Thanks so much for the honest review Ben. Aquaphant is working on RND, creating and developing a smaller more efficient and less expensive unit at the moment. We also have new enhancements to this technology that's going to blow everyone away very soon. We have created a new efficient compressor that uses 75% less power. It also uses a eco friendly and sustainable refrigerant.
Ben, I love how honest and pragmatic you are. You seem to be the only TH-camr who's actually reviewing atmospheric water generators in real life. The best everyday civilian application I can see is for full time RVers. I've seen news about Watergen's ON Board system since 2019 but never actually seen one reviewed. Any plans to try reviewing one of those? I can see someone eventually pairing an atmospheric water generator with an EV like route del sols/sollarolas that has enough solar production to be self efficient both energy and water wise. Maybe you're the guy to do that!?
Add some indoor plants that increase humidity in the room you have it, should take care of you´re efficiency problems plus a lot more nice air with plants.
I think this thing would work so much better in an environment like Mississippi or Florida where it is much more humid. And definitely correct, in a water shortage situation this thing would be golden!
We bought one of these machines at the same show and have had similar results. Pretty sure you have to get the filters through the company at $150. I'm still trying to figure out why it needs filters if it's pure H2O. If something else is getting in the water their machine isn't working right.
@@danieleb2945 Dehumidifiers condense water out of the air. They aren't distillers. Air contains dust, mold, and other microbes. Legionnaires disease came from the water condensed off an air conditioning unit. You definitely aren't getting pure H2O from it without filtering and sterilization.
And to mitigate the water machine pwr sucking, you CAN..if you have decent solar access..just pop up some used $50 250 or more watt solar pnls/charge controller/inverter..& cheapo LiPo4 storage battery bank. And the LiPo4 batts last up to 10 yrs and withstand to 80%! discharge without damage!
This device seems to have a temperature and humidity sensor. Why doesn't it set itself to standby when conditions are below it's operating specifications? Seems to me it would use a lot less power that way.
Great honest review of this system, and I’m looking forward to the one year cost breakdown video we’ll surely see when it’s been a year. I noticed the estimated annual energy cost was $328 but that was a projection and the variables will change of course. It will be cool to see if it improves over time. Thanks for the great content.
@@BenSullinsOfficial thank you Ben for you quick reply! Thats sounds pretty nice, should work pretty well in a humid area like Virginia or even Florida. Thanks for sharing the device :)
Hmm, so I recently got a heat pump installed, and the installer put a condensate drain into the basement sink next to it. This makes me wonder if I could feed the condensate to a container instead...
Did you actually notice a substantial de-humidifying effect? I am interested in something like this to de-humidify my house, and would rather drink than waste the water, but it would have to do a pretty good job. I am in Houston, so there is no issue with having enough Humidity.
I don’t get it where if the temperature drops, why wouldn’t you be able to pull water? It should be the opposite where if the temperature drops, it should be easier to pull water because the air moisture is condensing, hence the word “condensation” or water that develops on cold nights and morning on your car windshield and metal surfaces. It should be easier on the system you’re reducing the energy state of the air temperature at a lower state of energy (cold air) than you would at a higher state of energy (warm/hot air). It’s also the same principle if you’re trying to freeze something. It’s easier on your freezer to freeze (solid state) something quickly and with less energy if it’s been in your refrigerator around 40-45 degrees for a couple of hours to get it below 32 degrees rather than taking something that is at room temperature around 72-74 degrees and reducing its energy state down below 32 degrees.
Not sure about the ecological side, but definitely cheaper. My quest is to find a way to make my own which is a bit different goal. So the quest continues...
@@BenSullinsOfficial It comes down to about 1$ per gallon in my area. The machine in your video would need to have better efficiency than shown (quite a bit closer to the what is advertised) for it to pay for itself. I'll stick with the big bottles for now, they work all the time and I don´t need power. Even better, they never break or need a filter change.
I grow gourmet mushrooms in a grow tent where I run a humidifier to (usually) keep the humidity at ~92%. Maybe I could put one of these units in the tent and let it fight it out with my humidifier. 😆
So s house with both solar AND high humidity? This would likely work well here in the Pacific NW. The worry I have with this, as I do so many other things. When does this turn into a "Life Service" model and the owner has to pay 10-30 dollars a month extra for access to their own unit? What other data can or will they collect?
I am so confused with why this isn't widespread in the country I live. It is extremely humid here and water prices are high. First thought was actually for use for my fish tanks. 😂
People like to live in California because there is less rain. But it will become desert in distant future eventually. Water is requirement for all life, and you value sunshine to give up water, and have to spend so much money to make water using all these high tech stuff. I'd just move to more moist geography
Incredible waste of power, while taking up a bunch of space and making lots of noise. If you want RO water, get an RO system and treat tap or rain water...
RO is a 3-1 ratio in most situations. Meaning for every gallon it makes it wastes 2-3 gallons of fresh water. If you have solar this is basically free water. It's eco friendly and its sustainable. And the water is of higher quality then that of any local municipal source even if you have your out RO system at home.
Just collect water from the AC condensate. We get so much water from ours that it's formed a small pond off the end of the discharge pipe. It's free water that's always being wasted. Pure water too! But you wouldn't think that is was all that much the way it drips ...Ever let a leaky faucet drip until you got the water bill? You could run a line from it straight into the pool or a rain barrel. It's passive collection! And it adds up over time.
yeah that's definitely possible (assuming you need AC year round). There are some instructions online for this but with a dehumidifier. Basically the same setup but DIY version.
Sounds like the old system is better. My other spot is Palm Springs where, as you know, humidity is low. This may not be a solution especially when AC is on often
So you got 0.25gal vs the promised 3 gal? What is their promo materials I wonder. This is failure levels approaching a scam. Then it needs a lot of electricity and makes noise? And a yearly replacement filter that is proprietary for $150? What a joke. Thanks for the video though, appreciate it.
IRC the average person contributes about half a litre to the humidity of the house they're living in. So really, you're drinking your own sweat here, aren't you.
Couldnt you just buy a dehumidifier, use the water and pour into a brita filter and get water cheaper that way? lol, sorry just not worth $2K using that much electicity.
If you've ever used a TDS meter on water that a Brita filtered, you wouldn't drink it. They don't filter that much compared to the TDS reading for tap water.
Thanks so much for the honest review Ben. Aquaphant is working on RND, creating and developing a smaller more efficient and less expensive unit at the moment. We also have new enhancements to this technology that's going to blow everyone away very soon. We have created a new efficient compressor that uses 75% less power. It also uses a eco friendly and sustainable refrigerant.
what about the lack of minerals in the water?
Ben, I love how honest and pragmatic you are. You seem to be the only TH-camr who's actually reviewing atmospheric water generators in real life. The best everyday civilian application I can see is for full time RVers. I've seen news about Watergen's ON Board system since 2019 but never actually seen one reviewed. Any plans to try reviewing one of those? I can see someone eventually pairing an atmospheric water generator with an EV like route del sols/sollarolas that has enough solar production to be self efficient both energy and water wise. Maybe you're the guy to do that!?
Maybe one day, my focus right now is on my home and the whole bulletproof concept. More to come!
I live in Florida, that thing would be making a ton of water everyday 🤣
Add some indoor plants that increase humidity in the room you have it, should take care of you´re efficiency problems plus a lot more nice air with plants.
AQ.2 Atmospheric Water Generator
Regular price$2,299.00 USD
I'm in the bay area, will look into DIY. There's a very good guide on instructables that can be a starting point
DIY Atmospheric Water Generator
If you're all taking hot showers just put the thing in the bathroom. You might as well put it in the most humid room in the house.
I think this thing would work so much better in an environment like Mississippi or Florida where it is much more humid. And definitely correct, in a water shortage situation this thing would be golden!
Mississippi is a prime candidate here, maybe the roof panels tho as a whole-house solution
Looks like would be incredibly useful in rvs or off grid scenarios with adequate solar power
agree, it is a pretty big draw tho so would need a fair amount of solar
How long will the filter last and is it a standard off the shelf item that can easily be replaced when it eventually will need to be replaced?
We bought one of these machines at the same show and have had similar results. Pretty sure you have to get the filters through the company at $150. I'm still trying to figure out why it needs filters if it's pure H2O. If something else is getting in the water their machine isn't working right.
@@danieleb2945 Dehumidifiers condense water out of the air. They aren't distillers. Air contains dust, mold, and other microbes. Legionnaires disease came from the water condensed off an air conditioning unit. You definitely aren't getting pure H2O from it without filtering and sterilization.
Great video! Can you do a review of the water maker on your roof? I watched that video 2 years ago and wonder how it has been working.
yep, here you go! th-cam.com/video/AgVWqcBepk8/w-d-xo.html
Great content as always. Love the new direction of the channel.
And to mitigate the water machine pwr sucking, you CAN..if you have decent solar access..just pop up some used $50 250 or more watt solar pnls/charge controller/inverter..& cheapo LiPo4 storage battery bank. And the LiPo4 batts last up to 10 yrs and withstand to 80%! discharge without damage!
This device seems to have a temperature and humidity sensor. Why doesn't it set itself to standby when conditions are below it's operating specifications? Seems to me it would use a lot less power that way.
It does but at times still tries to work
This would work well in FL
It's heatly to drink distilled water?
Great honest review. What about a dehumidifier and a Berkey Filter?
I've seen a few DIY solutions online. Totally doable!
Great honest review of this system, and I’m looking forward to the one year cost breakdown video we’ll surely see when it’s been a year. I noticed the estimated annual energy cost was $328 but that was a projection and the variables will change of course. It will be cool to see if it improves over time. Thanks for the great content.
Would be interested to know how this compares to dewstand.
Great video as always! Wish I could have it in Southern Utah
Yeah probably not worth it with how dry it is. The roof panels would probably work tho. Theirs work at 10% humidity and above.
I think the panels on the roof was better? But expensive.
yeah if you have the space and money they're definitely better.
Did I get that right that the water is destilled? So it has no minerals in it?
No, it has a mineral pack to add them back in
@@BenSullinsOfficial thank you Ben for you quick reply! Thats sounds pretty nice, should work pretty well in a humid area like Virginia or even Florida. Thanks for sharing the device :)
Waiting weeks after you get it in order to use it makes it a no-buy!🤔
agree that was a bummer. I actually planned to have this video out last month!
Hmm, so I recently got a heat pump installed, and the installer put a condensate drain into the basement sink next to it. This makes me wonder if I could feed the condensate to a container instead...
Great Video!
Thanks for great information 😊
Is there any maintenance cost like replacing filters on a regular bases?
good question, it looks like a filter replacement is $150 on their website. I assume it's needed every year at least.
@@BenSullinsOfficial At that price, it makes this a VERY expensive novelty item. I wish the company every success but truly don't see it catching on.
What trade show did you get this at?
Fully Charged
the problem is this wouldnt even work in a drought because the humidity would drop it just easier to run pipe
What is the name of the big system that you talk in this video to made water o The roof
Source hydro panels
@@BenSullinsOfficial thanks I see the video before this.
Did you actually notice a substantial de-humidifying effect? I am interested in something like this to de-humidify my house, and would rather drink than waste the water, but it would have to do a pretty good job. I am in Houston, so there is no issue with having enough Humidity.
Not really but if you had multiple throughout the house it would help
I don’t get it where if the temperature drops, why wouldn’t you be able to pull water? It should be the opposite where if the temperature drops, it should be easier to pull water because the air moisture is condensing, hence the word “condensation” or water that develops on cold nights and morning on your car windshield and metal surfaces. It should be easier on the system you’re reducing the energy state of the air temperature at a lower state of energy (cold air) than you would at a higher state of energy (warm/hot air). It’s also the same principle if you’re trying to freeze something. It’s easier on your freezer to freeze (solid state) something quickly and with less energy if it’s been in your refrigerator around 40-45 degrees for a couple of hours to get it below 32 degrees rather than taking something that is at room temperature around 72-74 degrees and reducing its energy state down below 32 degrees.
It seems to me that buying 18.9 L and returning the container everytime you do grocerie shopping is cheaper and more ecological no?
Not sure about the ecological side, but definitely cheaper. My quest is to find a way to make my own which is a bit different goal. So the quest continues...
@@BenSullinsOfficial It comes down to about 1$ per gallon in my area. The machine in your video would need to have better efficiency than shown (quite a bit closer to the what is advertised) for it to pay for itself. I'll stick with the big bottles for now, they work all the time and I don´t need power. Even better, they never break or need a filter change.
I grow gourmet mushrooms in a grow tent where I run a humidifier to (usually) keep the humidity at ~92%. Maybe I could put one of these units in the tent and let it fight it out with my humidifier. 😆
So s house with both solar AND high humidity? This would likely work well here in the Pacific NW. The worry I have with this, as I do so many other things. When does this turn into a "Life Service" model and the owner has to pay 10-30 dollars a month extra for access to their own unit? What other data can or will they collect?
Sounds great!? Its noisy, consumes a lot of energy, long start up times and it needs the ideal conditions to work.
Yeah, very MVP at this point
I am so confused with why this isn't widespread in the country I live. It is extremely humid here and water prices are high. First thought was actually for use for my fish tanks. 😂
People like to live in California because there is less rain. But it will become desert in distant future eventually. Water is requirement for all life, and you value sunshine to give up water, and have to spend so much money to make water using all these high tech stuff. I'd just move to more moist geography
It suits better in tropical climate
But really that price tag
Incredible waste of power, while taking up a bunch of space and making lots of noise.
If you want RO water, get an RO system and treat tap or rain water...
RO is a 3-1 ratio in most situations. Meaning for every gallon it makes it wastes 2-3 gallons of fresh water. If you have solar this is basically free water. It's eco friendly and its sustainable. And the water is of higher quality then that of any local municipal source even if you have your out RO system at home.
Just collect water from the AC condensate. We get so much water from ours that it's formed a small pond off the end of the discharge pipe. It's free water that's always being wasted. Pure water too! But you wouldn't think that is was all that much the way it drips ...Ever let a leaky faucet drip until you got the water bill? You could run a line from it straight into the pool or a rain barrel. It's passive collection! And it adds up over time.
yeah that's definitely possible (assuming you need AC year round). There are some instructions online for this but with a dehumidifier. Basically the same setup but DIY version.
I am in South Africa, my water is about 50c US/ 1000l and electricity costs about 12c UIS \ kWh so this will never be worth it for me.
So, not a great idea for most of the Mojave/high desert, eh? 😂 (extreme lack of humidity in the summer and very-very cold in the winter)
No, but the source (roof) panels should work!
Sounds like the old system is better. My other spot is Palm Springs where, as you know, humidity is low. This may not be a solution especially when AC is on often
So you got 0.25gal vs the promised 3 gal? What is their promo materials I wonder. This is failure levels approaching a scam. Then it needs a lot of electricity and makes noise? And a yearly replacement filter that is proprietary for $150? What a joke.
Thanks for the video though, appreciate it.
This would be great to put in a basement. Consistent temp and humidity
Floridians are laughing at you right now!
Never bothered me before 😂
My man’s views getting crushed smh
When it warms up in Spring leave your windows open to bring in humid air
IRC the average person contributes about half a litre to the humidity of the house they're living in. So really, you're drinking your own sweat here, aren't you.
like Dune
@@BenSullinsOfficial The spice must flow.
@@BenSullinsOfficial not just like in Dune but actually how the international space station recycles some of its water.
@BenSullinsOfficial better than eating soylent green I guess 🤷 😅
Better than losing that water completely. 👍🏼
Couldnt you just buy a dehumidifier, use the water and pour into a brita filter and get water cheaper that way? lol, sorry just not worth $2K using that much electicity.
Not that simple but yes, there are ways to do it yourself. Check out instructables website and search Atmospheric Water Condenser
If you've ever used a TDS meter on water that a Brita filtered, you wouldn't drink it. They don't filter that much compared to the TDS reading for tap water.
Tesla ❤️