Peggie, I installed my lectrasan this weekend. Outside of having to replace a fitting inboard of the ball valve, all went smoothly. The only thing I have left is connecting the electric. After reading the instructions a couple of times, I am still a little confused on the connection. It almost sounds like the head has to be electric instead of manual. They have a diagram of a solenoid setup with an electric head. It does not clearly say that it is not needed if the head is manual, but I fail to see how it would work with a manual head. I am using the power by connecting to the windlass source. Reasoning is that the head and windlass will never,(well, almost never) be used at the same time. I thing all I need to do is put a breaker or fuse between the hot wire ant the lectrasan. Plugin the cable to the switch and the lectrasan. Am I missing something, or is the solenoid necessary? BTW, put three vented loops in system. One from inlet between pump and bowl, one from discharge of bowl to lectrasan, and another from discharge of lectrasan to through hull.
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Mine's installed with a manual toilet.
When Peggie gets on-line, she'll give you the good scoop but you should be fine. I don't have that solenoid valve. Peggie explained the purpose of the valve last month. As I understood her, it's to work with electric toilets and vented loops. No need for the valve with a manual toilet. Right Peggie? And be sure to follow the wire gauge requirements. The Lectrasan uses a 25 amp fuse/breaker so plan on a fair amount of draw. I used 6 gauge wire and a dedicated circuit. As far as all those vented loops, wow! I didn't use any! But I've never used them on my boat. And it works Great. I should have bought one of these in the seventies. Here's the cave that mine is installed into.
When Peggie gets on-line, she'll give you the good scoop but you should be fine. I don't have that solenoid valve. Peggie explained the purpose of the valve last month. As I understood her, it's to work with electric toilets and vented loops. No need for the valve with a manual toilet. Right Peggie? And be sure to follow the wire gauge requirements. The Lectrasan uses a 25 amp fuse/breaker so plan on a fair amount of draw. I used 6 gauge wire and a dedicated circuit. As far as all those vented loops, wow! I didn't use any! But I've never used them on my boat. And it works Great. I should have bought one of these in the seventies. Here's the cave that mine is installed into.
No, you don't need a solenoid valve w/manual head
I think you'd better have a chat with Vic Willman at Raritan about the wisdom of sharing the electrical circuit with the windlass. Strictly speaking, the L/S should be on its own dedicated circuit--same is true, btw, for electric toilets--cuz anything else on the same circuit that's running can create low voltage to the L/S or toilet, which can result in a burned out motor. However, it IS highly unlikely that anyone would flush the head while the windlass is in use, so the only reason I can think of why it wouldn't be ok is any difference in wire size...whether the wire to the windlass is adequate. But Vic may know something I haven't thought of, so best to give him a call: 800-352-5630 x 244.
I think you'd better have a chat with Vic Willman at Raritan about the wisdom of sharing the electrical circuit with the windlass. Strictly speaking, the L/S should be on its own dedicated circuit--same is true, btw, for electric toilets--cuz anything else on the same circuit that's running can create low voltage to the L/S or toilet, which can result in a burned out motor. However, it IS highly unlikely that anyone would flush the head while the windlass is in use, so the only reason I can think of why it wouldn't be ok is any difference in wire size...whether the wire to the windlass is adequate. But Vic may know something I haven't thought of, so best to give him a call: 800-352-5630 x 244.
LectraSan
My installation is above the outlet of the bowl (abount 20") and the loops is what LectraSan (and Peggie) said is needed. Oh, the cabel to the windlass is about 3/4 to 1" in diameter. It runs about 25-30 feet. I have to think it is sufficient. I ran regular battery cabels from terminal to LectraSan. Just in case, I will call Vic today.
My installation is above the outlet of the bowl (abount 20") and the loops is what LectraSan (and Peggie) said is needed. Oh, the cabel to the windlass is about 3/4 to 1" in diameter. It runs about 25-30 feet. I have to think it is sufficient. I ran regular battery cabels from terminal to LectraSan. Just in case, I will call Vic today.
Fred, Is that an open valve on the outlet in the picture? You mentioned no loops, so is the installation above waterline?
LectraSan
Talked to Vic yesterday, and he was ok with sharing the windlass cable. He said the vented loop from LectraSan to ball valve was not necessary as my LectraSan is about 20" above bowl outlet, and above waterline. He said it may cause the discharge to be a little sluggish. I am leaving it for now to see what it does after hookup. Will advise list of outcome.
Talked to Vic yesterday, and he was ok with sharing the windlass cable. He said the vented loop from LectraSan to ball valve was not necessary as my LectraSan is about 20" above bowl outlet, and above waterline. He said it may cause the discharge to be a little sluggish. I am leaving it for now to see what it does after hookup. Will advise list of outcome.
Lectra/San with Manual Toilet
Seems to be some confusion about whether or not a Lectra/San will only work with a electric toilet. It will work with either - electric or manual. With a manual toilet, you simply press the Push to Flush button, to start the Lectra/San. Then you pump the manual toilet until the bowl has cleared, plus a few extra strokes, to clear the connecting line between the toilet and the Lectra/San. Then walk away. The Lectra/San will run through its 2 1/2 minute cycle, then shut off. Once it has shut off, the toilet may be used again, if necessary. With electric toilets, there are ways to do the wiring so that flushing the toilet will automatically also start up the Lectra/San, so that it is a one-touch operation. But an electric toilet isn't a requirement to be able to use a Lectra/San.
Seems to be some confusion about whether or not a Lectra/San will only work with a electric toilet. It will work with either - electric or manual. With a manual toilet, you simply press the Push to Flush button, to start the Lectra/San. Then you pump the manual toilet until the bowl has cleared, plus a few extra strokes, to clear the connecting line between the toilet and the Lectra/San. Then walk away. The Lectra/San will run through its 2 1/2 minute cycle, then shut off. Once it has shut off, the toilet may be used again, if necessary. With electric toilets, there are ways to do the wiring so that flushing the toilet will automatically also start up the Lectra/San, so that it is a one-touch operation. But an electric toilet isn't a requirement to be able to use a Lectra/San.
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