Porta-Potti & Holding tanks

S

Shadowcruzr

Active member
exMember
Joined
Jan 1, 2000
RO Number
1702
Messages
1,621
I have a porta-potti type set up with a deck pump out fitting. Would adding a macerator to the output of the potti self-prime and pump the potti into a larger holding tank that was then plumbed to the deck fitting? In other words, I need more storage capacity for in between pumpouts and dont want to buy a vacu-flush system.
 
Why not just use a real head and plumb it to a holding tank? No need to spend money on a vacu-flush for something as simple as that.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Capt. Bill1

Why not just use a real head and plumb it to a holding tank? No need to spend money on a vacu-flush for something as simple as that.

Click to expand...


I think that's the best idea. Manual heads start at about $150.00, less if you catch them on sale. All the other costs will be the same.

Edit: OK , I forgot about flushing. You'll need a through hull and seacock to provide flushing water. But how does the porta pottie flush? Just dumps? Carries it's own water supply?

You don'r absolutely need the through hull and seacock, you can carry a container of water to flush the head but that's a pretty mickey mouse solution.
 
You very likely -can- use a mascerator between the porta-pot to a holding tank. I'm not sure I like that plan, though I can't think of a reason why... Mostly, it seems like a kludge, and I think I'd trust a known system design more.

I would most likely replace the porta-pot with a manual raw water flush system and a H/T of the appropriate size.
 
My old Sea Ray came from the factory with a Porta-potty. It was also plumbed to a mascerator & then to a y-valve. One output of the wye went to a thru hull for overboard pump out. The other wye output went to a holding tank.
Al
 
Our boat came with a porta potty that held 4 gallons in it. When full, it had a hand pump
that pumped it to a Y-valve that went either overboard or to the tank. I hated having poop
storage in the boat. I went with a normal marine toilet to the tank with a Y out the bottom
of the tank that went to the deck pump out and the other side to a macerator pump that went
overboard.
No more stinky stuff in the cabin. No amount of blue stuff would keep this smell down.
 
I cant use a normal toilet because it an the tank would be on the same level (thus the tank fill would be above the pot). I didnt want to spend the money for a new toilet, I just want to be able to move the effluent out of the potti holding tank to an engine room holding tank.
 
Paul, it'll work, but there are two issues to be aware of:

1) The existing Porta-Pottie tank will have to be vented (if it isn't already), or you'll have to crack open the slide valve on the Porta-Pottie. Otherwise, the macerator pump won't pump. It has to have air coming into the tank in order to pump.

2) It'll have to be run off of a momentary switch so that you can stop it as soon as it starts to "gurgle" when it's empty. Otherwise you'll burn out the impeller inside the macerator pump if it is allowed to run dry.
 
THe potti is vented so that isnt a problem. I would also vent the holding tank.

Good point on the switch.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Shadowcruzr

THe potti is vented so that isnt a problem. I would also vent the holding tank.

Click to expand...

You have to vent the holding tank. Without a vent, you can't put liquid in because air can't get out and you can't pump liquid out because air can't get in.
 
Ron yes you are correct. I should have said the potti already has a vent and I would have to add a second one for the holding tank.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Shadowcruzr

Ron yes you are correct. I should have said the potti already has a vent and I would have to add a second one for the holding tank.

Click to expand...


If you buy a pre-made holding tank, it will have a fitting for a vent line.

The vent and the inlet will be near the top, the discharge (there will be one or two) will be at the bottom.
 
A vented loop will take care of the different levels of potty and tank.
Jimmy
 
JAJ: I dont understand what your getting at? Can you expand on your response?
 
quote:
Originally posted by jaj63207

A vented loop will take care of the different levels of potty and tank.
Jimmy

Click to expand...


A vented loop it to keep water from siphoning into the boat from a below the waterline through hull.
 
Ok I can understand that but how would it pertain to a porta potti and a holding tank that are mounted on the same level? No thru hulls involved.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Shadowcruzr

Ok I can understand that but how would it pertain to a porta potti and a holding tank that are mounted on the same level? No thru hulls involved.

Click to expand...


It doesn't (the vented loop). Only jaj63207 can explain what he meant.
 
The forward head on my Carver 3607 is lower than the Lectra san I installed. With no vented loop, there was water about half way up the toilet bowl. The contents of the six foot head discharge hose would back into the toilet. I installed a vented loop behind the head, about three inches higher than than the top of the Lectra san. The electric head pumps out faster than it pumps in resulting in a nearly dry bowl after each flush. Works for me.
Jimmy
 
shadowcruzr I have the same set up with the port potti as you i also what to add a tank with a macerator. did you do it yet and how did it come out any input you could give would help
Thanks
Tony
GMC(SW) USN Ret
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top