Podcast // Help! Desal/Water Maker Broken
Shaun’s desal/water making machine is broken. The desal makes fresh drinking water and is critical to continuing the expedition. Shaun has enough water on board to see him through a short while but not enough to make it to New Zealand.
Please listen to the podcast below where Shaun describes the issues he is having with the desal. If you have any suggestions or trouble shooting tips please post them here on the blog and Shaun’s support crew will relay the information.
The desal is a Katadyn PowerSurvivor 40E/12 V. The product specifications are at this link. Click here
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New Zealand Geographic
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You rock Quinsey!!! Lots of love from Welly. Thinking about you lots mate.
If it is bubbles and hence air . Use a container as an air trap to remove any bubbles, from the supply. Take the watermaker intake from the bottom of the container.
Had problems with ours at times, and it was air under the boat coming into intake for the watermaker. Air doesn’t compress thru the membrain so no water. It also has the tendancy to blow the seals.
Just a thought on reading specs-any blockage to outlet? The kayakers had to clean their hull of marine life after the period of time u’ve been out!Risky I know checking skin fittings but it says any restriction can be adverse to performance ie.back pressure.Good luck
How watermaker repair going ? Have you fitted the manual Handle to check if its the drive train or the membraine ?
From the online pdf manual: http://www.katadynwatermakers.co.uk/Manual_PowerSurvivor_40E.pdf
the trouble-shooting flowchart says:
1) check cleaning valve in normal run position
2) air ingress in intake system (test with bypass from bucket)
3) internal problem with spool valve or cleaning valve
They say that dirty (fouled) RO membrane is rare but it’s another possibillity.
Good luck!
Bill
Good luck mate we are all rooting for just keep calm and take time to think about your problems and sometimes the answer will appear out of the blue
The Sheppard Family
It might be worth trying to contact Ralph Tuijin (Zeeman Ocean Challenge) http://www.zeemanoceanchallenge.com/. He had problems with his water filter and became intimately acquainted with it. He might have some suggestions. Good luck with it.
here is a download link for a jpg of the troubleshooting page in the pdf if you find the pdf is too big to download, probably save you some bandwidth just getting the jpg
http://wwatsonweb.co.nz/shane quincy/watermakertroubleshooter.jpg
Cheers
Chris
so if the piston isnt moving its a motor or gearbox problem dont know if you have spare motor or gearbox(By manaul you can discorrect power drive and use as manual by putting two pins in with handle if needed)If Piston Moving May be seals Problem on Piston . Suspect from call good saltwater flow to membraine
.if not piston sealsif its moving and getting no load ( you will hear it load up will seem to run faster than use to )is possible seals in piston or membraine
know little bit about watermakers cant find manual for uint on line many help if you can supply copy Will help if can
I don’t understand your comments about using water from a separate tank and I am not familiar with the Katadyn unit but the basic principles are straight forward.
The desalinator needs quite a high pressure in the tube and if the pump is running OK then (assuming the inlet pipe is not blocked) the most likely problem is that the inlet valve on the suction to the pump is sticking open slightly so the pressure is being released back into the suction line. You need to dismantle the suction valve to check this (I’m assuming you do not have a pressure gauge on the supply from the pump to the tube.
Gosh Quincey, this is not good news. I wish I could help, but I’m sure with the coverage you have, someone will come to the rescue. Dave, Margaret, you seem to know lots about boats & the sea, please give Quincey some tips! Keep your chin up, Quincey, you’re doing so well. Someone said the other day that when the going gets tough, the tough get going. You certainly have demonstrated how tough, committed & determined you are so we know that you will press on & achieve your goal. Have a good rest & look forward to seeing you back in the saddle tomorrow. God bless, The Bucks.
Hi Shaun, have Katadyn not responded to you? Their trouble shooting guide in the manual is fairly straight forward and comprehensive, have you checked the flowchart? http://katadynch.vs31.snowflakehosting.ch/fileadmin/user_upload/katadyn_products/Downloads/Manual_Katadyn_PS-40E_EN.pdf
cheers
chris
Have you cleaned prefiters etc So you are getting water to membraine but no product water? Is motor loading up with high pressure pump. If not check drive belt !membraine seals!
Hey bro, I got nothing, but I hope someone can help you out x