watermaker - Page 2

Valiente · #11 01-14-2008

I am "retanking" this year, and in addition to switching to HDPE tanks from SS, I am considering the value of having a small watermaker with a dedicated tank, plus a second tank with filtered rainwater, marina water, etc. A simple manifold could direct either tank to the galley tap (complete with Whale footpump!) and the rainwater/"city" water supply could be dedicated purely to the shower and other non-potable uses.

Should I run out of "collected" water, I can hand-pump the osmosis stuff to the other tank and keep making it until I'm nicely ballasted. If I'm approaching a known source of decent fresh water, I can pump it back. Waste not...

sailingdog · #12 01-14-2008

Valiente-

Having a separate tank for the RO watermaker is an excellent idea. Also, having the ability to transfer water between the RO tank an the other water tanks is an excellent idea.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valiente

I am "retanking" this year, and in addition to switching to HDPE tanks from SS, I am considering the value of having a small watermaker with a dedicated tank, plus a second tank with filtered rainwater, marina water, etc. A simple manifold could direct either tank to the galley tap (complete with Whale footpump!) and the rainwater/"city" water supply could be dedicated purely to the shower and other non-potable uses.

Should I run out of "collected" water, I can hand-pump the osmosis stuff to the other tank and keep making it until I'm nicely ballasted. If I'm approaching a known source of decent fresh water, I can pump it back. Waste not...

Valiente · #13 01-15-2008

Thanks, Mr. Dog. I am trying to ascend the logic tree one branch at a time...

sailhog · #14 01-15-2008

What does watermaker water taste like? A little like the sea?

sailingdog · #15 01-15-2008

Just FYI, most of the time, a slightly large watermaker will generally produce the same net amount of usable water for far less energy. This is due to the fact that a large watermaker can generate more water per unit of time, and you can often get away with running it once every other day, where the smaller one will need to be run every day, and the fact that each time you run a watermaker, you usually have to flush the membrane, and by running the watermaker less often, you use less water flushing it.

svsirius · #16 01-15-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailingdog

Just FYI, most of the time, a slightly large watermaker will generally produce the same net amount of usable water for far less energy. This is due to the fact that a large watermaker can generate more water per unit of time, and you can often get away with running it once every other day, where the smaller one will need to be run every day, and the fact that each time you run a watermaker, you usually have to flush the membrane, and by running the watermaker less often, you use less water flushing it.

Actually I'm going to agree and disagree.

I fully agree that larger is better. Ours does 12.5 gal/hr on about 20 amps and I should have found the room for the next size up as it does 16.67 gal/hr on 22 amps.

I disagree that you have to fresh water flush after every use. Sea Recovery recommends flushing only if not using with 2 weeks of use. We run ours almost every day [when running genset or engine - so free power] and never flush between. We only flush when not going to use for more than 3-4 days between. Then it's automatic and runs the water through a charcoal filter to insure no chlorine etc gets to membrane.

mcollins07 · #17 01-15-2008

I noticed that Sam's Club has 110v house (non-marine) Reverse Osmosis units for about $170, a lot less than marine watermakers. I don't remember the pressure, but I believe it operates at about half the presure of a marine RO unit. Does the operating presure effect the final purity, or just the rate/volume? Has anyone tried to adapt this type of RO unit to marine use or used with seawater?

ebs001 · #18 01-17-2008

mcollins, these units will not desalinate, they are made to remove desolved solids from city water.

chucklesR · #19 01-17-2008

I might have to look into a bigger unit, the figures presented by svsirus indicate that unit IS more efficient; I am however still constrained by the unit needing to be modular.

svsirius · #20 01-18-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by chucklesR

I might have to look into a bigger unit, the figures presented by svsirus indicate that unit IS more efficient; I am however still constrained by the unit needing to be modular.

Both Sea Recovery and Spectra units are available in a modular configuration.. mine is