The Port-A-Probe and the Vac-A-Sample® both pull samples from deep in stored grain without turning it. The difference comes down to how deep you need to go and where your grain sits. The short answer Choose the Vac-A-Sample® for bins up to 60 ft. It matches its tip to your commodity and doubles as a tool for treating hot spots. Choose the Port-A-Probe for deeper bins (up to 120 ft.), flat storage, piles and remote sites. It runs on a Honda gas engine, so you don't need a power source on site. Side by side Vac-A-Sample® Port-A-Probe Max depth Up to 60 ft. Up to 120 ft. (50 ft. on the PAP-5.5H). Deeper with the Gear Jacket. Where it works Grain bins Bins, flat storage, piles and any grain container Power Electrical 110V and 220V Honda gas engine (9 HP or 5.5 HP). Sample collection Continuous sample into a cyclone collector Into a clear pitcher at ground level, outside the bin Probe tips Fine, coarse or burr tip, matched to your commodity 4" intake aluminum tip, threaded Also used for Targeted fumigation and insecticide at hot spots Setting temperature cables in bins Materials Grain, seed, meals and other dry, free-flowing materials Stored grain What they have in common Both systems sample grain where it sits. That matters, because turning grain costs you. It breaks kernels, kicks up dust, adds shrink and spreads insects. Each system uses vacuum to pull a sample up through lightweight probe sections, so you can check stored grain as often as you need to and act only when there's a problem. When the Vac-A-Sample® is the right fit Your bins are 60 ft. or less. Two operators can typically run several 60 ft. probes in a day. You sample more than one commodity. Swap between fine, coarse and burr tips to match what's in the bin. You want to treat at the source. Once you find a hot spot, put the probe into that zone and apply fumigant or insecticide right where it's needed, not across the whole bin. You handle more than grain. It also samples seed, meals and other dry, free-flowing materials. Commodity Vac-A-Sample® tip Barley, milo, rice, wheat Fine Tip Corn, soybeans Coarse Tip Hard-packed materials Burr Tip When the Port-A-Probe is the right fit Your bins go past 60 ft. The PAP and PAP-ES reach 120 ft. For anything deeper, add the Gear Jacket. You store grain in flats or piles. A temporary pile can look fine on top while it spoils underneath. The Port-A-Probe samples deep into it, so you catch trouble before you lose the whole pile. Your site has no power. The Honda gas engine means no outlets and no explosion-proof fittings. You'd rather work from the ground. Only the hose and aluminum probe go up top. The sample travels back down and lands in a pitcher outside the bin. Three Port-A-Probe base units: the PAP (9 HP, pull start, 120 ft.), the PAP-ES (9 HP, electric start, 120 ft.) and the smaller, lighter PAP-5.5H (5.5 HP, pull start, 50 ft.). Every unit comes with a hose reel. What a complete system includes Vac-A-Sample® Base unit Cyclone collector Flexible hose Lever yoke Gooseneck connector Pliers Tip section Probe sections to your depth Port-A-Probe Base unit (PAP, PAP-ES or PAP-5.5H) 50 ft. hoses, one per 50 ft. of reach Threaded lever yoke 4" intake aluminum tip 4 ft. threaded aluminum probe sections to your depth Not sure how many probe sections you need? Tell us your bin depth and we'll build the list for you. Frequently asked questions What's the main difference between the Port-A-Probe and the Vac-A-Sample®? Depth and setting. The Vac-A-Sample® samples bins up to 60 ft. The Port-A-Probe reaches up to 120 ft., runs on a gas engine, and works in bins, flat storage and piles. Can I sample a grain pile? Yes, with the Port-A-Probe. It samples grain piles, flat storage and any grain container, as well as bins. Do I need electricity at the site? Not with the Port-A-Probe. Its Honda gas engine means no electrical hookup and no explosion-proof fittings, which is why it's often used at remote sites. Can I use the probe to treat a hot spot? Yes, with the Vac-A-Sample®. Once you find the problem area, insert the probe into that zone and apply fumigation tablets or insecticide directly where it's needed. That cuts chemical use and saves treating the whole bin. What if my bin is deeper than 120 ft.? Add the Gear Jacket to your Port-A-Probe. It's built for sampling bins over 120 ft. Call us and we'll help you spec it. See the Vac-A-Sample® → See the Port-A-Probe →
