12v Watermaker - Experiences for article?

[northcave]

Hi all... I'm writing an article on sustainable / green boating for a sailing magazine. Unfortunately we still have a 240v watermaker run from our Genset but I'd like to hear from someone that lives aboard and has a 12v watermaker that they use regularly from the batteries and have plenty of solar or wind to top up the batteries.


I'll basically be taking a quote from you and naming you and the boat and what your experiences are / how to make it effective. If you'd be keen let me know. Just to be honest in the beginning, I can't offer you any payment for this. I'm not the editor. So please only let me know if your interested in sharing your story out of the kindness of your heart.


Thanks!

[Pete7]

Will everyone on CF be able to read your article when you have finished, or will it require paying a subscription?

Pete

[john61ct]

There are hundreds of user reports in past threads, contact the users via PM

[double u]

Originally Posted by northcave

Hi all... I'm writing an article on sustainable / green boating ...

Thanks!

BTW: the term “green“ in the context of the average recreational sailboat or “yacht“ is absolutely, utterly laughable, ridiculous & hypocritical.
Unless we are talking about a dugout canoe, built with a stone adze out of driftwood, of course. The builder eating windfall apples...

[motion30]

Ok so i purchased a watermaker from seawater pro. With a 110v motor. I upgraded my solar with four 435 watt panels. I changed the 110v motor with a 1 hp 12 volt motor. I still can make 35 to 40 gal and hour while consuming 80amps 12volt. Completely covered by solar on a sunny day. I live fulltime on the hook.. I have not had to lug water for almost a year. Rarely run my 8k westerbeake

[44'cruisingcat]

We have 1000 W solar and a 12 volt Village Marine "Little Wonder" 200GPD watermaker. We've lived almost exclusively on this water for just under 10 years, for drinking, cooking, washing up and laundry. (Although we do visit laundromats occasionally.)

At a rough estimate we've made well over 120,000 litres, probably closer to 150,000 litres of fresh water with this machine. Replaced the membrane once.

It runs pretty much entirely off solar power. When it's sunny we have more power than we can use, when its rainy we collect rainwater.

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by double u

BTW: the term “green“ in the context of the average recreational sailboat or “yacht“ is absolutely, utterly laughable, ridiculous & hypocritical.
Unless we are talking about a dugout canoe, built with a stone adze out of driftwood, of course. The builder eating windfall apples...

So totally true. The costs and the fuel expended for mining and manufacturing, transport etc easily exceed the energy deferred or saved. We reduce energy footprint purely for the convenience of not going to the dock for fuel or for extending our offshore range. It is almost always lower cost to run a generator. It would cost less to run it on Martinique rhum.

That said, we enhance our Caribbean experience with a 660 watt solar farm. This charges at 24 - 28 volts through an MPPT solar controller. We started with the ancient cold plates driven by shore or generator at 230 VAC. The concern was reliability as well as reducing reliance on the generator so we added Frigaboat variable speed fridge and freezer systems, air cooled, 24 volts. 4.5 to 6 amps while running. These work fine but could be improved with a keel cooler. They can be purchased 12 volts, identical systems. The batteries may or may not keep up depending on the solar days. We typically run the generator 3 to 6 times per month to top the 450 AH Firefly batteries. We also run a small Spectra 24 volt watermaker 4 hours every other day. Output is about 7 gallons per hour. It sucks 6.5 amps. Also available 12 volts. If you are not familiar with the basics, 12 volt stuff will draw double the amps of a 24 volt system and require heavier gage wire.

So the answer to the question, “can it be done?” Yes. Reliable equipment is available. If you’ve got the money honey, we’ve got the stuff.

[northcave]

Originally Posted by Pete7

Will everyone on CF be able to read your article when you have finished, or will it require paying a subscription?

Pete

Hi Pete. I’ll post the article online after the magazine has sold but you can also go to the shops and buy one if you can’t wait.

[Mr B]

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

We have 1000 W solar and a 12 volt Village Marine "Little Wonder" 200GPD watermaker. We've lived almost exclusively on this water for just under 10 years, for drinking, cooking, washing up and laundry. (Although we do visit laundromats occasionally.)

At a rough estimate we've made well over 120,000 litres, probably closer to 150,000 litres of fresh water with this machine. Replaced the membrane once.

It runs pretty much entirely off solar power. When it's sunny we have more power than we can use, when its rainy we collect rainwater.

Hi, 44 cc

I also have a 12 volt Village Marine Little Wonder, Watermaker, 160 - 200 Runs off the invertor from 12 volt batterys,

Solar, Wind Genny and Diesel keep them charged,

But the pressure pump motor on it is 110 volts, Stock unit brand new,
A new 110 volt motor is $11100-00 USD,

I replaced my 110 volt Pressure pump motor and pressure pump with a $90-00, 240 volt Pressure Washer Pump That sucks water and runs the watermaker, 2300 PSI,
I also use it to pressure wash my boat,

Is your Pressure Pump Motor 12 volts, ????????

[Paul L]

Full time cruiser. I had a Village Marine 7gph 12v unit and made about 14,000 gallons with it. It was a very reliable unit. It used about 17amps. Sold it and purchased a much more efficient Spectra Cape Horn. 15gph at 18amps 12v or 8gph at 7-8amps.
Its nice to be able to use excess solar in the afternoon to make water when its available. And the 15gph rate fills tanks quickly.

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by Mr B

Hi, 44 cc

I also have a 12 volt Village Marine Little Wonder, Watermaker, 160 - 200 Runs off the invertor from 12 volt batterys,

Solar, Wind Genny and Diesel keep them charged,

But the pressure pump motor on it is 110 volts, Stock unit brand new,
A new 110 volt motor is $11100-00 USD,

I replaced my 110 volt Pressure pump motor and pressure pump with a $90-00, 240 volt Pressure Washer Pump That sucks water and runs the watermaker, 2300 PSI,
I also use it to pressure wash my boat,

Is your Pressure Pump Motor 12 volts, ????????

If you run it off an inverter it's not a 12 volt motor.

Mine runs off 12 volts.

$11,000 US for the 110 volt motor is crazy. My whole watermaker cost about $6500 Aus. Brand new.

Generally 110 or 240 volt motors are cheaper than 12 volt. But less efficient if you have to run through an inverter.

[Mr B]

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

If you run it off an inverter it's not a 12 volt motor.

Mine runs off 12 volts.

$11,000 US for the 110 volt motor is crazy. My whole watermaker cost about $6500 Aus. Brand new.

Generally 110 or 240 volt motors are cheaper than 12 volt. But less efficient if you have to run through an inverter.

Lost track of it in the repairs of it, Sorry, My Mistake,

It is $1100-00 USD for a new 12 volt motor, From Parker who make them,
Or $800-00 to repair locally,

I no longer have the motor as the repairer stuffed it up doing the quote, so it got binned, It was cactus any way,
Your right it is a 12 volt motor,

But Im not paying $1100 for a new motor, Thats why I put the 240 Volt pressure washer motor on it, Its a complete unit,


For $90-00 AUD delivered from Sydney, Its a good cheap alternative if yours ever blows up,
30 bucks extra for the quick fit stainless fittings from the Nut and bolt shop so it clips into the watermaker and I also have a high pressure washer as well,
It runs off my Invertor which puts out 240 Volts,,
It also sucks up water thru my thru hull, So it dont need a pump to feed it,

[rosatte]

Goodday I’m just in the process of buying a zen 30 I looked at a lot of water makers and think this is best bang for the buck plan on running it off 400 watts of solar and a wind generator I’ll let you know how I make out with it ..

[contrail]

I replaced my 110 volt Pressure pump motor and pressure pump with a $90-00, 240 volt Pressure Washer Pump That sucks water and runs the watermaker, 2300 PSI,
I also use it to pressure wash my boat,

Is your Pressure Pump Motor 12 volts, ????????[/QUOTE]


2300 PSI? That's above the limit for most membranes!

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by rosatte

Goodday I’m just in the process of buying a zen 30 I looked at a lot of water makers and think this is best bang for the buck plan on running it off 400 watts of solar and a wind generator I’ll let you know how I make out with it ..

I’ve just become aware of these WMs. They look very interesting, and their lower price (compared to other 12v options) makes them very attractive. I look forward to hearing how it goes.

What did you pay rosatte? And where did you source yours?