Feedback on Watermakers

[Strygaldwir]

Well as Craig, the Rocna guy says "you get what you pay for". Hey that's an idea! Send cash via paypal, I'll have it right up then!



Keith

[bob46777]

I built my own and saved and saved thousands. I have the plans available on Ebay. Search under watermaker.

[northerncat]

any more information on these home made watermakers? very very interested
sean

[bob46777]

Hi,
I might get blasted again but I sell plans on ebay. Go to ebay and search under watermaker. I also have picked up some competition. My user ID is bob46777.

[northerncat]

with making your own watermaker does it matter where you have your pressure gauge on the 40" membrane, im just thinking that there may be a pressure differential between one end of the membrane and the other due to water being passed through it
sean

[Strygaldwir]

There is a pressure drop accross the membrane. All the setups I have observed have the pressure gauge in front of the membrane. I suppose you could tell something about the state of the membrane by having gauges both before and after and using the new membrane pressure as a benchmark. But, you may be able to arrive at the same point by measuring product and salinity of the product.

Keith

[bob46777]

You must have your high pressure gague between the output of the high pressure pump and the inlet of the first pressure vessel.

[bob46777]

OOPS, I ment to say the gauge should be between the output of the last pressure vessel and the regulator. That is if the pressure vessels are is series.

[MissDenise]

Here's an excellent price on the Katadyn 80E: Amazon.com: Katadyn Powersurvivor 80 E Watermaker Desalinator: Sports & Outdoors Not a big unit, but Amazon is selling it for almost 1K US$ off MSRP. West Marine also carries them, but they want more.

[claire]

We finally installed an Echotec watermaker: they are made in trinidad. We had it shipped to FL ($4000 delivered, 70-80 liters/hour). We followed their recommendation to get a belt driven pump and have regretted that option. Otherwise, it was easy to install and worked very well during our South Pacific cruise. The high capacity allowed us to use it for only 1 hour every 3 days and still have enough water. The occasional rain water was collected for the laundry, and the clear lagoon water was used for dish washing.

Why do we regret the belt driven option? because the engine is not designed to hold the heavy high pressure pump, whichever way you find to fix it. The first bracket broke (it was 5mm thick aluminium) before we even started using the WM. The new steel bracket is holding better, but we keep wondering when we'll have to replace the engine mount.

[Fabrizio]

Hello Claire,

I am trying to install the echotec belt driven watermaker on my yanmar engine, have a few ideas but some help would be welcome...do you have any pics and/or specs of the bracket you have installed in your boat?

Thanks!

[Tellie]

Originally Posted by Fabrizio

Hello Claire,

I am trying to install the echotec belt driven watermaker on my yanmar engine, have a few ideas but some help would be welcome...do you have any pics and/or specs of the bracket you have installed in your boat?

Thanks!

What size yanmar do you have?

[Fabrizio]

My Engine is a Yanmar 4JH2-TE

The following picture of a bracket is posted in the watermaker manufacturer website.

The engine is also a Yanmar very similar to mine. I am awaiting more pictures and information from them. Will post when I get them...in the mean time any help would be welcome.

[Captain Bill]

Danfoss now makes a series of high pressure seawater pumps designed for marine RO systems. They also have an option for an energy recovery unit that reduces power requirements. The option is called SWPE. I have not seen these pumps used in any systems commercially available. Danfoss has a pretty good reputation in the refrigeration business so these may be good products. Has anyone seen a unit that uses the Danfoss pumps.

SWPE - Danfoss

Danfoss SWPE Sea Water Pump with Energy Recovery

[Captain Bill]

Never mind, I just found the prices for the pumps, which explains why they're not used in products aimed at the cruising market.