I must start with a little gloat to put this in perspective. For the
past year I have been scrounging parts for an engine driven 40 gph
watermaker. So far I have a stainless Cat 241 pump, electric clutch,
over/underspeed switch, two new 40" membranes and pressure vessels,
supply and product flow meters, diverter solenoids, pressure switch,
digital pressure gauge and all the hoses, pre filters and fittings.
Total investment to date is $1,256.40

There is just one snag. The last part I need is the stainless steel
back pressure regulator to maintain a constant 800 psi in the membranes.
These things must be pretty rare because I have not been able to
scrounge one and the cheapest one I can find costs SIX HUNDRED
DOLLARS!!! That would be 30% of the total cost in one valve. Surely
there is another solution.

If any of you have an engine driven watermaker, would you please take a
look at your regulator and let me know what it says on the label?

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

Glenn-Have you tried Village Marine Tech...theirs is a fairly simple bp
reg....I can't imagine it being more than $150..

Regards-
Charlie

Thanks I will check it out. I did find a CAT 7070 stainless BP
regulator for $220.00.

Charlie J wrote:
Glenn-Have you tried Village Marine Tech...theirs is a fairly simple bp
reg....I can't imagine it being more than $150..

Regards-
Charlie




--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

I've just looked for the article I read when I was deciding on whether
to put a steam distiller or osmosis system into my house. I chose
steam distillation.

The article was NOT published by either camp of zealot salesman trying
to make the other guy's system look bad. It came from a medical
university. Sorry it's gone......

But, the gist of what I read about osmosis turned me off. The start
out just great on their $150 membranes, but they deteriorate rapidly
into 80% filter. What was the MOST disturbing was a medical report I
read about bacterial breakdown at the membrane.....

The membrane blocks bacteria, all of it or nearly all of it. However,
the bacteria piled up against the membrane are bombarded by the stuff
the membrane is filtering and soon BREAK UP into their TOXINS whos
molecules are SMALLER than the water molecules.....and pass THROUGH
the membrane into your side. This is bad, really bad.

It scared me away from osmosis, the holy grail of water filter plants.
It just makes sense.

My system here makes 12 gallons a day on 1200 watts of electricity.
There is a carbon prefilter to pull the organic chemicals out of the
water prior to the boiler, then another carbon post-filter on top of
my collection tanks to trap the benzene and the like out of the
condensed water that usually gives distilled water that metallic
taste. What comes out is really delicious and has a VERY high
resistance in the multigigohm range at 10KVDC, one of the best tests
of purity. Costs about 30c/gallon to make and there is little
recurring costs like expensive, hightech membranes, backflushing and
maintenance. My unit is porcelain and easily comes apart. Just a
flush to get the scale out that's flaked off the stainless element and
she's ready for more......



Larry W4CSC

"No, NO, Mr Spock! I said beam me down a WRENCH,
not a WENCH! KIRK OUT!"

Larry,

But you are not distilling from sea water are you? I suspect
that you'd have significantly more "scale" if you filled it up
with sea water and fired it up.

Don W.

Larry wrote:
snip

My system here makes 12 gallons a day on 1200 watts of electricity.
There is a carbon prefilter to pull the organic chemicals out of the
water prior to the boiler, then another carbon post-filter on top of
my collection tanks to trap the benzene and the like out of the
condensed water that usually gives distilled water that metallic
taste. What comes out is really delicious and has a VERY high
resistance in the multigigohm range at 10KVDC, one of the best tests
of purity. Costs about 30c/gallon to make and there is little
recurring costs like expensive, hightech membranes, backflushing and
maintenance. My unit is porcelain and easily comes apart. Just a
flush to get the scale out that's flaked off the stainless element and
she's ready for more......

Larry W4CSC

"No, NO, Mr Spock! I said beam me down a WRENCH,
not a WENCH! KIRK OUT!"

On Sun, 03 Aug 2003 17:04:21 GMT, "Don W."
wrote:

Larry,

But you are not distilling from sea water are you? I suspect
that you'd have significantly more "scale" if you filled it up
with sea water and fired it up.

Don W.

No, but the Navy has been for years...(c;

Point is lots of boaters think reverse osmosis is clean water because
it does take the salt out. But that disturbing report of the bacteria
breaking down against the membrane and the toxins they release passing
through into the drinking water SURE makes one think about drinking
it.....

I don't think they're replacing the membrane often enough in any boats
with these watermakers I know of.



Larry W4CSC

"No, NO, Mr Spock! I said beam me down a WRENCH,
not a WENCH! KIRK OUT!"