Great idea and execution! I’ve been pondering how to build a 12V solar powered vacuum system for a couple of years. Yours is the first example that has me really excited. The temperature controller to turn the pump on and off was the eureka moment for me. I’ve ordered the parts and plan to have around 200 taps on a similar system this spring. Thanks for the innovative idea!
I just bought some solar panels and this will be a perfect project for them i do sap every year I don’t have nearly as many trees thank you for your video and your ideas
Can you describe all the electronic equipment in the box above the pump. We really liked the video and how it showed how it is possible to use a cheaper system to get maple syrup. Your use of solar is awesome. Thanks Rob
I've been inspired by your's and Wander Wild Farm's video regarding your vacuum system. Currently, I have 214 taps of which approximately 187 taps are on 3/16 tubing and about 27 on buckets. Some of the buckets and tubing are located along the road and about 80 minutes to gather and pump into my holding tank. I am considering abandoning the roadside taps and focusing on approximately 130 taps in what i call the back bush. All the taps except for about 10 would be at an elevation above the tanks. With those 10, I'd have to lift the lowest tap approximately 20'. To maintain my current production level, I'd have to increase my sap production to approximately 14 to 15 US gallons of sap per tap. Is this possible? I think you mentioned making 100 US gallons on 175 taps, which is roughly 23 gallons per tap, is this so? Thank you for your comments.
Thanks for watching, and i truly understand wanting to get away from buckets. As much as i enjoyed the work and traditional look of the buckets hanging from the tree, time was sparse. This year we stopped collecting about 10 days before the season ended, and still managed to collect 3040 US gallons. which worked out to around 15 gallons per tap. If we where to go to the end of the season we could have pulled in more. This is based on 200 taps as we added one new line last year. we do not have any taps lower than the tank so i would imagine that could bring your overall vacuum down if all running on one pump. this year our system was running at around 16-17 inches of vacuum, not the best, but better than nothing.
@@SpruceCreekFarm Good morning Chris and thank you for your quick response. I subscribed and hopefully will be getting all your videos. I'm in the middle of clean up know, but will check out the rest of your videos. I have a couple of questions. I think you indicated running the pump for about 20 seconds when redirecting the 3 way valve to remove water from the pump. Is that adequate, no other drain? What is the make and model of your temperature controller? Where did you get the 7, SS barbed connectors and are they 3/16 or 5/16? I was thinking running 5/16 from the manifold, then installing a 5/16 quick disconnect and 5/16 to 3/16 tubing connector so I could easily remove the fittings. CDL makes both fittings. I was impressed with your approximate 15 gal sap/tap, as that could work very well for me. Oddly enough, I just turned 70 and I'm looking to reduce the number of taps, but I still have a steady customer list that I wish to maintain. I have a CDL, 18" x 60" which I've retrofitted with a heat exchanger and oil burner. Removing approximately 17 gallons/hour. Also built a single pass RO, concentrating to about 4.4% on average. Last year in just over 2000 taps, I gathered just over 1,800 US gallons on about 210 active taps in 10 gatherings, with an average sugar content of 1.86%. I was so enthused by your's and Bob Sookochoff's video, I was up until midnight designing my own unit. One other question: do you shut the unit down at night? Thank you so much, look forward to your response. Stay safe in this pandemic, Earl Weller
Hey, will that diaphram pump work on flat ground. I have a bush about 1 acre with 100 taps. Maybe 200 yards by 75 yards. I want to try to vacuum it. This up seems affordable and effective.
Yes i would, i would suggest using the 3/16 tubing as it is mush more forgiving for sages in your line. i would go with 20 taps per run. i find with having 25 per run on mine that on days where the sap is really flowing i get a backup of sap near the end of the line.
SO far this season our best run has been 1000 liters on the 175 which works out to around 265 US gallons. We have 200 buckets up as well which this year is too much for our 2x6 evaporator.
Nice. I have pumps mounted in storage tubs as well. Found out the hard way it's a good idea to drill some drainage holes in the bottom of the tub. I had a hose pop off and fill one of my tubs to the brim with sap, the pump survived but the power supply did not.
Thank you for this video!! and to the others that have made videos of there setup based on yours! Im starting to piece together a setup like this but I have 110 access so using ac to dc convertor. 100ish taps with longest run 400ft. If I hit any snags I will reach out!
Looks great. Could you provide a schematic and parts list for the controller? What temperature sensor do you use? I have a storage tank pump that pushes the collected tap up to my evaporator storage tank. Thanks
Sweet set up! I'm running lines for our 200 taps this year and I'm trying to find a cost effective, yet effective way to pull the sap. How long do you think your lines are? Why didn't you go with a larger mainline like a 3/4"? What do you do at night when temps get below 0 C? Do you bring the pump inside? I'll be just over 2000 feet for my mainline, so I think I might be stuck paying the $1400 for a CDL vacuum.
Hi there, my longs run is around 1100 feet, and the shorted being 500-600, i did not use a mainline, just a manifold in the pump box, i don't this 3/4 is necessary for the manifold. no need to bring the pump inside, i would just bypass the pump with the 3 way valve and let the pump run for 10-15 seconds to get most the sap out of it.. has a few -17C night with no issues. 2000 feet of mainline seems i bit too much for the Shurflo, you would have to be 100% sure you have 0 leaks. i have another video "Shurflo 4008 maple sap vacuum pump PART#2- MASSIVE SAP FLOW" that shows inside the pump box a lot better. Thanks
Not necessarily, but it would be best, as any vacuum you get from the natural vacuum will be added to what your pump adds. if you where on flat ground i would estimate you getting 10-15 inches of vacuum, but if you have 10 feet of elevation drop you should see 17-20 inches and so on. Thanks for watching an keep the comments and questions rollin C
Hey BTW, i have seen your Videos before! great work! greeting from your northern neighbors. Are you going to have a maple syrup video coming out? give me a shout out if you do !
Nice to meet you :) So here's our dilemma: we normally run buckets, but our access roads to the woods are blown out and there is no other effective way to get sap out of the woods unless we run lines out. There is a small area in the middle of the woods that is slightly elevated. I'm thinking we can run about 100 taps (with my schedule I don't think I could handle more until I got a bigger cooker). Yes, we are going to be doing syrup videos. Season is pretty much a month or more early so we are in panic mode right now :(
I would be happy to help out a fellow sapper, contact me at sappy.mapleman@gmail.com and i can get you up to speed as i will not be putting out a video for a month or so. Look forward to hearing from you. C
Hi Lee, I just finished up with my 5th season with the same pump, still working like it was new. I take the pump side apart after every season and cleam.
Do you find the 2 x75w solar panels enough to keep the battery powered up? Was at Costco today and they have a 120w solar kit for $200 cdn comes with 8.5 A charge controller 300 W modified sine wave inverter. Was not sure if that is enough wattage to keep battery charged.
Hi, yes, if you have good clear access to sunlight. I have been using the system for 4 years now and have never had to charge the battery during the maple season. I do recomend a type 31 deep cycle battery. Just keep an eye on your voltage.
Looks like you good Vac to those lines. Never seen em run so fast. You had more sap than one of our natural vac (gravity) systems with 350 sugars on it. How many pounds of hydrogen do u have on those lines? Also about howany taps and are they sugars or reds?
I'll tell ya what, if you can walk me step by step through making this pump system and wiring it and such, I'll shoot a video on making one and give you full credit with a link to your channel 😄 We are making a run to the maple supply store this weekend, so if there's anything special on that end I need, let me know! I think we are running 1/2 mainline and 5/16 , but that might change depending on the syrup guy's recomendations. I see most people running 3/16...
Hi Joe, I wish I did have some sort of plan for this setup. My Father built the little bit of electronics that where put into it. all supplies where purchased from Amazon. Let me know if you questions I will do my best to answer.
I have a few vacuum gauges near the top of a few of the lines. not at the end, but at a location near my trail where i can see it driving by on the ATV
They are connectors with a hook in them, I use them to attach wire to, it is then tied off to the tree beside the tank. They are from CDL maple supply.
After your reply I watch the video again and saw the anchor wire. I also watched all your videos and after that I subscribed. Really enjoyed all your videos especially the one of the grouse following you around, I hope you gave her/him a name ? Can't wait for your next video.
coming out of your tap it looks like you loop your line creating a trap. Is that necessary to hold your vacuum? Won't the trap freeze bringing everything to a halt?
Hi Jim, thanks for watching, the loops have no purpose, I guess I could make it a bit tidier. How ever the entire line will be full of sap when it freezes so the fact there is a loop is not a concern, from what I see when it starts to thaw, the entire line seems to thaw at the same time which only takes 10-15 minutes once the temp is above freezing. I was concerned about the thaw time when I first went to 3/16. But was very surprised how fast it thaws. Have a great sugaring season and feel free to ask anything, I will answer to the best of my knowledge.
Great idea and execution! I’ve been pondering how to build a 12V solar powered vacuum system for a couple of years. Yours is the first example that has me really excited. The temperature controller to turn the pump on and off was the eureka moment for me. I’ve ordered the parts and plan to have around 200 taps on a similar system this spring. Thanks for the innovative idea!
I just bought some solar panels and this will be a perfect project for them i do sap every year I don’t have nearly as many trees thank you for your video and your ideas
Can you describe all the electronic equipment in the box above the pump. We really liked the video and how it showed how it is possible to use a cheaper system to get maple syrup. Your use of solar is awesome.
Thanks
Rob
Rob McW. M hi Rob, thanks for watching, check out the video I posted recently describing the inside of the pump box.
I've been inspired by your's and Wander Wild Farm's video regarding your vacuum system. Currently, I have 214 taps of which approximately 187 taps are on 3/16 tubing and about 27 on buckets. Some of the buckets and tubing are located along the road and about 80 minutes to gather and pump into my holding tank. I am considering abandoning the roadside taps and focusing on approximately 130 taps in what i call the back bush. All the taps except for about 10 would be at an elevation above the tanks. With those 10, I'd have to lift the lowest tap approximately 20'. To maintain my current production level, I'd have to increase my sap production to approximately 14 to 15 US gallons of sap per tap. Is this possible? I think you mentioned making 100 US gallons on 175 taps, which is roughly 23 gallons per tap, is this so? Thank you for your comments.
Thanks for watching, and i truly understand wanting to get away from buckets. As much as i enjoyed the work and traditional look of the buckets hanging from the tree, time was sparse.
This year we stopped collecting about 10 days before the season ended, and still managed to collect 3040 US gallons. which worked out to around 15 gallons per tap. If we where to go to the end of the season we could have pulled in more. This is based on 200 taps as we added one new line last year. we do not have any taps lower than the tank so i would imagine that could bring your overall vacuum down if all running on one pump.
this year our system was running at around 16-17 inches of vacuum, not the best, but better than nothing.
@@SpruceCreekFarm Good morning Chris and thank you for your quick response. I subscribed and hopefully will be getting all your videos. I'm in the middle of clean up know, but will check out the rest of your videos. I have a couple of questions. I think you indicated running the pump for about 20 seconds when redirecting the 3 way valve to remove water from the pump. Is that adequate, no other drain? What is the make and model of your temperature controller? Where did you get the 7, SS barbed connectors and are they 3/16 or 5/16? I was thinking running 5/16 from the manifold, then installing a 5/16 quick disconnect and 5/16 to 3/16 tubing connector so I could easily remove the fittings. CDL makes both fittings. I was impressed with your approximate 15 gal sap/tap, as that could work very well for me. Oddly enough, I just turned 70 and I'm looking to reduce the number of taps, but I still have a steady customer list that I wish to maintain. I have a CDL, 18" x 60" which I've retrofitted with a heat exchanger and oil burner. Removing approximately 17 gallons/hour. Also built a single pass RO, concentrating to about 4.4% on average. Last year in just over 2000 taps, I gathered just over 1,800 US gallons on about 210 active taps in 10 gatherings, with an average sugar content of 1.86%. I was so enthused by your's and Bob Sookochoff's video, I was up until midnight designing my own unit. One other question: do you shut the unit down at night? Thank you so much, look forward to your response. Stay safe in this pandemic, Earl Weller
Hey, will that diaphram pump work on flat ground. I have a bush about 1 acre with 100 taps. Maybe 200 yards by 75 yards. I want to try to vacuum it. This up seems affordable and effective.
Yes i would, i would suggest using the 3/16 tubing as it is mush more forgiving for sages in your line. i would go with 20 taps per run. i find with having 25 per run on mine that on days where the sap is really flowing i get a backup of sap near the end of the line.
Spruce Creek Farm the end of each line just goes to the last tap on the line?
Nice set up, snowmobile should be busy lugging all that sap.
Thanks Dale, with the weather forecast for the next week it will surely be getting a workout hauling sap.
What has been your biggest day with the 175? Have you had a 300 gallon day?
SO far this season our best run has been 1000 liters on the 175 which works out to around 265 US gallons. We have 200 buckets up as well which this year is too much for our 2x6 evaporator.
Nice. I have pumps mounted in storage tubs as well. Found out the hard way it's a good idea to drill some drainage holes in the bottom of the tub. I had a hose pop off and fill one of my tubs to the brim with sap, the pump survived but the power supply did not.
What do you think with all solar stuff .pump .batteries. electrical supply what do you have in it.
Thank you for this video!! and to the others that have made videos of there setup based on yours! Im starting to piece together a setup like this but I have 110 access so using ac to dc convertor. 100ish taps with longest run 400ft. If I hit any snags I will reach out!
Looks great. Could you provide a schematic and parts list for the controller? What temperature sensor do you use?
I have a storage tank pump that pushes the collected tap up to my evaporator storage tank.
Thanks
What does it pull for vacum do you.have a guage
Sweet set up! I'm running lines for our 200 taps this year and I'm trying to find a cost effective, yet effective way to pull the sap. How long do you think your lines are? Why didn't you go with a larger mainline like a 3/4"? What do you do at night when temps get below 0 C? Do you bring the pump inside? I'll be just over 2000 feet for my mainline, so I think I might be stuck paying the $1400 for a CDL vacuum.
Hi there, my longs run is around 1100 feet, and the shorted being 500-600, i did not use a mainline, just a manifold in the pump box, i don't this 3/4 is necessary for the manifold. no need to bring the pump inside, i would just bypass the pump with the 3 way valve and let the pump run for 10-15 seconds to get most the sap out of it.. has a few -17C night with no issues. 2000 feet of mainline seems i bit too much for the Shurflo, you would have to be 100% sure you have 0 leaks. i have another video "Shurflo 4008 maple sap vacuum pump PART#2- MASSIVE SAP FLOW" that shows inside the pump box a lot better. Thanks
One more question". How do you keep your pump box from freezing at night?
nice set-up! Do the lines have to be on a decline from tap to tank if on vacuum?
Not necessarily, but it would be best, as any vacuum you get from the natural vacuum will be added to what your pump adds. if you where on flat ground i would estimate you getting 10-15 inches of vacuum, but if you have 10 feet of elevation drop you should see 17-20 inches and so on.
Thanks for watching an keep the comments and questions rollin
C
Hey BTW, i have seen your Videos before! great work! greeting from your northern neighbors. Are you going to have a maple syrup video coming out? give me a shout out if you do !
Nice to meet you :)
So here's our dilemma: we normally run buckets, but our access roads to the woods are blown out and there is no other effective way to get sap out of the woods unless we run lines out. There is a small area in the middle of the woods that is slightly elevated. I'm thinking we can run about 100 taps (with my schedule I don't think I could handle more until I got a bigger cooker). Yes, we are going to be doing syrup videos. Season is pretty much a month or more early so we are in panic mode right now :(
is it possible to do a more in depth walk through of how you built it all?
I would be happy to help out a fellow sapper, contact me at sappy.mapleman@gmail.com and i can get you up to speed as i will not be putting out a video for a month or so. Look forward to hearing from you.
C
Have you ever had to replace the pump. Are you getting one year out of it ?
Hi Lee, I just finished up with my 5th season with the same pump, still working like it was new. I take the pump side apart after every season and cleam.
Do you find the 2 x75w solar panels enough to keep the battery powered up? Was at Costco today and they have a 120w solar kit for $200 cdn comes with 8.5 A charge controller
300 W modified sine wave inverter. Was not sure if that is enough wattage to keep battery charged.
Hi, yes, if you have good clear access to sunlight. I have been using the system for 4 years now and have never had to charge the battery during the maple season. I do recomend a type 31 deep cycle battery. Just keep an eye on your voltage.
How many taps on each line
I have around 25 per line. Seems to work well at the number, always have more sap than I need
Looks like you good Vac to those lines. Never seen em run so fast. You had more sap than one of our natural vac (gravity) systems with 350 sugars on it. How many pounds of hydrogen do u have on those lines? Also about howany taps and are they sugars or reds?
There is only 3 or 4 taps on reds out of the 175, as for hydrogen??... 0 pounds. Lol
I'll tell ya what, if you can walk me step by step through making this pump system and wiring it and such, I'll shoot a video on making one and give you full credit with a link to your channel 😄 We are making a run to the maple supply store this weekend, so if there's anything special on that end I need, let me know! I think we are running 1/2 mainline and 5/16 , but that might change depending on the syrup guy's recomendations. I see most people running 3/16...
Just got done watching your video, and what a great job you're doing !
Are you going to bury the big stainless tank in the ground ?
Do you have the set of plans for this setup?
Hi Joe, I wish I did have some sort of plan for this setup. My Father built the little bit of electronics that where put into it. all supplies where purchased from Amazon. Let me know if you questions I will do my best to answer.
Do you hook up you vacuum gauge at the starting point of your tubing or up stream by your pump?
I have a few vacuum gauges near the top of a few of the lines. not at the end, but at a location near my trail where i can see it driving by on the ATV
Nice solar setup, What are those green square item attached to the 3/16 lines just before going into the holding tank ?
They are connectors with a hook in them, I use them to attach wire to, it is then tied off to the tree beside the tank. They are from CDL maple supply.
After your reply I watch the video again and saw the anchor wire. I also watched all your videos and after that I subscribed. Really enjoyed all your videos especially the one of the grouse following you around, I hope you gave her/him a name ?
Can't wait for your next video.
coming out of your tap it looks like you loop your line creating a trap. Is that necessary to hold your vacuum? Won't the trap freeze bringing everything to a halt?
Hi Jim, thanks for watching, the loops have no purpose, I guess I could make it a bit tidier. How ever the entire line will be full of sap when it freezes so the fact there is a loop is not a concern, from what I see when it starts to thaw, the entire line seems to thaw at the same time which only takes 10-15 minutes once the temp is above freezing. I was concerned about the thaw time when I first went to 3/16. But was very surprised how fast it thaws. Have a great sugaring season and feel free to ask anything, I will answer to the best of my knowledge.
How many taps do you put on a 3/16 line and how long is your longest line?
Longest line is around 1000 feet, and running around 25 taps per line