Comments on: Building a watermaker

By: Alex

Alex — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 00:54:36 +0000

We are at a dock on Isla soledid Miria getting water. We just me the chief and presented him with a chartbook of all Panama water including San Blas. He then invited us to a closed party tonight. A Kuna girl is turning 15, and it's a big deal.

So I guess it's a party night. Check out our current position and look at a satellite photo of this little island. There are over 1000 kuna living here.

Peace.

By: Kerry Mettert

Kerry Mettert — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 00:11:01 +0000

Alex, The Bumfuzzles are in San Blas in the event you want to look them up.

By: Alex

Alex — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 21:44:50 +0000

I bought it at Applied membranes but I would not recommend them. They charged me $200 for two flair fitting that cost $1.50 off the shelf of a hardware store. I had to fight them for a refund. But the Spectra high pressure vessel and Dow membrane I got are really nice.

By: CPT. G

CPT. G — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 21:31:28 +0000

chuck check ebay

By: chuck

chuck — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 07:00:00 +0000

Where did u get the membrane?

By: Alex

Alex — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 19:18:35 +0000

Chuck,

110, 220, or engine driven are the only real options. 12v is for the birds and I'll have both engine and 110 options.

I'm more than happy to pay for the water. In the future I'll add another membrane and produce around 40 GPH.

Cheers

By: chuck

chuck — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 16:44:55 +0000

Did a little research, You’ll have 2 turn 1800rpm for the pump 2 put out the required press. I like the idea of running the pump from the main but it wont be cheap!

By: Alex

Alex — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 14:29:39 +0000

Sharnie,

I don't know about all that but the cat pump will be adding a load in the opposite direction of the alternator load, so I would have to say it will add more balance to the engines fly wheel? We'll see :)

By: Sharne

Sharne — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 06:46:34 +0000

Hi Alex,
What revs will you spin the pump at and what flow rate will that produce?
How does this compare with the original electric motor and what percentage of the total flow is the product water? Will the mounting of the pump seperate from the engine cause problems with the lateral loads on the engine mounts and will the seperate mounting of the pump introduce additional loads on the pump shaft from the engine vibrations?

Regards
Sharne

By: Alex

Alex — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 18:20:04 +0000

Paul,

Nothing wrong with clean deck water as long as you can find rain :) we have a UV sterilizing filter on a special tap for drinking water and obviously a sediment filter. I'm looking for another watermaker online for spare parts (gauges, flow meters, needle valve, controler, and hi/low pressure switches). I have a very good knowledge of watermakers now, it's always nice to have a new skill :)

Gary,
The manifold is brass with stainless internal parts. It was intended for saltwater use by sea recovery and looks like new inside aside from the rusted stainless parts which I have bought a rebuild kit for and will replace them all before I put the cat pump in use.