Good to see the update on Acuva for RVs and marine use. I, too, used their Eco for two years, until a week ago... The blue LED around the faucet started flashing red, and then sometimes solid red. The manual indicated that shows "overheating" of the Eco, and a phone call to Acuva was required. Long story short, the symptoms mentioned, coupled with a slight water leak from the unit, meant that the glass separating the water flow from the UV LEDs was cracked or broken, and the electronics "toast" (five months off warranty). I've just now finished plumbing in their Eco NX-Silver UV-LED Water Purifier, but the process is not as simple as the original installation of their Eco. First the good: 1.) The rail holding the units to a wall has not changed, so I could use the old rail in its location for the new unit. 2.) Not only is the flow rate increased (1.2 vs 1.0 L per min.), but the max recommended temperature has been increased (40C vs 27C). The 'not so good': 1.) The warranty has dropped (1 yr vs 2 yrs) 2.) The new water lines for the unit are all 1/4", and I had to replace the Eco "T" valve with the NX-Silver valve, as well as replace the Eco flow regulator with the NX one.. 3.) The power supply connector in the NX-Silver is smaller than that in the Eco, so I will now have to re-wire that. QUESTION: Will the original Eco faucet work with the NX-Silver?? Can it show green, as well as yellow, lights at the faucet?
Quick update: I received an email from Acuvatech.com indicating that the original Eco faucet works just fine with the NX-Silver. I had just 10 minutes earlier finished the wiring upgrade and determined that for myself; but it's great to get a support services email on a Sunday! The green and yellow lights would be shown through the etched ACUVA name on the NX-Silver box; those lights will not show on the Eco faucet.
When you put out the first video about the Acuva system I went out and got the slightly larger unit that came with flow-activation as I wanted for my ice maker as well. It is the single best aftermarket item I have installed in our coach. Thank you again for doing that first video. If you can run a line to your fridge/icemaker you will be forever happy that you did. Take care, John
The Arrow is the one Nikki & Jason have in their boat, and besides being flow-activated, has an even higher flow rate. That's super high-end for an RV. Nice! BTW... we just cracked open that awesome port you so generously brought. Thanks so much, John! 😊
Acuva is HUGE for boats. Nikki and Jason Wynn have the next larger model, the Arrow, on their catamaran, and it provided safe drinking water for all of us while we were helping them sail their boat through the Panama Canal a few years ago.
We had never heard of that filter before, so looked it up. Zero appears to be more similar to a Berkey, which you fill and sit on the counter. The Acuva system provides, for all intents and purposes, unlimited on-demand safe drinking water without filling anything up or taking up counter space. It does look like yours is primarily geared toward improving the taste, while the Acuva is geared toward killing harmful bacteria that may make water unsafe to drink. We’re happy to hear that you like your system, as we love ours too.
I've just subscribed and find your videos to b very professional, polished and informative. It seems almost every video is advertising someone's product. Is that intended to be the purpose of your channel? Is it intentional to avoid videos that are more personal, sharing your travels with a more intimate view of your experiences? You guys seem to be pretty comfortable on camera and to be likable... That would be my vote, anyway. Thanks for sharing all the info! Lynn
Hi Lynn, and welcome! We originally started our channel to help friends who had just purchased their first RV, so things were really very matter-of-fact about how to do things. That of course includes what products we think do the best job for various RV related tasks. Many of our videos are pure how-to/DIY, and some of them do feature products we’ve found to be really helpful. I think the reason we’ve never made videos about ourselves is because we seem to be somewhat disinterested in watching other people who do that! Since we’re not really that interested in watching other people live their lives, I guess we figured other people aren’t interested in ours either. 😂 To be sure, there are lots of people doing that, including some very good friends of ours. But since we got started with very matter-of-fact videos, we seem to have stuck with that. Maybe will share more at some point. Thanks so much for being here with us!
It's peculiar in the instructions, they write Max ambient relative humidity 70%. Places I go have a higher index. And also this; The Eco NX-Silver is certified by IAPMO R&T to NSF/ANSI 55 Class “B” for the supplemental bacterial treatment of disinfected public drinking water or other drinking water that has been tested and deemed acceptable for human consumption by the state or local health agency having jurisdiction. The system is only designed to reduce normally occuring non-pathogenic nuisance microorganisms. Class B systems are not intended for treatment of contaminated water. It is also certified by IAPMO R&T to NSF/ANSI 372.. So, in Mexico of some rivers, isn't there a bit of comtaminent water, or a Lake?. What is your opinion on this. I am in the installing portion following your videos :-0). Thanks very for all your work. ☺️
Hi Julie. We'd be surprised if the relative humidity restriction was a big deal... they market to the marine industry and we're pretty sure that boats are experiencing 100% relative humidity most of the time. 🌊🛥 On the rest, there's a lot to address. First, Acuva can only make claims about performance/capabilities for which they've received certifications... and the testing/certification process is lengthy and expensive. The disinfection of public drinking water certification from IAPMO and NSF/ANSI addresses an issue for the largest target market which, as a new company, is smart to tackle first. They wouldn't survive long as a company if they spent huge amounts of time/money pursuing certifications for use-cases that didn't have a lot of people looking to solve. 😉 Second, UV-C disinfection requires that the light can actually get to the organic life (bacteria, viruses, cysts, etc) in order to kill it. So the water supplied to the Acuva has to have very low turbidity (must be very clear). That's why they use the pre-filter to remove any particulate matter from the water stream so the UV light can get to the "bugs" and kill them. If there were any particles... the bacteria/viruses could hide in the "shadow" it created and avoid being killed... which could, then leave a high enough level of them to pose a risk if ingested. So that's also why they limit the recommended use to public water supplies... sucking water up from a stream/river/lake could mean that it is quite murky... and might not get completely cleaned with a single filter. You mention Mexico. We'd be confident using the Acuva to treat a Mexican municipal water supply to make it safe to drink (by killing the bacteria that are still in the municipally-treated water that are different than what we're used to in the US/Canada). But, again, getting water from a non-treated source? We wouldn't recommend relying solely on the Acuva for treating that. Now, that's not to say that the Acuva couldn't achieve certification for use on non-municipal water. And they may, eventually, do that. Last year (2019) we did a video ( www.thervgeeks.com/acuva-giveaway/ ) where we took (very clear, BC) river water in to Acuva to have it lab tested: before and after being treated by an Eco. It passed with flying colors. But, again, they aren't CERTIFIED for that kind of use, so (legally/morally) can't make that claim. Hope that helps shed some (UV?!?) light on your questions! 😊
@@RVgeeks Thank you for this very complete answer and taking the time for my inquieries :-0). much appreciated. I think the humidity 70% is for the condensation, abobe 70, If I place it in a higher humidity spot in my trailer, it might just drip from condensation if very cold water was to run through the unit. They do talk about condensation, . So all good. I lack space under the sink so, I would put it under the bottom drawer under the stove. Very humid since its on the floor and there is less air circulation. Also colder. I understand about specs of quality of water, especially river and Lake water may vary in quality at anytimes. i am sure I will be sager than some bottle refil machines that look so dirty and not maintained in some areas!
Hi. Love your videos. Thank you very much for featuring this system. I will be getting it for my RV with the discount code. One question: Do you know if it's possible to install a T at the output and connect the refrigerator/icemaker to use this treated water (in addition to the special faucet they provide)? Thank you!
@@RVgeeks Thank you! Sorry, one other question: Do you find the flow rate of 1.2 LPM sufficient for your needs, or do you ever wish you had the bigger unit that generates 5 LPM?
Boris Sturman It’s not a high speed kind of thing, but since we only use it to fill our drinking water glasses and bottles, it’s really plenty. If we were using it for other than drinking water or icemaker purposes, then we would probably want a higher flow of an Arrow.
Allo, I hope you guys are well and doing good Canada Camping :-0). When ordering, They ask about 2 types of filter, did you take the standard or advance pre-filter?
Hi Julie! We’re actually in the Desert SW for the winter, as we’re dual citizens, so able to cross the border in both directions. As far as the filter, we prefer the advanced. Hope you’re having a safe and comfortable winter.
@@RVgeeks Ah Great, I am happy you are where you want to be. I am having a great winter up to now in Victoria BC, It's pretty everywhere, with lots of nature, and I get to work on my stuff when the sun is out. I go see the beach and Goerge Straight almost every day and my visit of Alberta and BC scenic roads was awesome on my way here from Quebec, all and all it's all fun. Thank you for Your always prompt replies, I appreciate. Take good care you two :-0)
Hi Paul! Since fluoride isn’t a bacteria or virus, it doesn’t. There may be pre-filters you can use. Many remote places we RV are more likely to have well water, so no fluoride there. But if you’re interested in consistent fluoride removal, you might look into RO systems (reverse osmosis). We just don’t like the amount of water they use, or the time it takes.
Is it good to filter water from a Lake? My Mom lives by a Lake, we get water from it but are not organized for drinking it. We would have to have it Analized?! And on the road, you take river water?,, Sorry, I should have watched all the videos on this subject before asking questions but it's late and going to bed and this is interesting :-0). ùthank you for this update!
RVgeeks Thank you, I will watch all on the subject, it would be good for me, I could. Drink out of city water instead of water refill from doubtful machines. ☀️
Eco NX-Silver without the optional smart faucet is $439 minus the $100 discount = $339. Drinking just one bottle of water a day, figuring $1 each, and the Acuva is paid off in less than a year, then free after that... with a lifetime of avoiding hauling bottles around, and the plastic waste that goes with it. This is an easy calculation for anyone who spends even a modest amount of time RVing.
Thank You Very Much for this Information and the Discount Code!! Just ordered the Eco NX-Silver UV-LED Water Purifier for our camper. The independent testing you had done sold me. After your discount code and free shipping the price for the Eco comes in very close to a small Berkey (which are hard to get right now) with no need for filter replacement and even more important the Berkey takes up precious counter space and has to be put away for travel. Big fan of your videos - trust you to be accurate, informative and entertaining - keep up the good work.
Thank you so much, Steve! We’re sure you’ll love your Eco as much as we love ours. We didn’t even realize until recently how huge those countertop filters are, until friends of ours with a travel trailer showed us theirs, and we couldn’t believe the amount of space it requires! That alone makes us happier than ever that we have an Acuva. We already ordered one for our friends and are going to install it for them next month! Thanks very much for the nice comment. Safe travels.
This device eliminates the biological threat, but doesn’t eliminate chemical or dissolved solids. So it in itself is only one part of what an individual or RV needs. One still must have a high quality water filter to remove chemicals. And for better protection an RO system.
We use a Berkey for drinking water. It may be overkill because we have an extensive 3 stage filtration system for the rest. I ere on the side of caution. When I went to change the filter in the refrigerator, it looked almost new even though it had been in for over a year. I set it up to use from the tank then refill to always keep fresh water going through it.
I had to sanitize recently after reviewing your video....again .....lol. Thought I’d see how long I could go. Turns out, about 7.5 months due to a sulphur smell coming out of the faucets.
we use zero water pitcher in our rv for drinking/cooking, cost was under $25 for 20 cup pitcher, have to fill it manually but hey we have the time, just another option, we got it on amazon
Thanks for the nice review, but I have to say that is one pricey unit so we will stick with our Berkey, which has been independently tested to remove 99.9999% of pathogens and viruses as well as metals and pharmaceuticals.
The Berkey is a great option as well, and if you have one it makes perfect sense to stick with it. But with the discount figured in, the price difference is fairly small in the grand scheme of things. The two biggest factors that made us decide on the Acuva are the amount of counter space the Berkey takes up, and the fact that the Acuva provides virtually unlimited continuous water as opposed to small batches at a time.
Great video but confused as why it has silver in the name? Thought it was going to be a new version of the old fashioned way of placing a silver dollar in the water to naturally keep it safe to drink.
Ok, I'm confused because there web site on the front page says you can use this system for the "ANY" water source. Which is not true because of ita "B" class device. But when you look into the device it says a source that has been treated already and will help with further treatment. "The Most Powerful Water Purifier Choosing to live off-grid is choosing to live free but a precarious water source can ruin that! Unlike other water purification units in the market, Acuva systems eliminate up to 99.9999% of all kinds of bacteria and viruses, which can go undetected by average filters. You can drink from any water source with an Acuva water purification system on board. " So my point is these cannot be used for a "off grid source of water" see this link. Because these are only "b class" devices not "a class" www.nsf.org/newsroom_pdf/water_55_insert.pdf
Great question. As we showed in our previous video about Acuva ( ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-0qk0vycLYAs.html ), we brought raw, untreated water samples to their facility, and were present when the samples were treated and sealed. At the time, Acuva had not yet received the certifications that they now have, despite the fact that the Eco far exceeded the requirements, which was borne out in the tests we participated in. They did subsequently apply for and receive their current certifications. Our understanding is that submitting for each certification is very involved and time consuming, even if a product may already exceed the requirements. Even if the Eco kills 100% of pathogens, Acuva can't claim they meet Class A standards until they've completed that process. They didn't make any claim about the standards at all when we first installed ours, but their testing already showed that they far exceed what's required. Now they've received the Class B certification, and since we saw the extreme level of effectiveness during testing, we have no doubt that the Eco will receive higher certification if Acuva has applied for it. Since we don't know whether they've done that or not, or plan to, we're going to reach out to them to see what further info they can provide on the topic, and will follow up with any other relevant details.
I'm so pleased that this review came through the other day. I'm using an AlexPure (similar to Berkey) filter at home and an AlexaPure filter pitcher in the RV, along with pre-filters etc. I immediately ordered one of the ECO NX-Silver. Just installed today. Thank you Geeks....you're awesome....and thank YOU to Acuva for a great RV friendly water purifier!!
