Watermaker 12 volt or 110 volt. Pro and Con

[murrayabbott]

Hi

I am getting a water maker installed.

Just reviewing options and I see 12 volt models and 110 volt.

What are the pro's and con's of each.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Do you have 110 V on your boat when you're at anchor? Or when motoring?

 

[Joe]

I'm thinking the 110 V units are for larger yachts, power or sail, with separate gensets and household type current throughout the boat....but.... heck....if it was me I'd call the watermaker company and get their input... those thing ain't cheap so you should get a little professional counseling for your investment.

 

[JK_Boston_Catalina310]

There is also a substantial difference in how much water they can make. So what is your intended use?

I think that Parker/Racor makes units that are both.

Also, if you go 12V, it is unlikely you will be able to generate enough power to recharge your batteries without significant solar panels and wind generators.

 

[seadaddler]

Ask More

I would ask more of other boaters here and other sailing forums,but I would think 12 volt would be better only because than know matter what you can run it.
You don't say if you have a Genset and if so maybe than maybe 110 would be a good idea,but input from others who have them sailors would be a very good idea and running the gen and water maker at same time while charging batteries and AC all at the same time should be OK.
I run my 4200 FP and I can run AC charge batteries and my 1 freezer and 1 Ref and TV and charge phones.
Try some other sailing forums before deciding.
Nick

 

[Sailvayu]

A few things to consider as this is a major purchase you should take your time to really think about how and where you will be using it.
12 volt units are quieter and will be a good option if you have good solar and wind charging capabilities. They will not make as much water as fast but if you can run them for several hours a day a good option. This would be a good pick if you plan to do a lot of sailing and anchoring out.
120 VAC units are a bit noisier but will make more water faster. This is a good option if you have a generator but I am not sure they will work well off an inverter. You would need a good sized inverter and it would drain the batteries quickly. If you have a large battery bank and a high output alternator this could be an option. The 120 VAC motors are more common so repair in far off ports might be easier with a motor issue. Also because they are faster you do not have to spend as much time on the boat monitoring the water maker as it runs, so more time for snorkeling.
A third option you did not mention is a engine drive unit. These can be run off the main engine or generator. This is a good option if you think you will be doing a fair amount of motoring or need to run your engine often for battery charging. Engine drive units can have a high output like the 120 VAC units so do not need to be run as long.
Hope that gives you some to think about. Consider your use and be realistic about how and where you plan to sail. Good luck

Capt. Wayne Canning, AMS
www.projectboatzen.com

 

[Stu Jackson]

A friend cruised from BC to Mexico and reported this:

The watermaker was a great investment. I've seen the other side - people buying their water in 5 gallon jugs and trying to sneak in a little shampoo as they steal a beachside shower from a resort. It doesn't look like fun. We love the watermaker.
Capacity is important. The cheaper low volume Katadyne units have to run forever to make enough water. Something in the 150 gpd range is much better. We have a Spectra unit.

The trick is to find the sweet spot in power consumption vs water output.

 

[RichH]

I make the assumption that your 120v is coming from an independent gen-set .....

The 120v will have strategic pros as it will require a smaller frame high pressure pump motor due to the higher 'power/energy' available from 120vac and for repair/replacement you'll have an infinitely larger choice of mfgrs. from which to choose for any replacement pump motor. 120v will also allow the use of much thinner gage lead and connection wire ... a strategic cost consideration with respect to todays price of copper if the gen-set is far remote from the pump motor.

The con with 120v is the absolute requirement of a gen-set or 'hefty' inverter (plus increased capacity battery bank) with significant power loss from inversion losses.
If you have an engine-integral gen-set (Yanmar, etc) youll have to run the engine to generate ... so no real advantage with an engine *integral* gen-set.

12vdc will require a quite expensive 'continuous duty' pump motor and will due to lower 'power available' from 12v. will be larger and will have a lot more energy losses ....; but, you can run such direct from a 12v battery bank system if and WHEN the gen-set or inverter fails.

Simple case of Nichola Tesla's Alternating Current electrical system is and remains vastly more efficient than Thomas Edison's DC system. 10 times the amps required for 12v DC in comparison to 120v AC to do the exact same power/job requirement.

The 120v adds complexity but should consume much less 'power' over all. The 12vdc is more 'versatile' with respect to a 'power availability' source .... gen-set + inverter or direct feed from a (large) battery bank.

IMO - The least power demand, least energy loss, and least complex and easiest to maintain still remains a direct engine run (power take off) straight mechanical high pressure pump system.

 

[Bill Roosa]

Where are you sailing? you may be able to shrink your water making requirement by collecting rain water.
FWIW