SUN-MAR CENTREX 3000 unit start up ?'s...help... converted from sawdust buckets

Started by Hillbilly-Johnny, June 03, 2015, 05:45:52 PM

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Hillbilly-Johnny

Hey folks... I just registered because I often find myself reading threads here on many topics... I think I may belong!

Anyhow, I have read some threads here about some folks who have some experience with composting toilets. So, I figured I would seek a little guidence. Thanks in advance for anything you can help with.


a little background. Right now, family of 6, full time compost toilet users... been in the sawdust buckets for over a year and have been just fine. We use store bought pine bedding and it has worked just fine. We just finished our first bin, and will now let it compost for 2 full years for soil.

Now, I found an amazing deal on a Sun-Mar centrex 3000... I am guessing it is just called an electric model? it has the heating element at the bottom and the fan near the vent pipe and it all just plugs into an outlet...
So, I bought it last week with 2, 1 pint flush toilets all for $1,100...

It seems either the evaporating tray is missing,OR, maybe they have said to eliminate these??? I thought I read that somewhere???

Also, we are full time users and I have read where a few folks have said Pine bedding was not the way to go for them and other places where folks said it was good??? like I said it works great for our other set up. I am curious why it would not now.

I would also look for any extra pointers in kicking this off... I got it all hooked up today... everything electric seems to work. I put about 1/3 of a 100 litre bag of pine in, 1 gallon of warm water and half a container of microbe mix... I also sprayed everything down with quick compost prior and after and then mixed it all around. the toilet is pretty much right over the unit with 2 45* turns to get into it in about a 4 foot span. the vent is always traveling upwards and only also has 2 45* degree turns and then straight out through the attic and then through the top of the roof. I guess I will just leave the fan plugged in at all times and I will order an extra for when it goes out... same for the element maybe?

I am so sorry for being so long winded but I may have other questions later too.... The other thing is it says in the book to mix it about 3 times a week but to add 1 scoop of material per person, per day.... so should I add every day, or for 6 people, add 18 scoops every 3 days and then mix (turn the drum)???

We will start there... I am sure the questions will continue. lol

Thanks again... any advice I can give about cars or something in exchange for your troubles, let me know.

OlJarhead

I have the DC/AC 2000 version of that system and have used it part time for about 4 years now (maybe 5).

The DC fan runs non-stop except that I've had mine freeze up in the winter since I don't insulate the pipe.  When it freezes I've just disconnected and left the system as a 'non-electric' during the winter months.  If I was a full time user I'd keep the DC fan running year round and insulate the pipe (4" vent stack).

As for the AC side I believe it is thermostatically controlled so while the fan should run 24x7 to help dehydrate the tray the heater element shouldn't.  If it's an AC only unit (no 4" stack) then I'd leave it plugged in.

Sounds like your start up procedure seemed about right.