installation of a 12 volt fan.
ii) Do not lead the 2” (50mm) vent pipe downward or horizontally at any point. This may lead to the vent
pipe being blocked by condensation which would cause a urine smell in your bathroom.
iii) All connectors in the vent pipe should be sealed. Use silicone for the connection of the vent stack to
the toilet in case the composting unit has to be moved or you have to access the fan. PVC cement
may be used in the rest of the stack installation if desired.
iv) All exposed vent pipe should be insulated with the foam insulation. This is especially important for
winter or residential use.
v) The Sun-Mar 12 Volt fan is fitted inside a 12”(305mm) length of 4” (100mm) vent pipe for easy
installation, should it be needed. It is installed by either cutting out a section of the vent immediately
above the composting unit, or by raising the vent stack off of the composting unit and inserting the fan
section. The fan can be used with a solar panel and 12 volt battery, or by purchasing a 12 volt adapter
from your local hardware store and simply plugging it into the wall.
As shown in the installation, the vent stack should end
about 30” (75cm) above the peak of the roof so that it
is less subject to downdraft. Where the piping is taken
through the roof, the roof flashing provided should be
used to seal the installation. Insert the vent into the bell
of the roof flashing and slide the roof flashing down until
it lays evenly on the roof. Slip the upper edge or the roof
flashing flange under the shingles. Outline the flashing
on the roof. Raise the roof flashing and apply silicone
sealant or roofing tar inside the outline. Slide the flash-
ing back into place and firmly press onto the sealant.
The flashing is properly placed when the top part of the
roof flashing flange is tucked under the shingles and the
lower portion is sealed on top of the shingles so that
water sheds easily. Secure the flashing with corrosion
resistant nails at each corner and along sides. Any exposed nails should be sealed with silicone caulking.
The diffusor provided with the unit is a simple device to
be installed at the top of the vent stack with the larger
pipe protruding above the smaller. To install, simply glue
the diffusor on the topmost section of vent pipe. The dif-
fusor design encourages updraft, and discourages wind
and weather from going down the vent stack. Unlike wind
turbines, diffusors are less likely to freeze up in winter,
and are more effective in calm weather.
A ground fault interrupter (GFI) circuit is recommended to protect your composting unit from electrical prob-
lems. This may be installed directly on the wall socket or at the circuit breaker.
Vent
Piping
Installation
(Cont’d)
Leading
the vent
through the
roof
The
Diffusor
Electrical
Considerat-
ions
(Electric
and AC/DC)
Symptom Cause Remedial Action
Prevention
Waste not
Breaking
Down at all
(cont'd’)
Lumps
If many large
lumps have
formed in drum,
you will need to
remove them or
break them up
with the rake
tool. Follow the
prevention col-
umn to ensure
this does not
happen.
Drum Too
Full
Note: The drum
is too full when it
is over 2/3 full,
and the door is
not closing prop-
erly.
Antibiotics being
used for more than
a few weeks on a
continuous basis
may kill bacteria
Compost Too Dry
Over-Rotation of
Drum
Peat moss used as
bulking material with
no wood shavings.
Compost not emp-
tied into finishing
drawer in a timely
fashion.
Kitchen/Garden
Waste added
Empty drum. Rinse out inside of drum, being
careful that liquid does not overflow out of the
drawer opening. Restart compost according to
“Initial System Startups”.
Follow instructions for “Compost Too Dry” above.
And also add 1/2 gallon (2 litres) of peat moss.
Follow “ONGOING TOILET MAINTENANCE”, and
also add 1/2 gallon (2 litres) of wood shavings.
Begin using 100% wood shavings as bulking
material.
1. Remove compost until drum is only half full or
less. Rotate compost thoroughly to aerate,
and add compost accelerants (Compost Quick
and Microbe Mix) if available.
2. If you need to dump more than one drawer of
compost, and you do not already have a suit-
able backyard compost heap, you may try an
open-slatted wooden crate (such as the kind
used to pack age fruits and vegetables). Layer
compost with bulking material and leave crate
outside for around 2 months to finish com-
posting.
When used normally, antibiotics will
only slightly slow compost. Add
Sun-Mar Microbe Mix and/or
Compost Quick during this period to
accelerate compost action.
Urinating elsewhere during this
period will also help minimize the
damage to the compost.
Follow recommendations for check-
ing and adding moisture in “PERI-
ODIC CHECKUP”.
Drum should be turned three times
a week, 6-12 rotations each time;
or before departure for weekend
use.
Use proper bulking material.
When drum is 1/2 full, remove
some compost to the finishing
drawer by rotating the drum back-
wards, to avoid surprise over-filling
of drum. Do NOT let drum get
above 2/3 full. (The drum is 2/3 full
when the level of the compost
reaches 2-3 inches below where
the drum door hangs) This will lead
to lack of aeration, and anaerobic
compost, and the inconvenience of
having to remove more than one
drawer.
Do Not add kitchen or garden
waste.
- 11 -
- 18 -
