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Symptom Cause Remedial Action
Prevention
Compost
Too Wet
Your compost
is too wet when
there are
standing pools
of liquid.
Compost will
smell of sewage
and is
anaerobic
Compost
Too Dry
Compost is too
dry when com-
post looks flat
and brown rather
than rich and
black.
Waste not
Breaking
Down at all
If this is the case,
the drum will fill
up quickly
Compost porosity is
poor. Too much
peat moss has been
used as a bulking
material. This is
compacting, pre-
venting liquid from
draining through,
and leaving no free
air space for oxy-
gen.
Drum screen
clogged
Moisture not being
added periodically
or before departure
on cottage units.
Toilet not used for
urination .
Insufficient bulking
material or not
enough peat moss.
Insufficient Microbes
Room Temperature
under 60F/15C
Bleach or other
anti-bacterial
chemic
Compost too dry
For an immediate improvement in porosity add
about 3-4 gallons (4 litres) of wood shavings, of
any kind (except cedar) to the drum.
On an ongoing basis, change bulking material to
Compost Sure Blue or a 100% wood shavings .
Remove the finishing drawer. Scrub screen
(which will be visible with a flashlight on the bot-
tom of the drum) with wire brush. The overflow
drain should be hooked up.
Add 1/2 to 1 gallon(2-4 litres) of hot water to
compost in order to bring it up to appropriate
moisture level.
Peat moss retains moisture. 40-60% moisture
content is ideal for aerobic microbes to thrive.
Add Sun-Mar Microbe Mix.
Install heat source to increase temperature.
Temperature should be kept above 55-60F/15-
16C constantly if toilet will be used on an ongo-
ing basis.
Empty drum. Hose out inside of drum. Restart
compost according to “Initial System Startups”.
Bacteria need moisture to live and move within
the compost. Compost should be quite moist,
40-60% moisture content.
Use Sun-Mar Compost Sure Blue
or 100% wood shavings as a bulk-
ing material.
Use proper bulking mixture
Follow section on moisture in
“PERIODIC CHECKUP”.
Use toilet for urination.
Add correct bulking material.
Be sure to add microbe packet at
startups.
Install unit in warm area. The
warmer the area, the better your
compost will be! If evening temper-
atures fall below the prescribed
temperatures on a residential unit,
consider installing a heat source on
a timer for evenings.
Never add bleach or cleaning chem-
icals.
Add water or flush toilet to moisten
compost.
Every Sun-Mar AC/DC and NE model comes with a 12 Volt Fan for installation in the 4” (100mm) stack.
Its installation is required in the following situations:
-If you are installing both 2” (50mm) and 4” (100mm) vent stacks (prevents downdraft from
the 2” or 50 mm vent)
-If you are in an area where you are subject to downdraft
-If you are using the unit residentially
-If you need to install the vent stack with bends
We include it because many AC/DC owners do install both vent
stacks. It may also be installed later if you wish simply by cut-
ting a section out of your vent and replacing it with the fan.
To install the fan initially, pick a spot on the stack that you can
reach easily. In order to get the best evaporative performance
from the fan, install it near the toilet if possible (remember, the
fan will still not be enough to evaporate all liquids in a non-
electric or DC only environment). Once you have placed it
where you wish, use silicone caulking, or rubberized couplings,
to make the installation airtight. Do not use ABS glue at this
area as you may need to change the fan at a later date.
The 12 Volt Fan may be powered with a battery that is con-
nected to a generator, solar panel, or other alternative energy
system. For use in AC, purchase a 12 Volt to AC Adapter from
any electrical store and snip off the female end - wire the posi-
tive wire to the red wire on the fan, and the negative wire to
the blue wire on the fan. Tie them off with small wire connec-
tors, and plug your AC Adapter into the wall.
The 12 Volt Fan should be continuously running if used, as if it
is not running it will act as a block in the vent stack.
12 Volt Fan
Installation
(AC/DC and
NE)
