mixman
Senior Member
But you can get 14 - 16 gallons per hour from a 12 volt spectra unit.
Which model? I have a 150 (not installed) and specs say 6 GPH. 14-16 would be awesome of course.
But you can get 14 - 16 gallons per hour from a 12 volt spectra unit.
I agree with Larry and Retriever.
I too have the Kataydn 160 and love its simplicity.
Exactly why I don't want a low-power unit.the 235-watt solar panel with about a 300ah battery bank ran the 80e unit for hours per day
Exactly why I don't want a low-power unit.
Lose the wind.
Install the Spectra.
I don't see how you do it. We're a lot farther south and there's no way we can get by on solar and wind alone. We make a good solid 20 amps of 12 volt DC when the sun is strong and more or less overhead, but that isn't all the time nor consistent for days at a time. Quite honestly, without a genset, we would be in serious trouble, power wise and we don't even have 12 VDC refrigeration.I'm not anti-generator (both boats I own have them) nor am I on some sort of low budget. I've used the smaller water maker I have for years now and run it off solar most of the time. Parts for generators (and other mechanical items) aren't always that easy to come by, especially in the Bahamas. The sun there is strong enough that decent solar will easily make plenty of water per day with a 12v system. This may be more of a regional preference. It seems the 110v comments may be coming from people further north than I am. That would certainly make sense with the lower sun angle. For me, MD and south it just doesn't make sense to rack up hours on a generator for only making water when alternatives are available.
Why? Free power is free power (and selling used stuff isn't easy). I'm planning to upgrade to the quiet blades for it.
Why not both? Either in storage is a pain as it isn't easy to maintain a membrane that isn't hooked up.
I personally am very irritated by noise like that.
Sure redundant wm is great if you have space, then why ask?
We have electric cooking and we are a charter boat, so our genset runs 2 to 4 hours a day anyway. Therefore, we have 110 vAC fridge, etc. I have lived aboard since 1969, so a watermaker is a huge difference for me. I had to ration water for 40 odd years! Showering in public or marina showers is just not something I've ever liked. They are mostly grungy and no matter how clean they appear, they are just breeding grounds for tons of evil microbes.(how do you live without refrigeration or do you have 110v refrigeration? )..
We have electric cooking and we are a charter boat, so our genset runs 2 to 4 hours a day anyway. Therefore, we have 110 vAC fridge, etc.
I have lived aboard since 1969, so a watermaker is a huge difference for me. I had to ration water for 40 odd years! Showering in public or marina showers is just not something I've ever liked. They are mostly grungy and no matter how clean they appear, they are just breeding grounds for tons of evil microbes.
As far as other folks being bothered by my genset in an anchorage, that's not something I even care about. We can't hear our genset from anywhere except the back deck, so if someone anchored a couple of dozen meters away does, then the only thing they are hearing is the exhaust water spitting out and I don't see how that should bother anyone enough to cause a problem.
However, those noisy cheap a$$ windgens are about the most unpleasant thing in an anchorage for me and before I bought one, I asked all the boats with quiet ones which they used. Then I chose one that would be nearly silent, and it is. But generally speaking, other than the fact that when it does produce some usable power at night, it is barely worth the money. I estimate my average output at less than .3 of an amp. Today is the exception, as we've made 29 amps in about 9 hours, but it's been blowing a steady 15 with gusts to 32. Of course, our solar can do that in just 1.3 hours, as a comparison.
Absolutely.To be fair, some people are very annoyed by marine diesel generators running 24/7
To be fair, some people are very annoyed by marine diesel generators running 24/7. My goal is to not be one of those boats. I realize that is how some boats are set up, .
Me neither. I`m not sure all who complain they are "irritated" by a genset ever go boating, but for those who do, it`s not a huge imposition and it`s usually relatively brief..... I have no issues with firing up my genny in a cove/bay to start my "Mr. Coffee" in the morning
Well as stated some of us are set up as an electric boat. I have no issues with firing up my genny in a cove/bay to start my "Mr. Coffee" in the morning
Absolutely.
My design goal living off-grid is a few ICE sessions per week of a few hours, for all electricity, refrigeration and fresh-water needs.
That's why my choice is a high-gph unit.