water distiller survival doubtful

[book...@yahoo.com]

I bought a Megahome water distiller some 4 years ago and have had good
use of it, except that the fan motor started going slow and making a
metallic noise.

So my survival instincts kicked in and I called Nutriteam and got the
advice that the problem is probably not the fan motor but the switch.
Sent for the parts and replaced switch and tank insulator. No change.
Sent for a replacement fan motor, and after 5 minutes it, too slowed
and made a slight metallic noise.

Talked to the tech man at Nutriteam, who said it was not the motor. So
I then took the distiller into a local appliance repair shop, where
for the $20 handling fee they told me it was certainly the fan motor
and advised me they could replace it for about $115.

My doubtful predicament is that the tech department guy at Nutriteam
said he would sort out the problem if I sent it to Connecticut; but
the USPS parcel post is $ each way. Or I could buy a newer, better
model for $217, with free shipping and 2-year warrantee. Or I could
get out my chisel and hammer and try to figure out why the fan motors
are burning out.

Heard a story about the child in Africa who watched a mechanic trying
to install a car part, and suggested a different way. When the
mechanic did that and got it right, he asked the child how he knew
that. Child said, "It was the only way left that you didn't try."

Maybe if I get by my upcoming colonoscopy I will be okay with buying
the new one and still playing around with the old one?

bookburn, decisions, decisions.

[CS]

wrote in message news:osfas8t4vnrlssas6...@4ax.com...

I bought a Megahome water distiller some 4 years ago and have had good
use of it, except that the fan motor started going slow and making a
metallic noise.

So my survival instincts kicked in and I called Nutriteam and got the
advice that the problem is probably not the fan motor but the switch.
Sent for the parts and replaced switch and tank insulator. No change.
Sent for a replacement fan motor, and after 5 minutes it, too slowed
and made a slight metallic noise.

Talked to the tech man at Nutriteam, who said it was not the motor. So
I then took the distiller into a local appliance repair shop, where
for the $20 handling fee they told me it was certainly the fan motor
and advised me they could replace it for about $115.

<snip>

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm always highly suspicious of a company that sells magnetic therapy snake
oil bullshit. Doesn't mean I won't buy toys and trinkets from them
(Brookstone) but I'd never spend a significant amount of money on their
products.

Anyway, I'm assuming you have one of the $200-ish countertop models, which
contain a 15w cooling fan. These have a shaded pole motor, which are fairly
bulletproof, even the ones made in China...however, Chinese manufacturers
have been known to take bulletproof designs and still manage to fuck them
up, so it isn't entirely impossible you got one or two bum fan motors. Most
likely it is the bearings and/or poor alignment of the shaft that is killing
these motors...that is, as long as there's nothing interfering with the fan
blades or a wayward wire or whatnot poking at a moving part of the motor.

You should be able to replace that motor with a different one from another
vendor. As long as it can be physically installed, and has roughly the same
power rating, it should work fine.

Failing that, you could always go the hard-core-survivalist route and build
your own.

CS

[book...@yahoo.com]

Yes, I bought the stainless steel version for about $180 including
shipping about 4 years ago. Now the price with the better glass jug
has gone up to like $225. These have reputation of lasting like 10+
years.

Seemed to me that it was just the motor, so I went through three
replacements, which are fairly cheap @ $19. Because they've all had
the same failure--slowed speed, slight metallic noise--it seems a
common cause elsewhere is the problem.

I should be able to test the electricals some, look for corrosion in
the circuitry, etc.. Pretty sure it's not steam cooking the motor
because they are conking out after only 5 minutes with water not
boiling yet.

[NoOne]

I have a Polar Bear Water Distiller. I had the same problem with the fan. It
would not start unless I took a pencil, stuck in through one of the vents,
and gave the fan a little push to get it going. The Problem was a dry rear
bearing. Of course, they don't make these motors with an oil zerk, so I took
the motor apart (It's not complicated, and I am a Mechanic) removed the
bronze bearing, soaked it in oil overnight. I then drilled a hole in the
center bottom just big enough I can insert a Needle to oil the bearing again
if it dries out. Then plugged the hole with a little duct tape. I can crank
out 5 gallons of Steam-Distilled Water per day with mine. I sleep with a
CPAP, and I have to use pure, distilled water in the humidifier as I have to
breathe the water vapor. Distilled Water in the stores in Edmonton average
$2.00 per gallon. My Distiller has paid for itself at least twice times
over.






<book...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:ph2cs8l6r8h0oe1e5...@4ax.com...

[CS]

wrote in message news:ph2cs8l6r8h0oe1e5...@4ax.com...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There should be no circuitry involved with the motor. In fact, if you were
to take one of those failed motors and wire it directly to a 120v source,
you'll find out exactly what is making the noise/slowing problem.

NoOne described a good way to revive a dying shaded pole motor.

I'm not the ultimate expert in all things electrical, however I do know
quite a bit, and I don't see any way a switch or whatnot could possibly
destroy one of these motors.

CS

[deep]

What do you need a distiller for?

[book...@yahoo.com]

Had bladder cancer ten years ago, and since then have watched my diet.
Never liked it that government decided to add chems into the water
supply, and the distiller leaves you with only the basic water. I
then run the distilled water through a Brita with charcoal filter to
pick up the taste. Some people carry their countertop distiller
around with them as they travel. Distilled water is recommended for
use in your netti pot, auto battery, etc..

[deep]

You ought to check into reverse osmosis. That's the method used for
water purification in the horticulture and many other kinds of
industry.

I haven't checked into all the comparitive stats but distillation
would have to use many times the energy to drive the evaporation of
the water. Takes a lot of heat to boil water. RO would use a small
fraction of the power.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse_osmosis

[book...@yahoo.com]

Let's not forget that a survivor can make a water distiller with a
sheet of clear plastic over water, letting the sun evaporate it so it
drips into a container. Sheet of plastic also good for catching rain.

[deep]

Yes indeed. That's works very well for a survival situation. But
then you're using the power of solar energy. How many watts is your
distiller using?

Good thing about solar stills is you can dump any kind of nasty,
contaminated water on the ground around your still, and all of your
nasty stuff will be trapped in the soil and only the moisture
extracted. If you've ever tried it though you know it's not a big
producer of large amounts of water. Strictly a bare minimum to get by
in most situations.

[rbowman]

wrote:

> If you've ever tried it though you know it's not a big
> producer of large amounts of water. Strictly a bare minimum to get by
> in most situations.

That scheme for producing potable water from cactus pulp and other desert
vegetation works about as well as licking the dew off creosote bushes. Looks
good in the survival manuals though.