DIY Watermaker

[SvLetitgo]

Thank you all participant for such a thread, it help me in my search of the ideal system.

First time I read it the tech was way over my head. Three days later after a "few" hours of research it all make sense.

Let's hope I don't make a stupid mistake LOL

Again thank you for sharing your knowledge. I will try to synthesize it in a few post on our blog.

[thatboatguy]

Good choice with Electromaax, now if you go with Rich, for a watermaker you will be batting 1000!

Nice blog

George <---- only 1/2 French but 100% crazy.

[SvLetitgo]

I knew it I made a mistake LOL didn't go with Rich but decided to build my own.

The danger of the internet you make it look easy. Let's see how far I get before I need to ask a question here.

[thatboatguy]

Maybe even better! But you know that either Rich or I or many others here will be happy to answer any questions we can. We are cruisers first.

George

[Lagoon4us]

To get a true idea of what's available commercially as against the preceding please suggest a watermaker to say 50 gph max 220/110ac driven that currently fits the bill?
Value?

[thatboatguy]

Originally Posted by Lagoon4us

To get a true idea of what's available commercially as against the preceding please suggest a watermaker to say 50 gph max 220/110ac driven that currently fits the bill?
Value?

CruiseRO

I'm not a dealer and I have no interest in the company, but I am authorized to instal them.

George

[Lagoon4us]

Thanks i've bookmarked it and quickly read it looks good cheers Frank

[SvLetitgo]

After a two weeks of research, I have put together a series of post on your blog about the decision process on the water maker.

Part 1 is published, let's see what way we went.

Buying vs Building your own water-maker Part 1 · SV Letitgo

[x-ray]

Just want to let you know, that my DIY-Watermaker powered by the cheapest Karcher available (Euro 60,-) is now up and running since this summer, (after many test-runs in my backyard) producing 60 Liters an hour.....no problems so far...
Costs: Euro 1.400,- (excl. Thru-hulls, and of course Honda-Generator)
Regards
Rainer

[Tellie]

Originally Posted by x-ray

Just want to let you know, that my DIY-Watermaker powered by the cheapest Karcher available (Euro 60,-) is now up and running since this summer, (after many test-runs in my backyard) producing 60 Liters an hour.....no problems so far...
Costs: Euro 1.400,- (excl. Thru-hulls, and of course Honda-Generator)
Regards
Rainer

It don't count unless you post pictures. Love to see your progress.

[x-ray]

Hi Tellie, hope you are alright...
This is how i arranged everything in the toilet compartment, before I installed the hoses.
The pressure vessel is upright in a corner right opposite, can be used as a
handrail in rough seas as well
Will take more pictures, when going back to Turkey, where MIKA is on the
hard for the winter right now.
The Kärcher is in the bilge, where the prepump and prefilters been installed
as well, sorry no pics of that as well
Regards
Rainer

[x-ray]

By the way,
this is MIKA

[thatboatguy]

Nicely done!

George

[hellosailor]

Mika, that's fabulous. I've only heard of the Karcher (and twin Campbell Housefield?) as being consumer-grade meant for occassional use, but I guess even if that's true, a watermaker isn't heavy lifting for it.

This begs for a full DIY to be archived and shared!

[x-ray]

Yes, it-s true,
Kärcher says the smallest Model of it-s range, the K 2.14 or similar, which i actually use, is for occassional small jobs only.
I guess that is exactly what i am doing, every 3 or 4 days i have it running for an hour up to 90 minutes. No problems so far, ventilation is an issue...
The plungers are made of stainless steel, but not a 100% saltwater resistent grade, so flushing the system after use is essential, what means 15 Liters (or 15 minutes) of initial production go down the drain after each run.
Life expectation of the Kärcher pump will be one to two years, depending on hours of use, so its prudent to have a spare Kärcher on board,
but for 60 Euros, i may use up 20 Kärchers in 40 years before catching up with the costs of a CAT or Wanner pump. Don-t think i will still be sailing in the age of 100....
The output of the Kärcher is at the minimum side of the parameters given by filmtec, at 1.3 gallon (4 to 5 Liters) per minute at operating pressure, that is why i don-t expect my membrane to last as long as in configurations producing higher feed flow.
Future will tell, but membranes are getting cheaper as well,...
I plan to install a second membrane to increase output to 100 L/h.
Will let you know how this worked out..
For the ones who can read german,
this is my watermaker-site
http://watermaker.jimdo.com/
Regards
Rainer

PS:
Pics below show test run in my backyard