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Old 09-04-2009, 19:26   #1
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LectraSan Toilet Waste Treatment System

I have the old above system, not the new Lectra Scan, the latter which claims it uses up to 37% less power.

Can't find anywhere how many amps my Lectra San system uses each time you flush a toilet.

I do know a sailing mate of mine calls it a "Crapper Zapper" because he believes they use a lot of power with each flush. Doing electrical demands calculation so would appreciate some help.

William
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Old 09-04-2009, 19:42   #2
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Quote:
Can't find anywhere how many amps my Lectra San system uses each time you flush a toilet.
5.5 amps for 2 minutes is the treatment cycle. Your fridge runs about the same number of amps for 50% of the time it's turned on.
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Old 09-04-2009, 19:51   #3
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That's all??? Does that include the electrical toilet flushing? If not what does that usually use?

I ask as I'm reading BL's book 'Voyager's Hanbook, 2nd Edition (mush better than the 1st Edition) and she uses an example that states 20amps!mention

BTW, thanks for the quick response.
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Old 10-04-2009, 03:18   #4
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Old 10-04-2009, 03:41   #5
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Flushing is not included. That I have not tried to measure that part. The treatment cycle I can see on my battery monitor and it is 2 minutes long. Flushing would include the fresh water pump plus the macerator. It's just a matter of seconds. I'm not sure what the old ones used. Ours is only about 4 years old so I think that is after they changed them. WE use the fresh water purasan system. It's virtually identical except is also uses a Hypo Chloride injection system instead of salt water. I think it makes for less maintenance on the head, but you do use fresh water.

I think if you look at in terms of 2 minutes you can do the math and it isn't much power in terms of amp hours used. You can also tell when you look at the install manual as the wire size is important as far as voltage drop. If you flush 10 times a day that is still only 0.33 hours a day times the amps used. The short time it runs just makes it hard to be even on the top 10 list of things that use a lot of power. Your fridge runs on average 12.0 hours a day.
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Old 10-04-2009, 03:47   #6
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Comparing the Lectrasan manual to the Purasan manual I see it claims to use a lot more than the purasan.
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Old 10-04-2009, 11:49   #7
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Question Blonde moment???

Unless I'm having a "Blonde Moment", here is what I conclude from two very different answers, based on my understanding of calculating load demands. Most/all instumentation indicates an amp figure which you use to calculate ONE amp-hr (Ah).

E.G. Raymarine states an E120 draws 2.5 amps, so every hour I have it turned on is 2.5 Ahs.

5.5 amps over 2 minutes equates to 165 amps per hour (amp-hour).

I reviewed the documentation you suggested which states:
amp draw at nominal voltage (12DCV) 50 amps, which suggests to me that every 2 minute cycle uses 1.67 Ah!

Perhaps someone with more expertise than me (which should be easy to find) can explain???

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Old 10-04-2009, 13:02   #8
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amp-hour is not amps per hour, it is hours of amps. That is amps * hours, not amps / hours.
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Old 10-04-2009, 13:05   #9
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To do the math on the numbers given, 5.5 amps * 2 minutes = 5.5*2/60 amp-hours = 0.18 amp-hours
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Old 10-04-2009, 13:10   #10
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We have the LectraSan MC in the forward head aboard our boat. The power draw during the treatment phase--which lasts two minutes--is about 50 Amps (at 12 volts) which corresponds with the numbers given in Raritan's owner's manual. That amounts to about 1.67 Amp Hours of use (=50 x [2/60]).

FWIW...
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Old 10-04-2009, 18:40   #11
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Wink And (I believe) the winner is

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have had demonstrated once again on CF, different interpretations of the English language resulting IMHO correct and incorrect advice.

Sorry sec906, I believe you are incorrect and svHyLyte is "spot on", it's 1.67 Ah per flush.

I've also added in the stated amps for the toilet motor (10 amps) so it is

50amps (Raritan literature) + 10amps (Jabsco literature) = (60/60) x 2 = 2 Ahoin r
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Old 13-04-2009, 08:44   #12
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Info from Raritan

13 April 2009 -- William

Thank you for your e-mail message from Thursday past. I can’t make any firm statements on the part of Jabsco, who is one of our competitors; you’ll have to get that specific information from them. If memory serves correctly, they draw around 16 or 18 amps while they are running, but I cannot say for sure.

As for our Electro-scan, a 12 volt unit draws approximately 5 amps for the first 30 seconds, then it switches to the second (treatment) cycle, where it draws 36-37 amps continually for an additional two minutes. The total cycle is 2.5 minutes, and it is supposed to be operated every time the toilet is flushed. Earlier model Lectra/San units (before 2005) drew 50 amps during the second (treatment cycle) after the first 30 seconds had expired.

I've inquired how then can they promote a 37% reduction in power consumption
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