12V booster pump to watermaker?

[bluesphere]

Bambolera,

I just built a watermaker and chose to go with a March AC-5C-MD:

March AC-5C-MD Magnetic Drive Pump

its working great and believe that the march pumps are built to the highest standard.

- alex

[Tellie]

Alex, I kinda lost track of your adventures a few years ago. Do you have any place we can go to catch up?

[bluesphere]

Telly, you can email me, communicate here, or comment through my blog at Project BlueSphere.

Hope all is well.

peace

[Bambolera]

The March pumps look nice, but probably more pump than I need for my application. I bought this one for the price and the low power draw.

2.2 GPM / 8.5 LPM - 12V Solar Hot Water Pump - Can be run by a 5W solar panel - With Brass NPT Threads - Amazon.com

[vientoman]

$34 bucks:

12v Marine Utility Water Pump

[bluesphere]

Bamborela,

My water maker is engine driven or 110 driven via a cat pump. I'm currently putting out 22GPH, and will add another membrane to bring it up to over 40 GPH. I had a small 12v water-maker while crossing the Pacific in 2007 and it was good for drinking water but not laundry or washing, and it needed to run all the time defeating the output of my solar panels. I now have over 600 watts, but a bigger boat too.

I'd be weary of a cheap Chinese pump depending on your Hi-pressure pump. If it runs dry you could in for an expensive repair, your HP pump is the most expensive part of your system. If your HP pump can run dry no worries, mine cant. Also keep your plumbing before the feed pump below the water line. If your bildge is deep enough you may not even need a feed pump.

March pumps are worth their weight in gold and the brushless rated for 20,000 hours, and for continuous duty. I travel on very little money but never scrimp on marine equipment as I'm always out of the country in remote areas. The march pump can also easily be rebuilt and serviced with a screw driver.

Hope this helps.

[vientoman]

I'd be weary of a cheap Chinese pump depending on your Hi-pressure pump. If it runs dry you could in for an expensive repair, your HP pump is the most expensive part of your system. If your HP pump can run dry no worries, mine cant. Also keep your plumbing before the feed pump below the water line. If your bildge is deep enough you may not even need a feed pump.

excellent point!

got to know when to use and not use disposable chinese commodity items

[Bambolera]

Thanks for the advice. Sounds like you've built a very nice system.

My water maker has been running dry for years (off and on anyway), which is why I have re-routed the plumbing, below the waterline (as you have suggested); it is also why I'm adding a small boost pump.

I've been scratching my head, looking for a place to mount the water maker below the waterline. Unfortunately, it's not an option.

I have the Little Wonder 12v model, which has been a good choice for my use. It only draws 8 amps and I can meet my needs from solar. A large boost pump would unnecessarily compromise the efficiency of the system.

I hope your wrong about the pump I selected. It appears robust and is rated for 30,000 hours. If true, I can make 240,000 gallons during it's expected life span. That's over 32 gallons a day for the next 20 years.

[Sulaire]

Hi guys

oldish thread i know, but look out for those johnson pumps, i asked them if theye were sea water compatable as it says on web this is the reply i got,


Thanks for your email.

You are right, we don´t recommend salt water in any of the CM pumps. We will change the text on our web site ASAP.
I suggest you use a WPS 4.0 that has same flow as a CM10 (15 l/min). See attached document for a description of the pump.



Best regards/ Med vänlig hälsning


Christofer Ingvarsson
Area Sales Manager
SPX Flow Technology


Charlie.