Thursday, July 3, 2008

NEW WATER SYSTEM

The water problems are solved! Spring-like water is now available on Wind Runner.

The parts of the new system:

NEW SELECTOR VALVE

Manually operated without tools. Selects whether the pump picks up water from the water tank or from another source. Allows antifreeze or a light bleach or cleaning solution to be easily flushed through the water system plumbing, without needing to have that fluid put into the water tank.


NEW PRIMARY INLET FILTER

Captures most of the contaminant in the water or other fluid being moved by the pump. This filter may fill often in the next many weeks. Over time it will fill less often, as long as a carbon filter is always used to remove chlorine from the water placed in the water tank. This filter is installed opposite from normal, regarding direction of flow. This orientation significantly increases the contaminant holding capacity.


NEW SECONDARY INLET FILTER

Captures additional contaminant in the water or other fluid being moved by the pump, if any passes through the primary filter. This filter is installed in the orientation the manufacturer recommends. It has limited contaminant holding capacity in this orientation, but it may filter contaminant more effectively.


NEW VARIABLE SPEED PUMP 4.0 GPM AT 50 PSIG.

This is the pump that was installed in the middle of the ocean. Moves water or other fluid without the need for an accumulator tank. With it water flow will start immediately after a water fixture is turned on, but then flow will decay for a short period. Full flow will resume quickly when the pump controller senses water use. This pump is a smallish pump for the number of water fixtures on the boat, but it should serve nicely with only two normally on board. The variable speed pump in spares provides 5.7 gpm at 60 psig. This pump may get installed, but the installed pump will be used for a while to allow the system to get squeaky clean over the next many voyages. Then the larger pump will have the greatest chance of lasting forever, having to deal with only normal contaminant loads.


NEW DRINKING WATER ELEMENT

Removes fine solid particles and other nasties, if there are any. Keeping this element serviced should mean the water on Wind Runner will nearly duplicate bottled drinking water.

With this new water system the tank should clean up well, just by using water on the boat. Then the water system should operate clean and trouble free with very little maintenance. Changing the drinking water element, and cleaning the primary inlet filter, should be the only maintenance necessary. The secondary inlet filter may need minor attention. No tools are necessary to service the new water system, other than to fix a leak if one happens to appear.

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