DIY single person, portable, solar water purifier

beast

.
Apr 5, 2013
27
Bristol 24 home
the way things go its not unexpected to run out of good clean water while out to sea
and we all know its just not easy to get a refill right away.
so i put my brain to work on a simple solution.

i came up with the idea a while ago, took me a while to figure out the cheapest

and easiest way to make one so that anybody could do it.
i wanted something simple, easy to tote along, something you didnt need a shop
to make
also would like it so its easy to fill and get the water out of. and easy to

clean up after you use it.
then too id like something i could hang from a jib, mast or a yardarm
something that wont spill easy and recontaminate the clean water

first idea was a pair of 2 liter pepsi bottles and a soup can, it works..

kinda.. but its too light and flimsy, blows around even filled.
also takes a few tools you wont have handy in your pocket... not good in SHTF
so back to the think tank i went...

i was looking at an old glass mayonaise jar, those ones with the largemouth

opening
relic from when i was a kid, im not sure if they make them any more, but i have

a few.
and i got to thinking...what if you took 2 of these, glued the lids together,

top to top,
drilled or melted drainholes thru them
screwed the bottom jar into its lid
set an empty beer, soda or soup can in the center of the upper lid
(the one thats opening is facing up)
fill the can with any water you can find
and then carefully screwed the top jar into its lid
you set it someplace out in the sun and let the sunshine do the rest
water evaporates from can
condenses on inside of upper jar
runs down sides and thru holes in lids
collects in bottom jar
when can is empty, you remove top jar and refill can
or you can remove bottom jar and have a drink
by adding a mesh bag or some type of macrane hanger, you can hang this
setup anywhere the sunshines. then its out of the way and safe
as it makes you a steady supply of clean, distilled drinking water

this distills the water so you can put just about anywater in and it comes
out drinkable, you could piss in it if thats all you got...

mine is hanging out on my porch right now, waiting to see how fast it will work
let me know how yours turn out
i used the old widemouth glass miracle whip jars cuz i had them
have fun :)
 

BayMan

.
Sep 12, 2012
203
Hunter 450 Unspecified
the way things go its not unexpected to run out of good clean water while out to sea
and we all know its just not easy to get a refill right away.
so i put my brain to work on a simple solution.

i came up with the idea a while ago, took me a while to figure out the cheapest

and easiest way to make one so that anybody could do it.
i wanted something simple, easy to tote along, something you didnt need a shop
to make
also would like it so its easy to fill and get the water out of. and easy to

clean up after you use it.
then too id like something i could hang from a jib, mast or a yardarm
something that wont spill easy and recontaminate the clean water

first idea was a pair of 2 liter pepsi bottles and a soup can, it works..

kinda.. but its too light and flimsy, blows around even filled.
also takes a few tools you wont have handy in your pocket... not good in SHTF
so back to the think tank i went...

i was looking at an old glass mayonaise jar, those ones with the largemouth

opening
relic from when i was a kid, im not sure if they make them any more, but i have

a few.
and i got to thinking...what if you took 2 of these, glued the lids together,

top to top,
drilled or melted drainholes thru them
screwed the bottom jar into its lid
set an empty beer, soda or soup can in the center of the upper lid
(the one thats opening is facing up)
fill the can with any water you can find
and then carefully screwed the top jar into its lid
you set it someplace out in the sun and let the sunshine do the rest
water evaporates from can
condenses on inside of upper jar
runs down sides and thru holes in lids
collects in bottom jar
when can is empty, you remove top jar and refill can
or you can remove bottom jar and have a drink
by adding a mesh bag or some type of macrane hanger, you can hang this
setup anywhere the sunshines. then its out of the way and safe
as it makes you a steady supply of clean, distilled drinking water

this distills the water so you can put just about anywater in and it comes
out drinkable, you could piss in it if thats all you got...

mine is hanging out on my porch right now, waiting to see how fast it will work
let me know how yours turn out
i used the old widemouth glass miracle whip jars cuz i had them
have fun :)
How long to distill a can of water?
 

beast

.
Apr 5, 2013
27
Bristol 24 home
just made it today so im not sure, with good sunlight i imagine it shouldnt take more than a day, ill let you know when i find out
 

caguy

.
Sep 22, 2006
4,004
Catalina, Luger C-27, Adventure 30 Marina del Rey
The challenge would be to look around your boat and make one from what you have on hand. Just don't burn your raft down.
 

beast

.
Apr 5, 2013
27
Bristol 24 home
today it was a dull dreary day, just enuff sun to say it was light out
temp rarely got over 50
but i got 1/4 cup of water out of my little solar still :p
id say it did pretty good
 
Feb 20, 2011
7,992
Island Packet 35 Tucson, AZ/San Carlos, MX
today it was a dull dreary day, just enuff sun to say it was light out
temp rarely got over 50
but i got 1/4 cup of water out of my little solar still :p
id say it did pretty good
Did you drink it? ;)
 

beast

.
Apr 5, 2013
27
Bristol 24 home
no, i left it set to see how long it will take to get a full cup
 

BayMan

.
Sep 12, 2012
203
Hunter 450 Unspecified
today it was a dull dreary day, just enuff sun to say it was light out
temp rarely got over 50
but i got 1/4 cup of water out of my little solar still :p
id say it did pretty good
Let us know what it does on a sunny day and how it tastes. What is left in the can that held the 'before' water? Fancy Sea Salt for the table?
 
Feb 8, 2014
1,300
Columbia 36 Muskegon
You have described a solar still. They put them in life rafts, but those are inflatable plastic and a couple of feet in diameter. They're pretty slow, I think it would take a really long time with a mason jar.