TESTIMONIALS
SOLICITED EMAIL ON PERFORMANCE OF 240 DML WATERMAKER & POWER USAGE - SOLAR PANELS ENOUGH FOR ALL NEEDS - July 2011
"When I run the water maker I am using about 25 amps (2.3 amps/gal.) ... "
From: Will [mailto:will@imanse.ca]
Sent: July-01-11 12:42 PM
To: 'Will Curry'
Subject: RE: Follow up on Water Maker Membrane.
Hi Will
I run 6- 50 watt panels on an arch so they get good sun. They give me 15 amps plus for about 4 to 5 hours most days, with a daily total of about 90 to 100 amp hours. When I run the water maker I am using about 25 amps (2.3 amps/gal.) for about 3 hours every other day for a total of about 75 amp hours. Currently it is almost 2 o’clock in the afternoon, and we are charging at 16 amps. It should keep that up till about 3:30 or so when it usually starts tapering off. My panels are flat mounted but with the performance I am getting I am not even worried about trying to articulate them.
About the only other system that takes a bit of power is the refrigerator, but since it is a Frigoboat system it only runs about 10 to 12 minutes an hour at about 3 amps. So that only works out to about 15 amp hours a day. All my lights are LED so they do not even count.
We always seem to have lots of power left over, to such an extent that my wife will even run the bread maker off the inverter. Except in very cloudy conditions, we have never run out of power.
We do not skimp on water at all and even have showers every day. When we are swimming we also do a rinse off each time. This has been working out to about 15 gallons a day average, but we have done periods of as high as 20.
Hope this info helps.
Will
UNSOLICITED EMAIL RECEIVED OCTOBER 2008
"Four years in which we slowly sailed the Pacific, often staying in remote and uninhabited anchorages, as long as we want, without any concern in areas where the only drinkable liquid comes from coconuts."
"....... shower two times a day turned from luxury into normal."
From: sylovina@hotmail.com
To: info@echo-marine.com
Subject: Unser Watermaker
Subject: Unser Watermaker
Dear Michael,
When we left Sweden in 2002, we hade no watermaker and could not see any reason to install one as our boat has a freshwater tank of almost 600 liters which was sufficient during our Atlantic passage. Still, there where always concerns about the quality and saving water becomes a major concern.
Also we recognized while traveling towards the Tropics that it becomes more and more difficult to obtain a fair amount of good water as our consumption raised. The decision to install a Watermaker was easily made when we reached Trinidad. We choose the model 500-AML-1 that produces 80 liters/hour, while running on our 220 Volt genset. Doing the installation ourselves was simple and made us familiar with every item involved.
Our live on Board changed a lot; not only did we get all quality drinking water we need but having a shower two times a day turned from luxury into normal. Dishwashing was no longer a salty issue and we also started to flush our head with fresh water which saved a lot of unpleasant maintenance in the future. During the four years cruising we had no trouble with your system. Four years in which we slowly sailed the Pacific, often staying in remote and uninhabited anchorages, as long as we want, without any concern in areas where the only drinkable liquid comes from coconuts.
Our freshwater production is still as high as 80-100 liters/hour and we hope that our membrane element will last for some more years.
Kind regards,
Kind regards,
Peter and Ulla Lütze on SY”LOVINA” in Singapore
"....still performs perfectly."
In November 2005, we sailed to Trinidad to have a watermaker fitted. This reverse osmosis unit is made by a local firm Echotec. It is a very simple type with no electronic controls and produces about 10.4 US gallons per hour from 12 volt power.. To date (June 2006), it has run flawlessly and has substantially improved our comfort onboard.
Update June 2007 - The watermaker still performs perfectly. We have learnt that the filters need changing more frequently than recommended but they are so cheap that this is not a problem.
Update June 2007 - The watermaker still performs perfectly. We have learnt that the filters need changing more frequently than recommended but they are so cheap that this is not a problem.
Self Steering - Our Hydrovane performed faultlessly and provided helming in almost any conditions including the light downwind airs experienced in the Atlantic in November. The only time "Helga" needed some help was in 60 knot winds in the West-east Atlantic crossing. I cannot recommend highly enough www.hydrovane.com/
Graham's HALLBERG RASSY 40 - Finishing the ARC
" ....best Product, best service, best prices ..."
From: Hanspeter Wehrli [mailto:hns154es@yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2006 3:44 PM
To: John Curry
Subject: Re: Request for reference re Echo Tech water maker
"We are very pleased ....."
From: Paul von Wiese [mailto:paulvonwiese@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, February 09, 2006 10:57 AM
To: John Curry
Subject: Re: Request for reference re Echo Tech water maker
From: Hanspeter Wehrli [mailto:hns154es@yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2006 3:44 PM
To: John Curry
Subject: Re: Request for reference re Echo Tech water maker
Hi John
In a few words: best Product, best service, best prices ...
We let the watermaker deliver from Trinidad to Panama, installed it our self and it works perfectly.
Good luck
Hanspeter & Nathalie
SY "NatHape"
S/Y 'Nathape' an AMEL SUPER MARAMU 52
"We are very pleased ....."
From: Paul von Wiese [mailto:paulvonwiese@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, February 09, 2006 10:57 AM
To: John Curry
Subject: Re: Request for reference re Echo Tech water maker
Dear John,
Thanks for your enquiry, I installed an Echo Marine watermaker in Octber 2005 and it has supplied all our drinking, laundry and washing requirements since.
We are very pleased with it and have not had to change any filters or other consumables since purchasing.
On an entirely different note, I have an Aries windvane which is a nuisance due to lines interfering with deck space on my 43 foot central cockpit sloop. What are the chances of a used or rebuilt Hydrovane becoming available?
"...have manufactured 8 gallons of water from seawater every second day since then..."
From: corbetl@nbnet.nb.ca [mailto:corbetl@nbnet.nb.ca]
Sent: Saturday, February 18, 2006 9:43 AM
To: John Curry
Subject: Re: Request for reference re Echo Tech water maker
Sent: Saturday, February 18, 2006 9:43 AM
To: John Curry
Subject: Re: Request for reference re Echo Tech water maker
Dear John:
We purchased a 20 amp, 8gpm unit from Echotech and, with the assistance of an Echo Tech technician, installed it ourselves into our 35' catamaran in November of 2005. We have manufactured 8 gallons of water from seawater every second day since then, and have backwashed the system with fresh water each time. Although there are times when the TDS gets close to 450 ppm, it usually hovers around 380. We have not done any other maintenance to the system as yet. All I can say is "So far, so good."
As for the company, they appear to be knowledgeable, professional, forward-thinking, and only likely to go out of business if they outreach their capability. That opinion is of course a bit of a reach for someone who only did one piece of business with them.
I hope this is of some use for you.
Laurie Corbett, M.Eng., P.Eng.,
Captain, Cat Tales,
Presently in Antigua
"...product is excellent and their back-up, on the rare occasions it is required, is prompt and efficient.."
From: Peter Colman [mailto:yachtmendana@fastmail.com.au]
Sent: Thursday, March 02, 2006 3:23 PM
To: John Curry
Subject: Re: FW: Echo tech watermaker - Due Diligence
From: Peter Colman [mailto:yachtmendana@fastmail.com.au]
Sent: Thursday, March 02, 2006 3:23 PM
To: John Curry
Subject: Re: FW: Echo tech watermaker - Due Diligence
Dear John,
I'm sorry it has taken me so long to reply. I was out of touch, cruising Tasmania's south west. I know of no reason why you should not do business with Echo Tech. All my dealings with them have gone very smoothly. The product is excellent and their back-up, on the rare occasions it is required, is prompt and efficient.
Regards
Peter Colman
"Given the choice I shall never sail without one."
"...without exception we are all very happy with our water-makers and the excellent and prompt back-up you have given us."
From: <M0JRK@Winlink.org>
To: <info@echo-marine.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 07, 2006 8:49 PM
Subject: Thanks from Bluesipp
Having recently passed Captain Cook's "Thirsty Sound" inside Australia's Great Barrier Reef it seemed a good time to send a note thanking you for my excellent water maker. Given the choice I shall never sail without one.
There are surprisingly many boats with your equipment on board and without exception we are all very happy with our water-makers and the excellent and prompt back-up you have given us.
Carl Bernhardt
S/V My Dream
John Van Logchem
Very best wishes
John Kirkus
s/y Bluesipp
John Kirkus
s/y Bluesipp
"....the unit has performed faultlessly."
From: Alba@zap-email.com
Subject: Echo Tec. Watermaker
Hi Guys, Since you installed the AC driven 900-AML-2 in February 2002 the unit has performed faultlessly.
The indicated minimum output of 38 gallons per hour at 800-850psi is conservative and in fact production in my installation is around 40 gph at only 800 psi. So far the statistics are very impressive: 350 running hours without problems (except for an easily remedied small leak) and a production of 14000 gallons of very good water.
I think one of the reasons for the success of your water-maker is the sturdy and simple approach to design and manufacture, something at times lacking in some of the fancier, less successful and more expensive alternatives. I couldn't have have made a better choice and now we have all the water we need.
In the last 4 months I took in water in a marina only twice and that was because we couldn't run the watermaker in polluted marina water. I find the combination genset/watermaker very well matched: the diesel engine of the genset (a fischer-Panda 6.5) needs a bigger load than just charging batteries and this is supplied by the requirements of the watermaker, and the watermaker itself likes to run frequently. Running the genset one hour every day (with a little help from the wind generator) charges the batteries to run the fridge, freezer, lights and so on and produces 40 gallons of water.
I have recommended ECHO Tec. to many cruising friends and would not hesitate to do so again to anyone interested in a reliable, efficient and economical watermaker made by an established company that in addition offers a comprehensive and helpful after sales service.
Sergio Mauri
Hallberg- Rassy 42" Alba"
"....could not ask for a more dependable piece of gear on the boat."
From: kg4yen@winlink.org
To: echotec@echo-marine.com
Subject: ECHO Tec. Watermaker
To: echotec@echo-marine.com
Subject: ECHO Tec. Watermaker
In 2000 we purchased an Echo Tec. AC Watermaker from you and could not ask for a more dependable piece of gear on the boat. I have not kept track of how much water we have produced, but would guess it is around 10 to 15 thousand gallons. After four years I had to replace the high pressure seals in the pump but other than this the recommended regular maintenance has been sufficient to upkeep a highly productive desalination system.
Water making with the 500AML-1 is so easy, we wash down the boat after long passages, shower, do laundry on the boat, and always have full water tanks.
Throughout our travels through the Caribbean, we have been proud to recommend Echo Tec. Watermakers . We'd also like to thank you for a superb product well used and appreciated.
Best regards,
Carl Bernhardt
S/V My Dream
"The end result is a very neat and well functioning installation that has no trouble to produce the specified amount of fresh water and is easy to operate and maintain."
(Queen of Hearts is a Swan 47, designed by S&S and built in 1977; cruising Europe, Brazil, Carib, USA, since 1996; normally there are 2 persons on board).
In 2003 we replaced our PUR80 that was producing 12,5 liters of water per hour by the ECHO Tec. 900-BML-2, producing 143 liters per hour.
The PUR used 8 amps at 12 volts. The ECHO Tec. runs directly of the engine and so dc power consumption is both negligeable (only the electro-magnetic coupling takes some dc power) and irrelevant.
The reason for choosing a belt driven unit on our main engine (55 hp Yanmar) is that we don't have a separate generator and a DC water maker that produces a fairish quantity of water (say over 100 liters at a time) requires too many amp.hours. (i.e. so that usually the engine or a generator must be run).
Furthermore we have to run our engine anyway for 2 hours every 4-5 days in order to assist the solar panels in keeping the batteries charged.
We run both a fridge and a freezer and use about 130-140Ah per day. Our solar panels generate about 80-100Ah/day.
Our total (gel) battery capacity is 570Ah at 12.6volts. Our total alternator (charging) capacity is 260 amps. Our solar panels are 8 x 30 watts Solarex, horizontal.
So essentially we make use of the unavoidable battery charging every 4-5 days to produce about 300 liters of fresh water at the same time.
The reason for choosing an ECHO Tec. water maker is the well thought-out simplicity of the system, the rugged components that are used and the availability on site of knowledgeable technicians, along with a competitive price.
For our installation Echo Marine only manufactured and installed the mounting bracket required for the high pressure pump. In the way of assistance Echo provided the installation guidelines and advice and did the supervision and the commissioning.
In our installation we are only using 1 pre-filter, without a booster pump for the feed water. A second filter with a carbon filter element is used for flushing the system with fresh water after every production cycle. The flushing takes about 5 minutes (including the back flushing of the pre-filter) and is quite simple to carry out.
The installation proved to be straight forward and the services rendered by Echo's management and technical staff were excellent.
The end result is a very neat and well functioning installation that has no trouble to produce the specified amount of fresh water and is easy to operate and maintain.
John Van Logchem
s/y "Queen of Hearts"
"The capital cost of my desalination plant was completely 'paid for' by the non-purchase of shipped water in the first 9 month period only."
Subject: 4 1/2 Years Experience with an ECHO Tec. Beach House Watermaker
When I purchased land and run-down buildings on Gasparee Island, Trinidad in 2001, I realised immediately that I would need a regular supply of inexpensive clean water. Of a number of options considered I chose an ECHO Tec. 900-BHL-2 Reverse Osmosis Desalination system wich I recently upgraded to the system 1200-BHL-3. The engineering standards impressed me, as I am a qualified chartered engineer. I was specifically looking for a reliable operating unit that would optimise the life cycle, or lifetime costs.
I calculated the cost of water from all other available sources neglecting the chance of collecting rainwater, which is quite small on the island, particularly in the dry season. I amortised the capital cost over a period of 10 years, taking into account daily running costs and preventive and corrective maintenance costs. The resulting calculations indicated that the system would meet my requirement to provide precious water for human consumption, household and building needs.
The installation needed a strong sea-water feed pump in order to overcome the 40 feet height from the sea and restrictions of the sand and cartridge pre-filter. The rocky coast made it impossible to locate the entire plant close to the sea level. A small pump house was built as near to the sea as practicable. The seawater is supplied via a sandfilter to the standard factory fabricated desalination plant, which includes the pre filter, the high-pressure pump, the RO membranes and the control unit.
I have used the system for more than four years for between 10 and 24 hrs per day to supply water for normal household and building needs and finally a 15000sq. ft. garden maintenance with lawns, fruit trees and vegetable garden. My average fresh water production is 700 gallons per day, for a total of over 1 million gallons to date.
The system has been very reliable. Careful attention to the regular oil change, (for the high pressure pump), normal consumable replacement at intervals, e.g. cartridge filters and RO membranes, is all that is required to maintain a high quality of product water.
The capital cost of my desalination plant was completely 'paid for' by the non-purchase of shipped water in the first 9 month period only. There are now many others on the Island whom have taken my initiative. Access to seawater is essential of course and only owing land too far from the sea has prevented some homeowners from taking advantage of this exciting and economical supply of clean water on command.
Colin Schofield
I calculated the cost of water from all other available sources neglecting the chance of collecting rainwater, which is quite small on the island, particularly in the dry season. I amortised the capital cost over a period of 10 years, taking into account daily running costs and preventive and corrective maintenance costs. The resulting calculations indicated that the system would meet my requirement to provide precious water for human consumption, household and building needs.
The installation needed a strong sea-water feed pump in order to overcome the 40 feet height from the sea and restrictions of the sand and cartridge pre-filter. The rocky coast made it impossible to locate the entire plant close to the sea level. A small pump house was built as near to the sea as practicable. The seawater is supplied via a sandfilter to the standard factory fabricated desalination plant, which includes the pre filter, the high-pressure pump, the RO membranes and the control unit.
I have used the system for more than four years for between 10 and 24 hrs per day to supply water for normal household and building needs and finally a 15000sq. ft. garden maintenance with lawns, fruit trees and vegetable garden. My average fresh water production is 700 gallons per day, for a total of over 1 million gallons to date.
The system has been very reliable. Careful attention to the regular oil change, (for the high pressure pump), normal consumable replacement at intervals, e.g. cartridge filters and RO membranes, is all that is required to maintain a high quality of product water.
The capital cost of my desalination plant was completely 'paid for' by the non-purchase of shipped water in the first 9 month period only. There are now many others on the Island whom have taken my initiative. Access to seawater is essential of course and only owing land too far from the sea has prevented some homeowners from taking advantage of this exciting and economical supply of clean water on command.
Colin Schofield
Gasparee Island, Trinidad