couple poorly worded questions


I have a purasan unit (sp). when i flush it it goes through some type of grinder I assume> A blue and white metal box has a couple of 2 1/2 in blue cylinders on top and it discharged into the lake ... IM now hooked into my holding tank,
with the unit (commode) I have IM told I can by pass the unit that grinds & sends the waste over to the holding tank, and not loss that much batt. ampreage supposedly the commode destroys the solids somewhat ... I now would only need the commode unit to be powerd.
question is this is recommended? If so
inside the head there is a button going to some type of solinode looking switch which operate the entire system,as it is now flush and grinder
and my wires underneath from the commode go over to the grinder looking blue and white box.

If this is doable, Would you just use a switch and hold it on so long for the commode to run how would u figure your cycle time? Or..........do i leave it all alone what say you that might have a clue what Im refering too ...........

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"Come OOON Back............

If your toilet and the PuraSan are wired to start together when you push the flush button, I'm almost certain that the toilet has to be a macerating ("macerator" = "grinder") electric toilet. However, the amount of amperage it uses depends upon the make/mode/age of your toilet. So before I can tell you how much amperage you'll save--if any--and how to do it, I need to know the make/model of your toilet. 'Cuz depending on what it is, it may use more power than the PUraSan.

I suggest you also download and read the owners manuals for your PuraSan http://www.raritaneng.com/products/waste_treatment/purasan.html  
and your toilet  (I can give you the link when I know what you have) so you can understand how they both work and how to divorce your toilet flush button from it. It can be done, and if you're in "no discharge" waters where you must send all you waste to a tank, it should be done AND the PuraSan removed from the system. Once that's been done, you can put a timer on the flush button or just leave your finger on the button as long as it takes to move the waste to the tank.

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Peggie Hall, Moderator
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987, Author: "Get Rid of Boat Odors--A Guide to Marine Sanitation Systems and Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor."
[L=http://shop.sailboatowners.com/books/detail-books.htm?sku=66438&cat=1304[/L]

Ill try and crawl under there tomorrow, its an 88 boat if that date means anything, doubt ill find a model number on that blue & white unit but ill try....I saw the commode had 2 wires red & black coming from it, the black wire went over to the blue&white unit, withthe canisters on top I would like to eliminat that unit if it does no more than reduce some of the junk yard noise, the commode is loud enough.....can I try to seperate it and see what happends....if it wont manage it i just hook it back up looking forward to your help i dont do manuels well

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"Come OOON Back............

while I have you, my holding tank has never been used, beside the obvious of just running clean water through it and be certain there are no leaks, what I mean to convey an 88 boat that never has had any thing go into it, wonder if it needs some aditive or preventer starter stuff thanks

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"Come OOON Back............

I don't need to know the model number of "blue and white unit" (PuraSan)...I need to know the make/model/age of the TOILET.

If you "don't do manuals well," I strongly suggest you don't touch the system...that you hire someone who has read them and knows what to do...'cuz unless you know what you're doing, you're very likely to end up without a working toilet.  

In fact, if you're gonna own a boat, you do need to learn how ALL the systems work, how each component in a system impacts the rest of the system, and how operate and maintain 'em. That means, unless you want to spend a LOT of money paying pros who know how to fix what you break, you're gonna have learn how to "do manuals."

Yes, you DO to use an odor preventive additive in the tank. Odorlos (that's the product name) would be your best choice in my opinion. No matter what you use, it is VERY important that read and follow the directions on the bottle or package.

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Peggie Hall, Moderator
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987, Author: "Get Rid of Boat Odors--A Guide to Marine Sanitation Systems and Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor."
[L=http://shop.sailboatowners.com/books/detail-books.htm?sku=66438&cat=1304[/L]

Ditto doing the manuals. OR do the $$$$$.

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Willie
She's a tired old barge but she's paid for! http://s71.photobucket.com/alb...p;current=ef324993.pbw

I fully understand the manuals importance, will do every efffort but due to some limitations on my part I did ride the smaller bus to schoool, my wife is good with them Ill see.

Usually on here I can find someone to walk me through but thanks so much for the info. Also ill check the commode today for a modle number.

the other unit looks like new and has no loss of paint no correded build up on it and works fine, someone told me there might be a market for it if i decide to dispose of it is that true...........Honestly the draw on the batts was never the issue more the noise of the units togethr thanks again

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"Come OOON Back............

You can trust Peg to give you the straight scoop on poop. It may not always be what you want to hear but it will be helpful. That Purasan unit did not come with your 1988 boat and that is why it looks so good. It was an add on. Now here is where I become confused. You say the Purasan was set up to discharge overboard which is fine unless you are in a no discharge zone. But then you say that it now discharges to your holding tank and then you say your holding tank has never been used. It is being used now to store your sanitized waste from the Purasan which is not necessary. You should have a "Y" valve between your Purasan and the holding tank. Then you could switch it to discharge overboard if you are in a discharge area. Here on the Tennessee everyone discharges from Purasans. Then if you are cruising a no discharge area you can switch the "Y" valve over to the holding tank until you clear the no discharge area. I even know people on big boats that have another "Y" valve coming out of their holding tank so they can pump overboard from the holding tank. As to eliminating noise from the dual macerators, I realize it can be disturbing at 3 am on a small boat but I want all solid waste to be ground up as much as possible to avoid any problems. So grinding it going out of the toilet and regrinding it again at the Purasan would be fine with me.

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The Judge Rules

no name or #s etc. located on the commode i can get u a picture it basicly looks like a commode sitting on top of an old starter or generator.....


to answer the judge: I have a commode that goes into a purasan unit, as of a couple weeks ago I attached the line that discharged in the lake to a holding tank.
leaving the puasan unit in tack and in line. This was switched because I was having the boat serviced at another marina and before I could tie at the dock the dock master had a staff person inspect the boat to make sure i was in compliance

Nothing has been flushed into the holding tank.
Nor has the commode every been used sence we bought the boat because we are in a no discharge lake.

didnt mean to confuse you,
not that Id do it but was told a Y valve on our lake is against the coast guard regs and is a big fine

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"Come OOON Back............

Does your toilet look like this one?

http://www.raritaneng.com/products/toilets/electric/crown_head.html

If so, remove the cover over the base...find the plate on the motor housing. Somewhere on that plate you'll see the amperage--50, 30 or 36--and/or the model--STD, DD or CD.

If you can't do that, send me a photo of it.


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Peggie Hall, Moderator
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987, Author: "Get Rid of Boat Odors--A Guide to Marine Sanitation Systems and Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor."
[L=http://shop.sailboatowners.com/books/detail-books.htm?sku=66438&cat=1304[/L]

the picture looks exactly like that, I did remove those plastic housing's trying to look for a plate etc. and didnt see one......the 2 wires r&b conect on the rear of the unit.

i can get u a picture if it would help today..........and if you think keeping the unit in line and having it go into my holding tank outweighs the alternative so be it.

we have free pump outs and our dock has a restroom facility for moorage customers .........

i may need to ask you a question about getting a new small lp gas operated hot water heater, for dishes and hand washing onl thanks

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"Come OOON Back............

Ok...you have the toilet I thought you have--a Raritan Crown Head. It draws at least a whopping 36 amps/flush (older versions use as much as 50)...about twice as much as your PuraSan, MORE than twice as much as most other macerating electric toilets. Here's the manual for it:

 http://www.raritaneng.com/pdf_files/crown_head/L91crownheadv1002.pdf

So if your goal is to reduce power consumption while at anchor, you have a couple of choices in addition to removing th PuraSan:

1. Replace the toilet with one that uses half the power...I recommend the Raritan SeaEra...you can check out all the specs for it here: http://www.raritaneng.com/products/toilets/electric/sea_era.html

2. Add a battery.

3. Both.

And I still STRONGLY recomend that you hire a pro to do the work. Trust me, it'll be worth it. You'll love the SeaEra...it's pretty much a drop-in replacement for your Crown Head...while not exactly quiet, a LOT quieter than the crown...and uses at least half as much flush water.

About the water heater. A 6 gallon Raritan electric water heater with heat exchanger option is by FAR your best choice.

http://www.raritaneng.com/products/water_heaters/index.html

If you run out of hot water on an anchor, just run your engines for 30 minutes. Raritan water heaters cost a bit more, but they last for 20+ years.

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Peggie Hall, Moderator
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987, Author: "Get Rid of Boat Odors--A Guide to Marine Sanitation Systems and Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor."
[L=http://shop.sailboatowners.com/books/detail-books.htm?sku=66438&cat=1304[/L]

ok thanks for all the info will take your advice,I did get the unit working this evening, let me ask u this, I have replaced the water pump impellar last year on the rear of the commode, for some strange reason while doing and redoing to get the unit to work I could only get it to function w/out the little marble black plastic ball, so I left it out and it worked fine............& by the way I did try replacing the ball with a new one still wouldnt work with it in,,,,,,,,am I correct in assuming the ball was to keep the pump primed. which leads me to the question....

if I put an in-line check valve down near the intake of the stand pipe would that help it keep its prime, should it be left sitting for any length of time ...

i did get those pics tonight but they would be horrible........and to follow up the purasan unit is really not noisey at all its that antique commode making all the noise.......... while im reinventing the wheel on here as they often remind me Y couldnt that unit I have be seperated from its grinder and just use the purasan unit to chop destroy and send on its way..........

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"Come OOON Back............

Dale Hollow, if the head (toilet) is mounted above the waterline of the boat, it is OK to remove the ball and spring from the toilet's intake pump - BUT ONLY if the toilet is abve the waterline of the boat. If it is below the waterline, they must stay there, or you're taking a chance on sinking the boat. So find out where the waterline is, and double-check to be sure.

Depending on where the boat is located, the PURASAN unit may or may not be legal to use. What lake are you on? If it isn't legal to use on your lake, then there's no good reason to keep it. You'd then have to pump the toilet waste to an onboard holding tank, and have that tank pumped out at a dockside facility when it is full. It is strictly illegal to pump the toilet directly overboard, or to empty the holding tank overboard, unless you are 3 miles or more out in the ocean - nowhere else. It's a Federal Law!

IM on a no discharge lake, I may be missing something here, bare with me.
I disconected the line that discharged into the lake and it is now discharged into my holding tank...........I dont understand what the problem is with having the commode hooked into the purasan unit and from there into the holding tank?

regardless if I by pass the purasan unit i still go to the pump/out station........

I thought the purasan unit was making a lot of noise turns out its the crown head...

my original post I was trying to figure out if the purasan unit was wasteing a lot of batt. If the above system is illegal by keeping the purasan unit in line let me know thanks

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"Come OOON Back............

thanks HB8972, i reread your note I hope its that easy taking the unit out of the loop, I need to find where the commode picks up its voltage from 1st. with the existing set up

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"Come OOON Back............