Water Makers

[MV Cricket]

I bought a SWP last year for our trip to the Bahamas. It was relatively easy to install as worked well. Looking forward to using it again this winter in the Bahamas.

The unit was bought from a person who never installed it. Mike at SWP treated me like a customer who just bought new from him. Can’t say enough about the product support.

We have a single membrane model which makes about 17 gallons/hour. I had planned to add a second membrane this summer but my solar upgrade and the lithium changeover took up all my time. The good part is that I can now run the water maker on the inverter.

Rob

I am considering the AC 970 watts 20 GPH SeaWater Pro. I believe that is the same that you have because you mention the inverter.
If I my ask, what model inverter are you using and, on average, how long do you run the WM?
My plan would be to run the WM off my 2000 watt Victron Multiplus. It is definitely rated high enough but I don't want it struggle with long run times and possibly overheat. The Multiplus is located in a fairly well ventilated spot so...

I am just throwing this out there but when I put in my delivery address (Seattle), the shipping price came up but no sales tax. I am one click away and am surprised that I might not have to pay Washington State their 10.5 sales tax.
A little Googling taught me that if a Florida company doesn't have an Economic Nexus over $100,000 in the purchaser's state, they don't have to do the sales tax. Being the internet, I am suspicious but hopeful.
Thanks for reading!

 

[Frosty]

This isn't tax advice, but just FYI when you don't pay sales tax on something like that (i.e. the out of state merchant doesn't charge you for it), I believe you are technically supposed to include it in your yearly tax info. (I don't live in Washington, but I think this is typical.)

 

[MV Cricket]

This isn't tax advice, but just FYI when you don't pay sales tax on something like that (i.e. the out of state merchant doesn't charge you for it), I believe you are technically supposed to include it in your yearly tax info. (I don't live in Washington, but I think this is typical.)

Most likely. Washington State is especially fond of their income.
I just haven't ever (since the laws changed) had this happen. Every time I have paid the sales tax automatically. Every time.

 

[Datenight]

I am considering the AC 970 watts 20 GPH SeaWater Pro. I believe that is the same that you have because you mention the inverter.
If I my ask, what model inverter are you using and, on average, how long do you run the WM?
My plan would be to run the WM off my 2000 watt Victron Multiplus. It is definitely rated high enough but I don't want it struggle with long run times and possibly overheat. The Multiplus is located in a fairly well ventilated spot so...

Cricket,
Last year we ran it on the generator as that is how it was set up and my batteries were weak. This year I have gone to Lifopo4 batteries. The bank is 1,120 amps. Also up graded the solar from 600 to 1,980 watts. The inverter is a new 3,000 watt Victron. We will see how it works

I generally ran the water maker when we were traveling or when we went out to lobster. Usually tried to do at least four hours to get a good bump in the supply. The machine was flawless.

Rob

 

[Jklotz]

Cricket,
Last year we ran it on the generator as that is how it was set up and my batteries were weak. This year I have gone to Lifopo4 batteries. The bank is 1,120 amps. Also up graded the solar from 600 to 1,980 watts. The inverter is a new 3,000 watt Victron. We will see how it works

I generally ran the water maker when we were traveling or when we went out to lobster. Usually tried to do at least four hours to get a good bump in the supply. The machine was flawless.

Rob

This is good info for me. Thanks for posting.

 

[MV Cricket]

Thank you Rob. Great info. Thanks for replying.

 

[SteveK]

I am considering the AC 970 watts 20 GPH SeaWater Pro. I believe that is the same that you have because you mention the inverter.

Sea Water made the final cut. So far, still on back burner.

When I saw 20 GPH which is what I was going for, a suggestion was made to get the 40 GPH version. It claims the same power draw and makes twice the amount per hour so shorter inverter time.

 

[slowgoesit]

Steve, our experience is not quite twice the product water, as the "source" water going into the second membrane has a higher brine content, but probably around 90% the output of the first membrane. Our SeawaterPro, 40 gph WM, over the last 4 years, and over 10,000 gallons of water produced averaged right around 30 gph, but we operate it in the middle of the green range of high pressure. If we bump it up to the high end of the green, we'd see about 35 gph. Just our experience.

 

[Datenight]

I run ours at about 800 psi. The flow meter shows about 17gallons/ hour. Single membrane.

Rob

 

[SteveK]

I run ours at about 800 psi. The flow meter shows about 17gallons/ hour. Single membrane.

Rob

So, then twice 17 with the 40 is 34GPH, or ~35.

 

[MV Cricket]

I had (well, still have it in storage) an old engine driven Aquamarine watermaker (Friday Harbor, WA or was it Deer Harbor?) that came with my old boat. Rebuilt the HP pump back in 2012 and new membrane. The flywheel was not sized correctly though. We motored at 2400 RPM but the WM would pop off at that RPM so we motored at 1500 RPM while making water.
Rated at 24 GPH, which I doubted. Had one 40" membrane only.
In Mexico, we were making around 16-17 GPH. Once back in Washington State, with the much colder water, I remember seeing around 20 GPH. I might be a little off but not by much.
I might pull the flywheel clutch off the Aquamarine's water maker high pressure pump and see about mating that pump to an electrical motor.
I know Aquamarine used off the shelf components so once I get the model number of my pump, I should be able to figure what motor to mate to it.
But buying new and shiny is very appealing. Other than paying for it.
If new, I am still pondering DC vs AC motor. SWP's DC version is $500 more.
It would be about 20 foot run of cables from the batteries to the motor. With all the built in resistance of lugs and fuses, I am looking at running 1 AWG run. Maybe 2 AWG.
But it would be less draw (50 vs 80) and no loss from the inverter.