12 volt watermakers
Runs straight off a 12 V house bank with no inverter and no generator. Output is modest by design, so the question is whether your daily litres fit inside a sensible run time.
Most efficientSchenker Zen 30
Highest outputSchenker Zen 150
Lowest indicative priceRainman Portable 12VDC 34L
| System | Power | Output L/hr | Draw W | Wh per litre | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zen 30 Schenker | 12/24V DC | 30 | 110 | 3.7 | $6,300 |
| Zen 100 Schenker | 12/24/48V DC or AC | 100 | 400 | 4.0 | $9,600 |
| Ventura 150 Deluxe Spectra | 12/24V DC | 24 | 108 | 4.5 | $6,000 |
| Ventura 150 Connect Spectra | 12/24V DC | 24 | 108 | 4.5 | $7,400 |
| Newport 400C Spectra | 12/24/48V DC | 64 | 288 | 4.5 | $14,500 |
| Zen 50 Schenker | 12/24V DC | 50 | 240 | 4.8 | $7,800 |
| D100 DUO Dessalatorreported | 12/24V DC | 100 | 700 | 7.0 | on request |
| D60 Freedom Dessalatorreported | 12/24V DC | 60 | 550 | 9.2 | on request |
| D60 DUO Dessalatorreported | 12/24V DC | 60 | 550 | 9.2 | on request |
| Scout SW20 LEDIreported | 12V DC | 20 | 200 | 10.0 | on request |
| Portable 12VDC 34L Rainman | 12V DC | 26–37 | 400 | 12.7 | $4,898 |
| Modular 12VDC 34L Rainman | 12V DC | 26–37 | 400 | 12.7 | $5,053 |
| Zen 150 Schenker · spec unconfirmed | 12/24/48V DC or AC | 150 | — | not published | on request |
| Ventura 200 Tropical Spectra · spec unconfirmed | 12/24V DC | 31 | — | not published | $8,200 |
Under 6 Wh/L · energy recovery
6–12 Wh/L
Over 12 Wh/L
Common questions
- How many 12 V DC watermakers are sold in Australia?
- We currently table 14 12 V DC systems, the most efficient being the Schenker Zen 30 at 3.7 watt-hours per litre. The list grows as we verify more brands.
- What size 12 V DC watermaker do I need?
- Start from daily litres, not boat length. Four people at 25 litres a head is 100 litres a day. Divide by a candidate's rated output for run time, and multiply by its Wh per litre for the energy it takes out of your day. Our sizing calculator does both against your own battery bank.
- Will a 12 V DC watermaker flatten my batteries?
- It depends entirely on the model's Wh per litre and the energy you can spare. An energy-recovery system can make a day's water on a few hundred watt-hours; a conventional pump on the same output can need five times that.
Other power sources