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Bob

Oct 17, 2002, 9:35 AM

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Ice Maker

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I will be moving to Ensenada next month, I have a question about my U-Line
25 Lb. ice maker: How do I hook it up to make potable ice? I believe the ice makers require 15 psi to operate, so just holding a bottle of pure water above the maker like an I V won't work. Any suggestions? Thanks.

manzana

Oct 17, 2002, 10:20 AM

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Ice Maker

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Well, you need a head of about 30 feet. I bet 20 would work. So, if you had access to the roof or an upper floor, putting the bottle up there would make it work as long as it was 20 feet above the frig. OK, it's an idea anyway. 8-)manzana

Darlene

Oct 17, 2002, 10:20 AM

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Ice Maker

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We have one also and have tried to get it to work in the US before transport. We've had water on the roof with a 10 foot drop and it still didn't work.

billaqui

Oct 17, 2002, 1:17 PM

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Ice Maker

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I've used an r.v. on-demand water pump for a similar project. Get a deep cycle battery, a small charger, a couple of lights and small fans and u also have an alternative power system each time the grid dies. My power is iffy in the winter, and my 12 v. backup comes in handy. buena suerte. b.

RexC

Oct 17, 2002, 4:12 PM

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Ice Maker/Gravity water pressure formula

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A column of 1 foot of water produces .433 psi. another way of expressing it is that 1 pound of water pressure requires a column of 2.304 feet of water.The diameter of the pipe has no effect on the pressure produced. It doesn't matter if it is a 1/2 inch pipe, or a 100 foot diameter tank. It is a law of physics. Flow rates from friction loss is usually negligible in a home too. This varies a lot, it depends on the pressure, distance, volumn desired etc. That's another story.
Rex
: Well, you need a head of about 30 feet. I bet 20 would work. So, if you had access to the roof or an upper floor, putting the bottle up there would make it work as long as it was 20 feet above the frig. OK, it's an idea anyway. 8-): manzana

Bret in Portland

Oct 17, 2002, 5:03 PM

Post #6 of 11 (2521 views)

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Ice Maker/Gravity water pressure formula

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Rex, I believe you but it seems to go against common sense. If you put a liter bottle of water and a 50 gallon drum on the roof, they both would produce the same pressure at ground level? I'm going to have to get out the ladder this weekend.
Thanks for the science lesson.

sparks

Oct 17, 2002, 5:09 PM

Post #7 of 11 (2521 views)

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Bicycle pump with a basketball fitting

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inserted in hose between bottle and machine. Just have to keep it pumped. ;) Worth a try?

Rolly

Oct 17, 2002, 6:04 PM

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Rex is right.

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Engineer Rolly says Rex is right. Think of it in terms of a swimmer/diver. At 30 feet down the pressure on the diver is the same in a swimming pool, lake or ocean. Deep is deep; wide has nothing to do with it.Now, of course, if you are thinking about volume of water out of a pipe, wide does count. A 2" pipe from a tank on the roof will deliver a lot more water per minute than a 1/2" pipe, but the pressure is going to be the same.

DavidG

Oct 17, 2002, 10:08 PM

Post #9 of 11 (2521 views)

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Ready made pump gadget

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Bob

Oct 18, 2002, 10:37 AM

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Ice Maker

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Thanks to all who responded. I have been encouraged and educated.

Don

Oct 19, 2002, 7:38 AM

Post #11 of 11 (2523 views)

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Ice Maker

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I am not sure what the water pressure is from the city that pushes water to the tinaco on the roofs, but why not hook your ice maker up to receive water directly from the city using their pressure. We have the ice maker on our refrigerator hooked up that way. In our kitchen sink, we also have three faucet. Hot water, water from the roof tinaco and one that brings water directly from the street. That way when cooking, my wife can use "fresh" water, not water that has been sitting in the tinaco for days. Not sure if this will work, but worth checking out.