 flow meters 0.1-1 gpm

    For people that have built similar, what are things you would change or adjust?
    Does anyone have a good option for a low sap level shutdown? I know I can’t use a low pressure switch, maybe an optical sensor on the feed line or something similar?
    I know many will say go bigger, however it is not an option for me at this time and the single post is more than enough for my 2x3 Mason.
    Thanks!
    2018 - 20 Taps on 3/16, Barrel evaporator with 2 steam pans. Unknown amount.
    2019 - Nothing
    2020 - 30 Taps on Shurflo, 30 taps on 3/16, 2x5 oil tank evaporator, 11 Gallons.
    2021 - 35 Taps on Shurflo, 11 buckets, RB10 RO Bucket, 2x3XL Mason Evaporator. 4 gallons
    2022 - 110 Taps on Shurflo, 77 taps on 3/16 gravity, 13 buckets to hit 200, Upgrade to RB15 RO Bucket.
    2023 - 110 Taps on Shurflo, New 3/4 Mainline with 125 taps, 2x4 raised flue, Upgrade to Homemade 4x40 RO.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2019
    Location
    Murrysville, Pennsylvania
    Posts
    476

    Default

    GRL8-02 for level control. You just use wire probes to set the depth you want to shut off. I use these to control RO turning on/off automatically and as a safety shut off for my natural gas evaporator if the head tank gets too low. They are fantastic.

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/39280711835...emis&media=SMS
    D. Roseum
    www.roseummaple.com
    ~100 taps on 3/16 custom temp controlled vacuum; shurflo vacuum #2; custom nat gas evap with auto-drawoff and tank level gas shut-off controller; homemade RO #1; homemade RO #2; SL SS filter press
    2021: 27.1 gallons
    2022: 35 gallons

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Freeport,ME
    Posts
    78

    Default

    D. Roseum, Thank you!
    I found compatible sensors on eBay which look pretty simple.
    Do you have a bulkhead style fitting probe or something similar to this? Thanks!
    (Sorry photo upload is on the fritz )
    https://www.ebay.com/itm/39367454858...mis&media=COPY
    2018 - 20 Taps on 3/16, Barrel evaporator with 2 steam pans. Unknown amount.
    2019 - Nothing
    2020 - 30 Taps on Shurflo, 30 taps on 3/16, 2x5 oil tank evaporator, 11 Gallons.
    2021 - 35 Taps on Shurflo, 11 buckets, RB10 RO Bucket, 2x3XL Mason Evaporator. 4 gallons
    2022 - 110 Taps on Shurflo, 77 taps on 3/16 gravity, 13 buckets to hit 200, Upgrade to RB15 RO Bucket.
    2023 - 110 Taps on Shurflo, New 3/4 Mainline with 125 taps, 2x4 raised flue, Upgrade to Homemade 4x40 RO.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2019
    Location
    Murrysville, Pennsylvania
    Posts
    476

    Default

    Anytime! Those sensors look nice. I actually just use 14 gauge solid copper wire (14/2). It uses resistivity of the fluid to sense the level so you just need 2 leads touching the fluid at the same time to trigger the relay. For the low level switch, I trim one of the wires to be slightly shorter than the other and then put it into the sap from the top of the tank all the way to the bottom...one lead can touch the tank bottom but the other needs to be slightly off the bottom to trip the low level switch when the sap runs below it. For high level switch just fix the wire leads to the height of the fluid you want to turn it on.
    D. Roseum
    www.roseummaple.com
    ~100 taps on 3/16 custom temp controlled vacuum; shurflo vacuum #2; custom nat gas evap with auto-drawoff and tank level gas shut-off controller; homemade RO #1; homemade RO #2; SL SS filter press
    2021: 27.1 gallons
    2022: 35 gallons

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2021
    Location
    Cayuga Ontario Canada
    Posts
    48

    Default

    I home built RO for this season. 4x40 single post.
    www.kleen-ritecorp.com. 200 GPH Fluid-O-Tech pump + 3/4 HP Marathon motor
    I am in Canada so I bought my water filter and RO housing plus membrane from https://www.maxwaterflow.com/
    flow meters from amazon as well as a needle valve for recirculation line. The rest is just from the hardware store. I cant figure out how to link a photo but send me your email and i will send you an image. I used pex
    THOR 20x68" + for 2022 Homebuilt 4-40 single post RO
    2022 180 buckets and 300 on 3/16 gravity 500L Syrup
    2021 305 Buckets and 95 on 3/16 gravity 423L Syrup
    2020 350 Buckets 375L Syrup
    2019 250 Buckets 270L Syrup

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Freeport,ME
    Posts
    78

    Default

    That sounds simple and I like it!
    I found some cheap water tank sensors for a rv that I can install into the tank. Excited to try it!!
    2018 - 20 Taps on 3/16, Barrel evaporator with 2 steam pans. Unknown amount.
    2019 - Nothing
    2020 - 30 Taps on Shurflo, 30 taps on 3/16, 2x5 oil tank evaporator, 11 Gallons.
    2021 - 35 Taps on Shurflo, 11 buckets, RB10 RO Bucket, 2x3XL Mason Evaporator. 4 gallons
    2022 - 110 Taps on Shurflo, 77 taps on 3/16 gravity, 13 buckets to hit 200, Upgrade to RB15 RO Bucket.
    2023 - 110 Taps on Shurflo, New 3/4 Mainline with 125 taps, 2x4 raised flue, Upgrade to Homemade 4x40 RO.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Granville, PA
    Posts
    403

    Default

    I'm missing something here. My first RO was a single post 4x40 and it had both high pressure and low pressure shutoff. I wouldn't run an RO without either of them. Too easy to burn up your pump or ruin you membrane. I am fairly sure that a little time looking through old posts on here would give you the how to.
    Matt,
    Minehart Gap Maple

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Freeport,ME
    Posts
    78

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by minehart gap View Post
    I'm missing something here. My first RO was a single post 4x40 and it had both high pressure and low pressure shutoff. I wouldn't run an RO without either of them. Too easy to burn up your pump or ruin you membrane. I am fairly sure that a little time looking through old posts on here would give you the how to.
    Thanks for the reply. I probably could have worded it better and said that “I couldn’t run a low pressure shutoff after the feed pump since I’m not using one” I will have a low pressure / high pressure / high temp shutdowns. The low fluid level is just another level of safety as well.
    2018 - 20 Taps on 3/16, Barrel evaporator with 2 steam pans. Unknown amount.
    2019 - Nothing
    2020 - 30 Taps on Shurflo, 30 taps on 3/16, 2x5 oil tank evaporator, 11 Gallons.
    2021 - 35 Taps on Shurflo, 11 buckets, RB10 RO Bucket, 2x3XL Mason Evaporator. 4 gallons
    2022 - 110 Taps on Shurflo, 77 taps on 3/16 gravity, 13 buckets to hit 200, Upgrade to RB15 RO Bucket.
    2023 - 110 Taps on Shurflo, New 3/4 Mainline with 125 taps, 2x4 raised flue, Upgrade to Homemade 4x40 RO.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2020
    Location
    Goffstown, NH
    Posts
    22

    Default

    What’s everyone doing for a recirc pump on home built 4x40’s? I’ve scoured all the “recirc” threads here but can’t seem to find a solid answer
    Hillcrest Maples
    2024- 200 on Guzzler, new home built 2 post, SL vac filter
    2023-100 on Shurflo, new 2 Post 4x40 RO Bucket
    2022- 150 on Shurflo, new 16x36 Sugar House and 18x48 Vision, Dual RB 25's RO's
    2021- 150 on Shurflo, home made arch under 18x40 cdl pan, RB 20 RO
    2020- 99 On Shurflo home made arch under 18x40 cdl pan
    2019- 10 buckets, steam pan on grill
    2018- 5 spiles into milk jugs, stove top, caught the maple bug hard.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Wardensville, Wv
    Posts
    322

    Default

    I have a procon 330gph with two 4x40's and instead of a re-circulation pump, i just added a second needle valve for re-circulation. It seemed to work pretty well, and way cheaper than a second pump, not to say that a pump wouldn't do a better job, especially to keep the membranes clean. If you find a pump that someone is using let me know!
    2023 - 38 Gallons - RO broke, Buckets didn't run, rebuilt vacuum pump mid-season, still made good syrup!
    2022 - 52 Gallons - DIY RO, 50% less fuel, no late nights in the shack!
    2021 - 48 Gallons - new pans, new arch, lots of new taps and tubing
    2020 - 32 Gallons
    2019 - 27 Gallons

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