Sun Mar Compact Composting Toilet - AC - Internal Composting - Self Contained
Price: £2,323 inc. VAT | €2,525 inc. VAT
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The Sun Mar Compact composting toilet is rated for 1 adult on a constant basis or 3 adults or a family of 4 on a weekend or holiday basis. The Sun Mar Compact is an elegant low profile unit with a stylish appearance. Sun-Mar’s engineers designed this low profile unit by developing and patenting a new variable diameter Bio-Drum (video) which is small at the front and large at the rear. To maintain the uninterrupted lines of the Sun Mar Compact, a patented Bio-drum handle recesses into the body of the unit to mix and aerate the compost. There are a number of factors that aid aerobic composting which are important to know. Use the handle at the front of the composting toilet to rotate the drum every two days. Once a month or so roll the drum anticlockwise to drop some compost into the finishing drawer where is remains for at least another month to break down and cure. This method means that the user never has to handle any unbroken down waste.
- Capacity – Rated for 1 adult in constant use or 3-4 people non-constant use
Built in to the Sun Mar Compact composting toilet there is a thermostatically controlled heating element to aid evaporation of excess urine. The heating element also provides a base line temperature to aid composting and ensures that any liquid output is safe as per the NSF certification. As with the Sun Mar Excel composting toilet there is a fan with a 2″ vent outlet that exits horizontally from the Compact. The fan has an optional speed controller to turn down the fan and a carbon vent outlet filter box to take odours from the exhaust. A 3/4″ emergency drain at the rear offers protection against heavy or residential use, or prolonged power outage.
Composting Toilet patented Sun Mar design has 3 Chambers
The Composting Toilet First Chamber – Bio-Drum
Sun-Mar’s Unique Bio-Drum
The Sun Mar Bio Drum is an integral part of the composting toilet. Composting requires an environment where there is warmth, moisture, organic material, and oxygen. Sun-Mar creates this ideal environment in the patented Bio-Drum. The unique Sun-Mar Bio-drum ensures aerobic microbes flourish, which work much more quickly to break down waste in the composting toilet and convert it back to earth.
Composting Toilet Operational Simplicity
Waste and mulch enter through the waste inlet port at the top of the drum. To mix and aerate, rotate the drum periodically, simply by turning the handle on the front of self-contained units or on the side of centex units. During rotation the inlet door closes automatically keeping the compost in the drum. To empty compost from the composting toilet simply release the drum locker and rotate the drum backwards. Now, the inlet port in the Bio-Drum opens automatically and compost drops directly into the compost finishing drawer. After rotating, the Bio-drum locks itself in a top dead center position ready to receive new material.
Advantages of the Sun Mar Bio-Drum
Supplying Oxygen in the Composting Toilet
Sun-Mar’s unique Bio-Drum design allows the user to roll the compost through 360 degrees. It is the easiest and best possible way to thoroughly and completely mix and oxygenate the compost. Rotate the drum, and the entire compost pile is tumbled and infused with oxygen. Oxygen is one key ingredient which allows aerobic bacteria to break down waste quickly and without odor.
Controlling Moisture in the Composting Toilet
Moisture control, the other basic requirement for good composting, is one of the outstanding benefits offered only by Sun-Mar’s Bio-drum. Below 40% moisture content, composting slows and eventually stops completely. By not applying direct heat to the compost, Sun-Mar ensures that it does not dry out. In addition, the tumbling action during periodic mixing distributes moisture evenly throughout the compost. The ideal moisture content in the composting toilet is 40-60%. Above 60% moisture content, liquid starts to drive out the oxygen in the compost, and the compost becomes increasingly anaerobic,- like a septic system. Sun-Mar’s unique Bio-drum optimizes composting speeds by automatically draining any excess liquid through a screen at the bottom of the drum directly into the evaporation chamber.
Maintaining Warmth in the Composting Toilet
The microbes generate their own heat as they work. This warmth is held in the compost by the mass of material inside the drum, supported by indirect heat from the base heater (in electric units). By avoiding direct heat, Sun-Mar ensures that composting will not slow down as the material gets dried out.
The Ideal Environment for Aerobic Bacteria in the Composting Toilet
Uneven distribution of oxygen and moisture allows anaerobic bacteria to take over. These microbes produce bad odors and do not allow the waste to break down quickly. The superior oxygenation and moisture control provided by the Bio-drum provides the ideal environment for aerobic bacteria to odorlessly break down organic material. They quickly convert organic material into water and carbon dioxide, and leave behind simple salts which are ideal for uptake by plants.
Composting Toilet Second Chamber – Evaporation Chamber
The second chamber in the Sun Mar composting toilet is the evaporation chamber. Compost must be kept moist but not saturated. Excess liquid from the Bio-Drum strains through a stainless mesh screen onto the evaporation chamber. The Sun Mar evaporation chamber maximises evaporation of liquid due to the large surface area combined with heat and moving air.
On all Sun Mar Centrex composting toilets the liquid falls first onto an evaporating tray and then to the main evaporating surface. The tray not only helps oxygenate this liquid, it also traps any peat mix debris, and almost doubles the evaporating surface. Evaporating trays can be removed and cleaned if necessary, through the door opening on the Centrex 2000 composting toilets, and through the drawer access port on Centrex 3000.
For optimum results evaporation is assisted on 230 Volt electric models by a thermostatically controlled heating element. Sealed in a compartment underneath the evaporating chamber, the heater warms the floor of the evaporating chamber without drying out the compost. In non-electric units, although some liquid is evaporated by passive venting, the overflow drains must always be connected.
Composting Toilet Third Chamber – Finishing Drawer
- Composting can be completed in the drawer without contamination by fresh waste.
- Compost in the drawer is gradually dried until ready for removal
- Finished compost can be simply and safely removed
The composting toilet finishing drawer is the third chamber and it serves two functions. To receive the compost in an easily accessible isolated container, and complete the composting and sanitation processes.
All Sun Mar Composting Toilets Except Centrex 3000 Series
- Compost drops directly into the finishing drawer when the drum is rotated backwards/ anticlockwise.
- Composting is completed in the drawer, where it is isolated from fresh waste and possible contamination.
- While in the drawer, the compost is surrounded by a stream of drying air, and gradually dries prior to removal.
- The finishing drawer is removed by hand, and the sanitized compost may be emptied whenever more compost is to be extracted from the drum.
- For seasonal units, several drawers may be removed in the Spring, reducing the compost level in the drum to 6-8 inches to make room for next year’s operation.
Centrex 3000 Composting Toilet Series Only
- There are two compost finishing drawers in the Centrex 3000 series. Both are easily removed by hand and are interchangeable.
- The first drawer is inside the collection housing at the side of the unit. This is where the finished compost automatically falls after leaving the second section of the Bio-drum.
- The second drawer is located inside the unit. Moving compost from the first drawer to this second station allows the composting cycle to be extended if necessary. This can help ensure the compost is safe to handle.
- For seasonal units, the second section of the drum can be emptied in the spring by rotating the drum backwards/ anticlockwise and dropping compost into the second drawer.
Product Features
- Electric Unit
- Medium Capacity
- Seat height 545mm
Available Colors
- White
- Bone
Composting Toilet Capacity
- 1-2 Residential
- 3-4 Weekend and Vacation Use
| Listed composting toilet capacities refer to the amount of people, on average, using the unit per day. Do not pick a unit that is below your capacity. | ||||||||||||
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| Electric must be connected while the unit is in AC use for proper operation | ||||||||||||
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The key points to consider when installing the 2” electric vent pipe vent are:
- The vent pipe must always have an upward slope to insure that condensation is able to drain back into the unit. Otherwise the condensation will accumulate in the vent pipe, causing an airflow constriction.
- All vent pipe that is exposed to the outside or in a non-heated space should be insulated if using the unit during cold weather.
- Install the vent so it terminates 24 to 30 inches above the highest peak of the roof.
- If more than 36 inches of vent needed above the roof line to reach required height, use guide wires to secure the vent above the roof.
- If you will be installing venting on a steeply pitched roof where snow shear may occur; Install a thicker gage pipe through the roof and feed the supplied vent through the thicker gage pipe. Seal between the pipes with expandable foam or other such water-tight substance.
- Limit bends in the vent stack to no more than 4 that have a combined total of 180 °.
- The vent must be installed separately from ALL other household vents.
- All connectors in the vent pipe should be joined using PVC cement. The only exception is the connection between the vent and the fan assembly where silicone caulking should be used.
- The diffusor should be glued vertically on to the top of the vent pipe. This assembly helps draw air up the vent pipe.
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Sun Mar Composting Toilet Use & Maintenance Overview
Operating a Sun-Mar composting toilet is easy. There are two things that you have to do on a routine basis – rotate the drum and add bulking material, at the rate of a cupful per person per day.
When it comes time to empty, you are never dealing with fresh waste; when the drum is 1/2 full, you rotate the Bio-Drum backwards by releasing the drum locker and dump some compost into the finishing drawer. Leave it there to finish batch composting for 4 weeks. If large lumps develop in the drum break them up with the rake to ensure good aeration. The following sections give more detail on use and maintenance. Please also see our installation section for more detail.
Action | Description | Why? |
| ADD | 10-15 litres of peat mix (roughly half the 30 litre bag provided) to the drum. | Provides Carbon base and initial mass for compost. |
| ADD | 1/2 Microbe Mix packet at startup, other 1/2 in two weeks (or on next visit if in cottage use). | Adds necessary microbes which will break down the compost. |
| SPRINKLE | About 2 litres of warm water into the drum. | Moistens carbon base |
| PLUG IN | Power cord on unit to get fan and heating element working (electric models only). | The unit is ready for use |
| SPRAY | “Compost Quick” enzymes into drum before and after mixing. Coat the evaporation chamber with it before using the unit. | Speeds start up of compost by acting as a catalyst to assist bacteriaPrevents possibility of start-up odor in the evaporation chamber |
| RAKE | Loose peat moss from the evaporation chamber until the compost is established, which takes approximately 6 weeks. | Until the compost is active, some peat mix may fall through the screen or drum door into the evaporating chamber. |
Add..
Add 1 cupful (or 2 handfuls) of Sun-Mar Compost Sure (or 50/50 mixture of peat moss and non-cedar wood shavings) to the Bio-Drum after every bowel movement. This usually represents one cupful per person per day of use. If you have a central unit, peat mix only needs to be added when you do your rotations at the end of the weekend (cottage use) or once every 2nd day (residential/weekly use).
Why?
- Maintains the Carbon/Nitrogen balance in the composting toilet
- Absorbs liquid
- Helps oxygenate the compost for aerobic composting
Turn Handle…
Rotate the drum 4-6 complete revolutions, three times a week when the composting toilet is in use, or, if used only at weekends, only on departure.
Why?
- Mixes and oxygenates the compost
Unplug…
If you are leaving for a period of more than a few days it is best to power the composting toilet down. Consider installing a timer to shut the composting toilet off after 48 hours to evaporate excess liquid. If you are leaving for a period of more than few days, or the compost appears dry, add approximately 1/2 gallon of warm water before leaving to keep the compost moist.
Why?
- unplugging composting toilet will conserve power and keep compost from drying.
- addition of water helps keep the compost moist
Empty…
Empty some compost into the finishing drawer when the Bio-Drum is 1/2 full. To empty some compost into the finishing drawer, pull the drum locker button and rotate the handle counter-clockwise. Turn at the same speed you would normally do for mixing. If necessary, use the rake to level the compost in the drawer. Leave the compost in the finishing drawer to finish for 4 weeks or until you next need to remove compost from the drum. If your unit is used seasonally and is not used heavily, you may not have to remove any compost at all during the season.
Why?
- Moves some compost to the next stage for finishing
- Ensures that the drum does not get too full
- Provides Extra Time for composting to be completed.
What To Do with the Composting Toilet at the Beginning of the Season?
Empty…
Empty any compost that had been left in the finishing drawer, and use the rake to clean out the evaporation chamber, paying special attention to the back two corners of the unit (or left hand side if it is a Centrex family unit).
- Your fertilizer is ready
- This is a good time to remove peat debris from the evaporation chamber.
Remove from The Composting Toilet…
Remove additional drawers of compost if there is more than 6 to 8 inches (150-200mm) of compost in the Bio-Drum. This is done by releasing the drum lock, and rotating the handle counter-clockwise to extract compost into the drawer. Since it will have been sitting over the winter and decomposing in the fall and spring, it will be finished and may be removed immediately, without any extra time needed to finish the compost in the drawer. Several drawers may be removed in this fashion if necessary. Be sure to leave 6-8 inches of compost in the composting toilet to start off the season with a “starter batch” of compost.
- Frees space in the drum for the new season’s composting.
Add to the Composting Toilet…
Add 2 litres of warm water.
- Raises moisture level
As an option for optimal composting:
Add Sun Mar Microbe Mix or unsterilized black earth from a garden center. We do not recommend using topsoil as it may contain fly larvae, and may not contain all of the bacterium required. Sun Mar Compost Quick enzyme can also be used as a compost accelerant.
- Even though the compost still has microbes in it, you may want to start the year by replenishing microbes.
- Compost Quick helps to accelerate the action of the microbes
Products are only certified by NSF after an exhaustive 6 month test. Backed up by satisfactory experience in the field which requires, amongst many requirements, that there is no odour, even during overload testing, the compost produced has to contain extremely low levels of faecal coliform.
Only products certified and listed by NSF may bear the NSF mark, which is required by many regulatory bodies to prove that the composting toilet does indeed meet the NSF standard. Sun-Mar composting toilets are alone in being able to bear the NSF mark as being certified for cottage and residential use.
View the “NSF/ANSI STANDARD 41 Non-Liquid Saturated Treatment Systems” Listing Page here.
You can also view the NSF Fact Sheet here. (in PDF format)
Q. How much odour comes from a composting toilet?
None. Air is being continuously drawn in to the unit and up the vent stack, creating a partial vacuum in the unit. In addition, the composting drum fosters a good aerobic compost which produces no odours.
Q. How often do you empty a Sun Mar Composting Toilet?
Never completely. You typically empty some of the compost out of the drum once per year for cottage use, once every few months for residential use. In cases of continuous use, you may extract some compost more often. This always sits in the drawer to cure before being removed – you are never handling any fresh waste when the unit is properly operated.
Q. Do I add any chemicals to the Composting Toilet?
No. The only thing that is added is mulch (60% wood shavings, 40% peat moss, or Sun-Mar’s Compost Sure peat mix with hemp). Chemicals are, in fact, dangerous to the composting process and should never be added at all.
Q. What happens in the winter?
Nothing. The compost remains in the drum and freezes, so no composting is taking place. The elements will NOT damage the system during the winter months. In fact, waste can be added in limited quantities during the winter for use as a holding tank, if you are only planning to use the composting toilet about once a month.
Q. Can the composting toilet be used all winter?
Yes. If the area where the composting unit is heated to a minimum 13 degrees Celsius throughout the winter, then composting will occur.
Q. How much electricity do they use?
About 150 Watts. The electric units require hydro to power a fan (30 Watts continuous) and a heating element that is thermostatically controlled. The average draw is about 150 Watts, or the equivalent of a lightbulb. Larger models may have larger power requirements. Please contact us at Toilet Revolution for a spreadsheet to estimate yearly running costs
Q. What if no electricity is available?
No problem. Each Sun-Mar composting toilet is available in non-electric version.
Q. How do you clean it the Composting Toilet?
You only have to clean the bowl (in a central system) or the bowl liner (self-contained unit) as you would a regular bowl, except without the use of chemicals. Recommended cleaners are Sun-Mar Compost Quick or hot water that is mixed with baking soda or vinegar.
Q. Does the Fiberglass used in Sun Mar composting toilets smell?
No. Off gassing from the fiberglass production process does produce an odor, but it is gone by the time that the composting toilet is built and boxed.
Q. What kind of plastics Are used in production?
We use high quality, recyclable, cold-resistant plastics. Sun-Mar engineers use the best materials for each part of the composting toilet. We find that this produces a better product than using one material throughout.
Q. Where are Sun Mar Composting toilets built?
At our plant in Burlington, Ontario, Canada. Please feel free to come and see us anytime during business hours.
Q. How Do You Get the Most Capacity out of a Composting Toilet System?
Different sizes of drums. Common sense tells us that more people means more waste, and for more waste we need a bigger composting vessel. Sun Mar is the only company that offers a larger solution for a larger problem.
Q. Why are you saying that you have the only Residential and Cottage use systems certified and listed under NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) Standard 41?
The facts are right here on NSF’s website. We have the only Residential and Cottage use composting toilet systems certified and listed under NSF Standard 41. If you have any questions please contact NSF directly.
Q. Why does no-one else use a drum inside a composting toilet?
They can’t. Many of our drum design features are patented.
Q. What is the warranty?
All Sun Mar composting toilets carry a full 5 year replacement warranty on the fiberglass tank and a comprehensive 3 year replacement warranty on all other parts.
Q. What parts wear out?
Like brakes or tires on a car, certain parts eventually need to be replaced. On Sun-Mar composting toilets, the fan and the thermostat can fail after a number of years. In both cases the parts are relatively inexpensive and are easily accessible for you to repair.
Q. Is the Fan Noisy?
The fan on AC composting toilets is just as noticeable as an oscillating room fan in terms of noise level. If you are concerned about fan noise being a problem, you can purchase a fan speed control with your unit that will allow you to turn down the fan speed, and therefore the noise, whenever you like. You may have heard from users of older Sun-Mar units (pre-1998) that their fans were noisy. They were noisier than the current model, as the fan was from a different manufacturer and of an entirely different design. Just another example of how we are always improving your composting toilet experience.
Q. On a central system, how far away from the toilet bowl can the composting unit be located?
Up to 15 feet (4500 mm) is usually safe. We have encountered cases that have had longer distances, but in every case we recommend that you carefully follow installation instructions. It is very important that you carefully measure the slope of the pipe in any case.
Q. How many toilets can I hook up to a central composting toilet system?
You may connect up to 3 toilets to any one system. The amount of toilets is not as important as the number of people using the system.
Q. Can you throw toilet paper in the Composting toilet?
Yes. The paper is a source of carbon for the compost. You do not need to buy special toilet paper to use in our system, as a properly operating compost will break down regular toilet paper in a short period of time. Of course single ply will break down faster.
Q. Should males still urinate outside or in the outhouse?
No. In fact, the liquid is beneficial to the composting process.