40.5 Owners with DYI Electric Forward Head

Rick D

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Jun 14, 2008
7,187
Hunter Legend 40.5 Shoreline Marina Long Beach CA
Hey, guys: to anyone who pulled wire for an electric head install in the forward head; how did you run the wire?
 
Dec 2, 1997
8,967
- - LIttle Rock
Do my eyes deceive me...or are you FINALLY gonna replace your Jabsco manual toilets (at least one of 'em anyway) with an electric macerating toilet?? I'm afraid to ask which toilet...
 
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Rick D

.
Jun 14, 2008
7,187
Hunter Legend 40.5 Shoreline Marina Long Beach CA
Do my eyes deceive me...or are you FINALLY gonna replace your Jabsco manual toilets (at least one of 'em anyway) with an electric macerating toilet?? I'm afraid to ask which toilet...
Yea, FINALLY going to pull the trigger. You do understand it was just stubbornness that stopped me. Despite having an annual pump replacement on my aft head and over the years replacing EVERYTHING except the bowl, I do think Jabsco's quality control in the head department has improved significantly in the last few years. I ought to know... Anyhow, thinking of a Sea Era forward and a Super Flush manual aft. I want to retain a manual. I have spread the word of the Goddess of Marine Heads over the years and will continue to do so while you take bites out of my posterior :poke: http://forums.sailboatowners.com/in...-boom-or-agonizing.181991/page-2#post-1338299
 
Dec 2, 1997
8,967
- - LIttle Rock
Of course it was pure stubbornness...but I knew I'd win sooner or later.:pimp:This must be how the sheriff of Nottingham felt when he finally captured Robin Hood! :dancing:

thinking of a Sea Era forward and a Super Flush manual aft.
How 'bout a Marine Elegance Raritan Marine Elegance forward and a Fresh Head Raritan Fresh Head aft instead? If you'd like to discuss the pros and cons of all of 'em, send me a PM and we'll work out a mutually agreeable time to spend up to hour on the phone.
 
Feb 10, 2004
4,153
Hunter 40.5 Warwick, RI
Rick- Since the aft head probably gets 90+% of the use, wouldn't you want that to be the electric? I have the Sea Era myself in the aft head.
 
Jun 8, 2004
2,960
Catalina 320 Dana Point
I don't know how electric toilets are usually wired Rick, will you need to go all the way to the panel and give it a separate circuit or could you tap into something of adequate capacity nearby like the shower sump pump ?
 
Dec 2, 1997
8,967
- - LIttle Rock
I don't know how electric toilets are usually wired Rick, will you need to go all the way to the panel and give it a separate circuit or could you tap into something of adequate capacity nearby like the shower sump pump ?
All electric toilets should be on their own dedicated circuit with its own breaker, shared by nothing else that could reduce power to the motor. Low voltage is a leading cause of sluggish discharge and is also damaging to electric motors.

The correct wire size for the motor and distance from the power source (always measured ROUND TRIP, not one way) is also critical....so tapping into something nearby is not recommended.

The owners manuals for all Raritan toilets include complete detailed instructions.
 
Feb 10, 2004
4,153
Hunter 40.5 Warwick, RI
When I installed my Sea Era I ran a suitably sized wire for a 3% drop directly from the breaker panel. The toilet pulls about 15-20A. I used the holding tank sender circuit and just replaced the 5A breaker with a 25A.
 

Rick D

.
Jun 14, 2008
7,187
Hunter Legend 40.5 Shoreline Marina Long Beach CA
How 'bout a Marine Elegance Raritan Marine Elegance forward and a Fresh Head Raritan Fresh Head aft instead? If you'd like to discuss the pros and cons of all of 'em, send me a PM and we'll work out a mutually agreeable time to spend up to hour on the phone.T
Thanks for the suggestion. I'll check the Elegance out and look for the manual to check the footprint. As far as the Fresh Head, I'm going to stay with salt water. We sometimes spend weeks away and fresh water is hard to come by in Catalina.
 
Dec 2, 1997
8,967
- - LIttle Rock
If you're determined to stick with sea water, the Elegance isn't a good choice...it's designed to use pressurized fresh water. It CAN use sea water, but only if a remote intake pump is added. So it appears that the PH SuperFlush and SeaEra are the best choices for you.
 
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Dec 19, 2006
5,832
Hunter 36 Punta Gorda
Sea Era is a great head and yes it needs it's own breaker and I used a 10 amp breaker and really not that noisey.
I think it is a simple well made unit and can be fresh or sea water.