portable composting toilet

[Ray]

We are considering a composting toilet for the Tvan for remote trips. If anyone has one we would like to hear how it is working for you. We think the Cuddy is the best option so far.

thanks,
Ray

[Chuin]

Ray

While we haven't got one, we recently ordered a Cuddy after much research. Haven't used it yet though so can't provide any insight

[Ray]

Chuin, Thanks for the comment.
We have been using the Cuddy toilet for a week at home, so far working well, minimum smell issues. We are using coconut coir as the composting medium. We will take it on a road trip next week. We have found the lid wants to fall shut when toilet is in use, still working out the best way to keep it open without attaching anything that will void the warranty.

[Gumb]

Do these composting toilets need power 24/7 ? If so, how do you manage that in a camper like the Tvan.

[Ray]

The Cuddy has a small fan and carbon filter, the fan can be adjusted to become a small exhaust fan if access to the outside is available. The suppliers say it will work fine without the fan but it does provide faster drying of the composting material. We will connect it to the tvan 12 volts when stopped, but leave it off when travelling.

[Gumb]

I had a look at the videos and spoke to the supplier, Michael. Mine is on the way. 

[Ray]

The Cuddy has a small fan and carbon filter, the fan can be adjusted to become a small exhaust fan if access to the outside is available. The suppliers say it will work fine without the fan but it does provide faster drying of the composting material. We will connect it to the tvan 12 volts when stopped, but leave it off when travelling.

After a week or so of use we found some condensation and water collecting in the bottom of the box. I have turned the fan fitting around to make it exhaust externally to see if it keeps the inside dry. Otherwise working well, it did need a hosing and wipe out as well.

[Gumb]

According to the info online condensation inside means it's working as it should.

[robstevens]

Read the website - still have no idea how this actually "composts" the poo - does it just dry it out, when mixed with the coconut fibre? Isn't there a bad odour until it dries out?

[Ray]

Seems to be minimal smell, certainly none when the lid is down. We expect to leave it closed when driving and vented outside (or put it outside in the ensuite) when camped. Theory is the smell is made worse by a combination of poo and pee. The urine collection bottle seems to contain the smell very well, only smells when being emptied. Now that we have it venting outside it is staying quite dry inside as well.

One thing that concerns me is the top lid flops back when the seat is raised to access the collection buckets. Only a matter of time till the plastic hinges break unless care is taken to hold the lid.

[Gumb]

Our has metal hinges and the lid stays upright when open. After 5 days use I'm happy with the result and there's no small apart from a slight compost soil smell when open. I ran the fan inside the unit using the internal charoal filter since I was only away 5 days. I got power to run the fan from my Bluetti EB70 and it didn't budge of 100% full the whole time so power draw on the fan is virtually non existant and if running off the Tvan house batteries you wouldn't even notice it.

Happy with my Cuddy so far.

[Gumb]

We've just come back from a couple of 7 day trips and the Cuddy is performing well. The wife is the one who'll determine whether it's a keeper or not and she's more than happy with it.

No toilet odours at all and it's so handy not having to find a dump point or dig a hole to empty the porta potti.

It's a winner for us.

[Chuin]

Same as Gumb. Come back from 3 weeks away, (Central Qld and it was hot). While we didn't use it all the time, it has been fantastic. No smell apart from the dirt smell, each to set up - we carry it in the front cone and move it the shower tent when set up. That's when we connect power to unit, otherwise its good in the cone. Wife absolutely loves it for the height. And no, didn't have to empty it all while out and about. I will be emptying now we are home for a month or so.

[Ray]

We found a little bit of rust forming on the metal hinges after 4 days of cool wetish weather. Hopefully the spray of fish oil will stop that. Apparently stainless hinges are becoming available 'soon'.

[Gumb]

WD 40 or what I use, Corrosion X helps stop that.