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From: Philip (no email)
Date: Thu Aug 17 2006 - 15:26:12 EDT
At 01:32 PM 8/17/2006, Norm of Bandersnatch wrote:
>it is the only practical way to get drinking water from your flotation water.
>
>my Spectra, when it was working, put out about 8 gph and used about 10-15
>amps at 12 volts if i remember
>correctly. <mailto:>, on this list,
>did extensive cruising with his Spectra and had mostly good to say about
>it. perhaps he would give the list a summay of his experience.
>
>whether they are worth it or not depends on how else you can get your
>fresh water
> ***********
I bought one of the first units. Saw them at the Annapolis boat show after
placing an order with Village Marine, Went back and canceled the order and
never regretted it.
My spectra was always working, and that made all the difference. The low
power consumption of the Spectra was what sold me, in addition it is
extremely quiet running.
I could expect to consume 1 Ah / gallon. A very important consideration for
us. We took care of all our power needs with two 75 watt solar panels and,
as I am addicted to my lap top, like to play games and operate a ham radio
for hours in the evening, I did not want any thing that would put a crimp
in that. I am also loath to run the engine for any purpose. (used 40 gal of
diesel in one two year trip down the Island chain)
While I agree that the Spectra is expensive, I felt the cost justified
because i did not have to generate any additional power to run it. Smaller
batteries, no engine running to charge batteries and etc. My previous Water
maker was a Power Survivor. A was of time for me. Who wants to hang around
the boat listening to that thing groan out a gallon an hour? Not me.
Maintenance was a serious issue with that unit too. Over hauls every 100
gallons. I hear that they have improved, but power consumption is still
high IM(not so )HO.
Maintenance was minimal for the Spectra because I ran it every other day
for an hour and a half. I also used it to purify water from the tap while
hauled out in Puerto Cortez in Honduras.
Low to no usage, like running it once a week in the tropics, is when the
maintenance, or lack there of, makes any RO unit expensive. It does not
show up for a while, but it does not take long to screw up the membrane.
Any membrane.
Installation is the key to good maintenance. Set yours up so back flushing
is easy, and pickling is simple. Do this and you will eliminate most
problems. I carried spares, but never had to use them. I screwed up one
membrane (my fault), but Spectra shipped one down to me at no charge.
Of course things change. YMMV
Philip
Philip & Marilyn Lange
AE4OV & KD4JRC,
ORYOKI
Witness 35 Catamaran
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