I've already posted quite a bit on this, but thought I should clarify a few things which aren't talked about much, but I consider important...
While "sailing now" mentioned this, I'd like to clarify/emphasize it....
Quote:
I admire the Clark pump in his, but IMHO anything that is computer controlled on a sailboat is destined to fail...usually at the worst possible time/place.
|
1) I agree completely about computer-controlled devices being subject to failure.....and this fact applies to so much on-board these days, including
GPS,
Radar, Chartplotters, even stereos, etc.....that we shouldn't be surprised that it applies to watermakers as well....
2) BUT, we should all understand that the "Clark Pump" is NOT "computer-controlled", does NOT need a computer to
work, and while it is expensive to replace (if ever needed) it is VERY reliable.....
3) The "computer" that controls the time of operation, controls the automatic flush, monitors the flow and salinity, and switches the product water from "reject" to the tank, etc. is NOT needed to run the watermaker.....does not run the Clark pump, feed pump, etc. and this "computer" is NOT needed to make water.....
In my opinion this is a misunderstood fact reguading Spectra watermakers and it is so very important to understand, that I should really emphasize it.....
You can operate a Spectra watermaker without its "computer" (MPC control), and they DO make/sell watermakers that do NOT even have a "computer".....
Please understand that nobody want to spend $$$ on a MPC control and then not be able to use it, but the simple fact is that with the flip of one switch you can be making water (in manual mode) and then figure out what was wrong with the control....
This is not well understood by those out looking at watermakers, and is sometimes overlooked by those selling competing brands.....
But, it is a fact....you do NOT need the computer to make water.....
In my set-up, if I needed to make water and had an MPC-5000 failure, I'd flick my "test/tank" valve to test and then switch the "auto/manual" switch to manual, and I'd be making water.....after a few minutes I'd test the product water and if it met my desired quality (either by taste or a pocket-sized TDS meter), I'd flick the valve to "tank", and be filling my tanks with fresh water.....
It's is simple as that......
The "computer" (MPC-5000) is nice to have (and i really love mine), but should it (or other electronics) fail, you can still make water....
Now, in my personal experience, in over 3 years and 12,000+ miles
offshore with my Spectra Ventura MPC-5000, I've never had a problem with the MPC-5000 "computer" at all.....
(however, I did have a minor problem (or two) with my watermaker, covered under warranty, which I'll explain below....)
Quote:
Originally Posted by sailing now
I'm a fan (also a dealer for) Village Marine Tech. 160 gal/day, 13 amps (that's what's on our boat). Also 200 gal/day, 18 amps. NO computers, just basic, simple and reliable systems, value priced. We're in the Bahamas and sailing around with several boats. One has a new Spectra Catalina. Has yet to run more than two or three days without a problem. 3 salinity probes so far...borrows my TDS meter so he can check output. It makes 18 gal/hr (when it works). He's had to have more pre-filters aired in ($200+$$). For some reason his become fouled. Same water we use and ours was changed in Nov. 09. I admire the Clark pump in his, but IMHO anything that is computer controlled on a sailboat is destined to fail...usually at the worst possible time/place.
|
4) I won't try to quibble about this guys Spectra Catalina, but I DO know about salinity probe failures.....since I've had them as well....
a) The fact is that Spectra had a bad run of salinity probes, and notified their customers about this a couple years ago.....they thought they had it fixed with the new batch, but didn't and re-did them again last year....
This was covered under warranty, including the service call / labor to install the new probe and update the MPC
software.....(or if you were out in the world somewhere, they sent a new probe and E-PROM chip, to you with instructions, or I believe they refered you to a "roving dealer"....)
Let me state that again.....it was covered under warranty, meaning it was FREE.....no matter how old you unit was.....if it had a bad salinity probe, the replacement and service call was FREE....
Yes, I would've preferred to not have had a failure at all....especially after spending big bucks on a watermaker.....but, nothing is perfect in this world, and the fact that Spectra stepped-up, admited the problem, and provided the solution for free, seems to be a fairly rare event these days....and I, for one, admire them for it......
b) Like the MPC-5000 computer itself, you can still make water without a working salinity probe, and use all the automatic features of the MPC as well....
Simply select "bypass" or "cancel" (can't remember the exact wording from memory) under the salinity probe
alarm page.....and the unit will make water and do flushes, etc.....but you'll need to test the product water yourself, before putting into your tanks.....a very easy thing to do, in most installs (flicking a valve, after verifying the water quality)...
c) Now if this guy in the Bahamas actually has a new Spectra Catalina, I suspect that was "old stock", since this salinity-probe problem was
solved last year.....perhaps his dealer didn't use the new probe (and new software)......
But, all it takes is an e-mail or
phone call to Spectra, and he'll have his salinity probe problem sorted out....
d) As for his pre-filters?????
The question needs to be asked if the filters are in fact being fouled more often???? Or is it the MPC controller that is showing a "change pre-filter" message????
If it is the former (actual filter fouling/clogging) then it's possible there is something different in his locale or on his boat......such as a sink or
head drain / discharge that is affecting his prefilters....or perhaps the
raw water intake for his watermaker isn't very deep below the surface and he's picking up a good deal of floating debris that he shouldn't be......
The position on board, and the
depth of, the
raw water intake is something that is important for ALL watermakers, and is explained in the installation materials fairly well......
So, perhaps whoever installed this guy's unit wasn't aware or didn't care????
But, if the MPC-5000 is showing "change pre-filter", and the filters are NOT sufficiently dirty, then it is likely that one of the pressure sensors on the top of the prefilter modules is causing this....
As for the exact cause of this.....off the top of my
head, here are some ideas....
Either a bad
sensor itself (very unlikely on a "new" unit), a "scaled"
sensor (also unlikely on a "new" unit, but possible if they've made water in some dirty harbors, etc...), or most likely a loose or corroded
electrical connection on one (or both) pressure sensors.....
Now, please understand I'm NOT a watermaker dealer / installer......I'm a sailor / voyager......
So, if I can figure this out (from memory), from 200 miles away from my own boat and my own Spectra Ventura MPC-5000, I cannot understand how anyone who sells/installs watermakers wouldn't know all of this....and this is why I suspect that this guy with the new Spectra Catalina bought a "new old stock" unit, did NOT get a new version salinity probe and
software update, and did the install himself without taking into account the many variables in watermaker installation, etc....
But, I just could not let the brief post from "sailing now" stand as-is, without some clarification......
If you wish to see my article (and photos) about watermaker choices and my installation.....have a look here...
Watermaker
And Jack's wonderful article on his watermaker choice and installation here...
Whoosh - Watermaker
Also see my article (and photos) on energy and
solar panels, and my installation here...
Solar Panels
I hope this helps some of you out there....
John