Just want to sanity check some feedback on a question I had with the operation of our Headmate Marine Toilet, which is a standard, simple, manual pump-in/pump-out affair made by Wilcox-Crittenden... Model 1460 C. Just got off the line with a support person at the new owners of Wilcox-Crittenden and got agreement that their operating instructions are out of wack and need revision... Here's what the written instructions currently say: "Before using the toilet, open the supply valve and pump some water into the bowl. After use, keep the supply valve open and pump slowly. Once the bowl is clean, pump five or six extra strokes to thoroughly clear the discharge line of all refuse. Then, close the supply valve and pump until the bowl is empty. " I've copied this verbatim and it does not make sense to me... If, "after use", you "keep the supply valve open and pump slowly", you wind up with additional water in the bowl... The bowl can't, as the directions say, become "clean", unless you first close the supply valve and pump the bowl empty. Also, pumping an additional five or six extra strokes with the water supply valve still open can not have any impact on the clearing of the "discharge line" unless the supply valve is closed and the bowl is being pumped empty into the "discharge line", right? We always use the toilet with our holding tank, so unnecessarily pumping additional water into the system only increases the frequency with which we have to have our holding tank pumped dry. My understanding of the system is such that the following should be the instructions: 1. Open supply valve, pump some sea water into bowl, (or maintain bowl with fresh water in it). 2. After use, close supply valve, and pump toilet dry. (If necessary to help clear and clean the bowl, perhaps pump additional water in as needed before pumping dry) 3. Then, either leave toilet empty, with supply valve closed, or open supply line, pump some new water in, and then close supply valve until next use.... This is about what I got from the new owners of the outfit when I called, although I didn't get the impression I was speaking with their "Head" engineer...LOL!! They did agree that their directions were unclear and needed revision and were in the process of doing so... Anyhow, does this sound about right? And, except for long periods of no use, it just doesn't seem like pumping additional water into the (closed) system simply to "clear the discharge line" to the tank is necessary... All comments and inputs welcome... Jim
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I don't see a problem with their instructions
"Supply valve" is the wet/dry valve... "If, "after use", you "keep the supply valve open and pump slowly", you wind up with additional water in the bowl.." You shouldn't...because manual marine toilets aren't designed to hold water...each and down pump stroke brings water in and pushes it out along with bowl contents. There should only be about an inch of water left...which also makes it impossible to add any more than that ahead of use. If you do need more, you have to use a cup from the sink. " Once the bowl is clean, pump five or six extra strokes to thoroughly clear the discharge line of all refuse." If you don't, you leave waste sitting in the head discharge hose to permeate it. However, those directions prob'ly predate holding tanks...and overlook the fact that any manual marine toilet that's working anywhere near factory specs can move bowl contents at least 6' in the dry mode. So if I were to revise those directions, I'd recommend pumping the toilet with the "supply valve" closed long enough to move the bowl contents all the way to the tank, then open it just long enough to bring enough water in to rinse out the hose behind the flush...and close it again to pump the rinse water all the way through. "Then, close the supply valve and pump until the bowl is empty." Switch to dry mode to empty the bowl. "And, except for long periods of no use, it just doesn't seem like pumping additional water into the (closed) system simply to "clear the discharge line" to the tank is necessary..." It's necessary only if you want to prevent the head discharge line from permeating with odor due to waste left in the hose.
"Supply valve" is the wet/dry valve... "If, "after use", you "keep the supply valve open and pump slowly", you wind up with additional water in the bowl.." You shouldn't...because manual marine toilets aren't designed to hold water...each and down pump stroke brings water in and pushes it out along with bowl contents. There should only be about an inch of water left...which also makes it impossible to add any more than that ahead of use. If you do need more, you have to use a cup from the sink. " Once the bowl is clean, pump five or six extra strokes to thoroughly clear the discharge line of all refuse." If you don't, you leave waste sitting in the head discharge hose to permeate it. However, those directions prob'ly predate holding tanks...and overlook the fact that any manual marine toilet that's working anywhere near factory specs can move bowl contents at least 6' in the dry mode. So if I were to revise those directions, I'd recommend pumping the toilet with the "supply valve" closed long enough to move the bowl contents all the way to the tank, then open it just long enough to bring enough water in to rinse out the hose behind the flush...and close it again to pump the rinse water all the way through. "Then, close the supply valve and pump until the bowl is empty." Switch to dry mode to empty the bowl. "And, except for long periods of no use, it just doesn't seem like pumping additional water into the (closed) system simply to "clear the discharge line" to the tank is necessary..." It's necessary only if you want to prevent the head discharge line from permeating with odor due to waste left in the hose.
Thanks Peggie...
Thanks Peggie... Makes sense after clarifying what actuall happens when pumping water into the tank... Jim
Thanks Peggie... Makes sense after clarifying what actuall happens when pumping water into the tank... Jim
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