AC Innovations HOTBIN, Быстрый старт

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IS IT THIS SIMPLE?
Users of the HOT BIN rate it as easy to use.
Once you are up and running the HOT BIN is simple to control and manage. Get yourself into a routine
of emptying your caddy regularly e.g. on Sunday after the roast, and again mid-week. If your HOT BIN
is not getting hot, please check the document available online called ‘How to get the HOT BIN hot’
which should help you resolve why. Again the key tip is to ensure you start with enough waste.
QUICK TROUBLE SHOOTING
Odour
Ammonia/urine – The HOT BIN bio-filter will remove ammonia odour caused by excess
nitrogen. However if you fill the HOT BIN with lots of grass, the filter can be overwhelmed
for a couple of days. Use the online FAQ to find out more about composting grass.
Putrid/acrid – These odours are created when the HOT BIN has insufficient oxygen. As soon
as you notice this odour, add several handfuls of bulking agent and diced cardboard to
enhance aeration, do not leave it.
Cabbage – All hot compost heaps produce ‘cooked cabbage’ odours. The HOT BIN bio-filter
will remove these below noticeable levels when the HOT BIN lid is closed but you will get
a quick waft each time you open the lid.
Earthy – The mature compost in the base of the HOT BIN will have an earthy smell.
Texture
Too wet – The waste in the top of the HOT BIN will always look wet and steamy. You only need
to worry about excess water if you smell a putrid odour. One of the great features of the
HOT BIN is how easy it is to fix a bin that is turning anaerobic - just add 5 handfuls of chopped
up cardboard and 5 handfuls of bulking agent. Do not leave it to go fully anaerobic and water-
logged as a two minute job will become a stinky 'dig out' and a restart!
Too dry – Occasionally, the waste in the centre of the bin might appear ‘dry’ and not
composted. Do not add water (or other liquids). Mix the dry area with the top layer and gently
push it all down into bin. Add new waste on top. If you have a large amount of really dry waste
(e.g. straw) refer to our online FAQ for tips.
Avoid
Adding frozen food items (leave them to thaw). Adding sheet materials such as newspaper,
cardboard and compostable bags – chop these into small pieces as sheets will lay over the
waste and reduce the airflow.
STARTING YOUR HOT BIN
This quick start guide should help to get your HOT BIN to between 40 - 60°C within 48 hours.
There is more detailed information in our extensive FAQ online at www.hotbincomposting.
1. Assembly
and set up
checks
There is no assembly required as your HOT BIN comes ready
to use – Just place it on a flat surface.
Your HOT BIN needs aeration. Please open the aeration valve Fig 3
to its minimum position of 2-5mm open as it will arrive closed
shut. Also check nothing is blocking the aeration mesh plate
Fig 9 .
Remember heat will be lost when the lid is open, so unless adding
waste, keep it shut at all times. Always check there is no waste
on the wall lip, brush it into the
HOT BIN to prevent it propping
the lid open/ajar.
You may have enough traditional composting material readily
available to get going straightaway; if so put it all into the
HOT BIN, the more the merrier.
You may not have enough traditional composting material;
be patient and build up you base layer when material becomes
available. The temperature in your
HOT BIN will build up more
slowly until you have enough waste in your base layer.
Remember you can add kitchen peelings to the base layer
at anytime.
A good base layer will also have easy to digest material that has
been chopped up < 4cm to help the bacteria generate heat more
quickly. Items like grass and chicken poop or pellets really help
generate heat faster. See the Waste Table.
2. You need
a base layer
This needs
to be at least
40cm deep
which is above
the hatch door
panel
Fig 8 .
3. Your base
layer
is ready
You have a base
layer that reaches
above the hatch
door panel
Fig 8 .
Now you can start adding food waste mixed with bulking agent
Fig 14 . Mix in a ratio of 1 part to 10 parts food waste –
This equates to 2 handfuls per small caddy of food waste.
4. It’s cold
outside
In winter you
may need to give
the bacteria a
little bit of help
Fig 13 .
If it is < 5°C outside use the Winter Kick-Start Heater. Its works in
the
HOT BIN due to its insulated properties and keeps the bacteria
cosy for 1-3 hours allowing them to start generating their own heat.
Simply nestle the hot water bottle into the top of the base layer
and place fresh waste over the top, close the lid and wait 48 hours.
5. The
temperature
In the early days
you should only
rely on the
temperature
from the long
stemmed
thermometer
Fig 11 inside the
HOT BIN.
Although the thermometer in the HOT BIN lid is very convenient,
it does only measure the temperature of the gasses leaving the
HOT BIN. So the HOT BIN needs to be around 50% full and running
between 40-60°C before the lid thermometer Fig 1 gives an
accurate reading.
It is possible to reach a temperature between 40-60°C
in 48 hours. Test the temperature by putting the long stemmed
thermometer into the top 5cm of waste for an accurate reading.
6. Feeding
your HOT BIN
To keep the
temperature
between
40-60°C you
need to feed
your
HOT BIN
regularly.
The temperature in the HOT BIN will cycle between 40-60°C
as you add waste and it is consumed by bacteria.
Aim to feed your HOT BIN every 3-4 days
If your HOT BIN is not reaching 60°C, refer to the document –
How to get the HOT BIN hot – online in the FAQ/library.
By far the most common cause is lack of waste and lack
of easy to digest waste. The quick fix is to add cut grass.
7. Removing
compost
Leave the hatch
door panel in
place until you
are ready to
collect your first
batch of compost
or wish to recycle
the very bottom
of the base layer.
If you have been regularly achieving hot composting temperatures
of between 40-60 C, take out the very bottom of the base layer
at around 30 days and recycle it through the
HOT BIN for the very
best results.
It is great advertising to say 7-14 days, but in truth unless you
want mulch, your compost needs to mature and stabilise.
You do have a choice; chop things up before adding –
or separate out large lumps at the end and reprocess them
through the
HOT BIN again.
We advise waiting 30-90 days for mature compost. It does
vary as soft items like grass and cooked food will compost
more quickly than woody items like twigs and pruning’s and
large lumps take longer than small pieces.
WHAT GOES WHERE?
The HOT BIN is a 200 Litre hot composting bin that can achieve temperatures of 60°C which can make compost
up to 32 times faster. The HOT BIN composts all food waste including meat and fish, not just fruit and vegetable
peelings; there is less odour and fewer flies to worry about and the clever design makes it less attractive* to rats too.
Fig 11 Long Stemmed
Thermometer
Fig 12 Waste Raking Stick Fig 13 Winter Kick-Start
Heater (aka Hot Water Bottle)
Fig 14 Bulking Agent
to mix with food waste
WASTE TABLE
Some waste is digested faster than others. The size of the pieces of waste also has an effect on the temperatures
achieved by your
HOT BIN.
N.B. When you have got your HOT BIN working efficiently at temperatures between 40-60°C there is no reason
why you can’t add things like chicken carcasses and bones into the HOT BIN.
A way to look at waste is how easy it is for the bacteria to decompose it.
EASY
to digest and will generate
heat more quickly
Digestibility
Chicken pellets/poop
Grass
Blood/bone meal
Dried seaweed
All food waste including:
plate scrapings, all meat & fish
waste, pasta, rice, mouldy bread
and cakes
MEDIUM
to digest and will generate
heat more slowly
Kitchen peelings
Straw
Manures
Office paper
Cardboard
HARD
to digest and will generate
heat slowly
Sawdust & shavings
Woodchip
Twigs
Branches
Fig 1 Thermometer to keep an eye
on the temperature
Fig 2 Airtight lid to reduce smells
and unwanted visitors
Fig 3 Rotating aeration valve (air outlet)
to moderate temperature
Fig 5 Biofilter unit to stop any
unfriendly smells
Fig 6 Insulated walls to keep
it hot to aid rapid composting
Fig 9 Aeration mesh plate (air inlet)
Fig 7 Manufacture seal
Fig 4b Fixture plate close up with rotating
aeration valve set to minimum
Fig 8 Easy to remove hatch door panel
to take out mature compost
Fig 10 Internal base plate with holes in
Fig 4 Fixture plate
All compost heaps have the potential to attract rats however *99.5% of HOT BIN users have not reported any issues with vermin. (March 2012)