Rainman Frame AC 100L, auto
What you are actually buying
Drawn to this model’s own published specification: framed, 3 × 21in membranes, and a pump driven by an AC 240V motor.
What it costs to run
A four-person crew using 25 litres a head needs 100 litres a day. On this system that is:
This is an AC system, so it needs a generator, shore power or a large inverter. The Wh figure is what the generator has to cover.
Is it worth it?
At 13.9 watt-hours per litre this is one of the thirstier systems we rank — 3.8 times the energy of the most efficient, for the same litre. 1,389 Wh a day for a crew of four is an engine run, not a solar surplus.
Suits
- Owners who want it to start, flush and stop without them. That automation is most of the premium over the manual version of the same machine.
Look elsewhere if
- Boats without a generator or a large inverter. 1,250 W on 240 V is not something a modest inverter starts happily.
- Anyone shopping on price alone. At $12,131 it is in the dearest quarter of the table, and cheaper systems make the same litres.
- Boats you cannot drill. This is an installed system: intake, seacock, brine discharge and a wiring run, quoted separately from the unit.
Worth pricing against it: Schenker Zen 100 makes 100 litres an hour at 4.0 Wh/L, so the same 100 litres costs 989 Wh less every day — for $2,531 less up front. See the Zen 100 →
Every line above is a consequence of a published figure. We have not tested this machine and publish no opinion on its build, reliability or support. How we judge systems.
Where it sits in the market
Ranked 28 of 34 rated systems on watt-hours per litre, where lower is better.
A conventional high-pressure pump with limited membrane area, so each litre costs comparatively more energy. Fine on a generator, expensive on a battery bank. How the two technologies differ →
What people cross-shop it against
The rest of the Rainman range
Common questions
- How much power does the Rainman Frame AC 100L, auto use?
- It draws 1,250 W and makes 70–110 L/hr, which works out to 13.9 watt-hours per litre. Making 100 litres — four people at 25 litres a head — costs about 1,389 Wh.
- How long does the Frame AC 100L, auto take to make a day's water?
- At its rated 70–110 L/hr, 100 litres takes about 1.1 hours. Output falls in cold or silty water, so treat that as a best case rather than a promise for every anchorage.
- How much does the Rainman Frame AC 100L, auto cost in Australia?
- Our indicative figure is $12,131, taken from the manufacturer's published US list and excluding freight, duty and installation. Australian dealer pricing is usually all-inclusive and reads higher. Ask a stockist for a landed AUD quote before you budget.
- Who sells the Rainman Frame AC 100L, auto in Australia?
- 16 verified Australian businesses are listed as Rainman dealers or specialists, including Quadrant Marine, Spot on Marine, CROFTECH Marine and Motor. Each entry links to the manufacturer or company page that proves it.
- Is the Frame AC 100L, auto efficient?
- It ranks 28 of 34 rated systems in our table on watt-hours per litre, where lower is better. The best in the table is 3.7 Wh/L. It uses a conventional high-pressure pump, which is the main reason it sits above the energy-recovery systems.
- Is the Rainman Frame AC 100L, auto worth it?
- At 13.9 watt-hours per litre this is one of the thirstier systems we rank — 3.8 times the energy of the most efficient, for the same litre. 1,389 Wh a day for a crew of four is an engine run, not a solar surplus. It suits one case in particular: Owners who want it to start, flush and stop without them. That automation is most of the premium over the manual version of the same machine. Look elsewhere if: Boats without a generator or a large inverter. 1,250 W on 240 V is not something a modest inverter starts happily. We publish no opinion on build quality or reliability, because we have not tested it.