Why do you need a watermaker?

[scoobert]

I cannot be the first to think of this. Perhaps it is done now.
Why do you need a watermaker when you have a/c condensate?
If you do not have a/c you could use a dehumidifer.
Then pass the water thru an undersink RO system.
My a/c makes no less then 15-20 gallons in 24 hours.
Why filter salt from sea water when you can use this water?

[Jimbo485]

OMFG.

Maths. Do it.

[Sandero]

Most boats don't have AC... and when they do... they are not always needed or running... You don't need a water maker when water is readily available.

[Sailmonkey]

I've only just installed a small ac on the boat. It takes shore power to run. Our water maker uses 4amps dc.
When out cruising we anchor, and don't want/need AC nor do we have the power to run it. I've only installed one for dockside use.
The watermaker is fed by the solar panels, not a generator.

[haw1961]

I think a/c condensation carries legionaires disease. They blamed the outbreak of it in Philadelphia to a/c condensation plumbed to the drains on water fountans. I wouldn't drink it no matter what you did to it.

[scoobert]

i am referring to boats equipped with AC, sorry, i thought that was self evident.
a watermaker cost about 3000-5000. an AC and generator can cost up to 8000..
however if you have both.... then you have condensate.

so looking up dehumidifiers...

a 30 pint per day unit consumes 1KWH or 80 amp hours to make 1.85 liters of water.
so for 160 amp hours you get 1 gallon of fresh water.

the cost of the unit is $180.

30 pints is nearly 4 gallons a day. at a total 24 hour consumption of aprox640 amp hours.

and this is linear on the 50 pint and 70 pint units.

what does it take to make 640 amp hours?
easy. a 200 watt panel make 1KWH every 5 hours, or 84 amp hours aprox.
so could this be done on solar alone?
perhaps if you had a 1000watt system.
but for those with larger yachts, we can run a generator.
we can also use a larger unit, making 10 gallons a day.
now, this is not a massive amount. it is also not efficient.
but over a 2-3 year trip, i would bet the math would show it would be cheaper.
how often do we really do a passage? how long are we really from a water source?
is having water for those few weeks worth $5000?
or can you get along with 10 gallons a day, running your generator when needed?
or run an AC unit and make even more water....


with this idea, i don't see the need for a water maker on a larger yacht.

[scoobert]

Originally Posted by haw1961

I think a/c condensation carries legionaires disease. They blamed the outbreak of it in Philadelphia to a/c condensation plumbed to the drains on water fountans. I wouldn't drink it no matter what you did to it.

i hate Wikipedia, so much useless info. i will have to research this outside wikipedia for a good answer.

[Jake Tanley]

Ever hear of Legionnaire's disease?

[scoobert]

Originally Posted by Jake Tanley

Ever hear of Legionnaire's disease?

for the first time just now. researching.
however i do not see how this would be in your AC runoff, and not in your holding tank.

[scoobert]

from the CDC site:::

Legionella in the Environment

Legionnaires' disease (LEE-juh-nares) is caused by a type of bacteria called Legionella. The Legionella bacteria are found naturally in the environment, usually in water. The bacteria grow best in warm water, like the kind found in

• Hot tubs
• Cooling towers
• Hot water tanks
• Large plumbing systems
• Decorative fountains

They do not seem to grow in car or window air-conditioners.

it says

People get Legionnaires' disease when they breathe in a mist or vapor (small droplets of water in the air) containing the bacteria.

so it must be inhaled.
so drinking should be fine, as also it does not grow in window AC units, and this would be the same size as a marine AC unit.

[scoobert]

• Ultraviolet (UV) radiation also kills microorganisms.
  • Commercial, in-line UV systems are effective and can be installed on incoming water lines or on recirculating systems.

so then a UV system is also needed before the tap.
the people who contract this are, old, sick people.

[sailorboy1]

since I don't have a generator I can not run my AC, so I just scrape the sweat off my body and reuse

as a water treatment professional, I would say as long as you kept the condensate drain pan and hose clean you could drink it (not going to be any worst that rainwater), and if you put a little bleach in it it would be purer than most water

But, it isn't in my plans as I am more for keeping the horse in front of the cart.

[JK n Smitty]

So, I see a couple of problems with this. One, while your AC may be of similar size to window air units it is not similar in construction. It would be closer to building units that do grow bacteria. Two, now you're adding a UV system. I would bet the energy consumption of the AC (or dehumidifier), UV and additional pump to move the water into a holding tank would be more than just a water maker. Also, when you are down in the Caribbean during cruising season, the heat isn't that bad plus there is usually a steady breeze. So typically you wouldn't be running you AC as much as you would in a marina in New York.

I am trying to decide if we go with a water maker or just lug jugs.

Interesting concept though.

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by JK n Smitty

I am trying to decide if we go with a water maker or just lug jugs.

a small watermaker won this quandry for us. I drink a lot of water, and knowing the water in the tank is clean is priceless.

[SaucySailoress]

Our A/C produces about 8 litres of condensation a day, when running it 24/7 in the marina here in Oman. We use it to fill the drinking coolers, which provide water for me, HWMO and the dogs. We all seem fine.

One dog did do a bright green **** this evening, but I thing that was more to do with the blue food colouring in the birthday cake and pancakes we let her eat yesterday.