Self Designed Large Capacity Compost Head

[Ocean Girl]

Rain catcher?

[jkindredpdx]

Nice thread Gordo... Thanks to you and everyone for the info.

I collected my parts and I'm starting my project this week. Due to tight space mine will be a custom installation. I was worried when I raised the idea with my GF, but she is an enthusiastic supporter.

[magentawave]

The guy that wrote that book swears that there is no need to separate the pee from the poo as long as you cover the stuff with saw dust or some other organic material. I even emailed him about that just to see if he had changed his mind in the years since he wrote his book.

Originally Posted by belizesailor

Great source of composting head info

The Humanure Handbook - Center of the Humanure Composting Universe

[magentawave]

Is that pee diverter something we can buy? If so, where please?

Originally Posted by Ocean Girl

Sorry took so long to post the pic of the c head urine diverter, CHead promptly sent it to me, but I was just now able to get it from the post office ( long story)

Anyways, it's quite a beauty very stout and it looks like he glassed most of it.
Can only seem to post one picture at a time, so more posts to come.

[Cotemar]

There are a few different urine diverters inserts on the market.

The Privy kit 501 seem to be popular.

https://www.google.com/search?q=urin...AsTV2QXf84DoCA

DIY Composting Toilet part 2 - YouTube

[ElGatoGordo]

They're actually hard to come by. The privy Is what I got, took way too long to ship and the American rep isn't too helpful.

Having laid hands on ocean girl's I like it much better

[Cotemar]

You can order the C Head one right from the C Head site.

C-Head portable composting toilets

[Ocean Girl]

Yes, C Head has em, but caution, it is designed for the c head. My beautiful solid wood toilet seat will not work with it. But we are still very happy with the diverter, just had to rethink design. It was, I think, 90 bucks, so funnel might be a smarter was to go. I will let you know when we are further down the road if buying a fancy smcancy diverter was worth it.
Will post pictures as soon as it is complete. Inland for family stuff :-( sigh, I love my family, I just wish they lived on boats too.

[Ocean Girl]

Oh and not sure if I've already posted this but word of caution from c head, the pee tank must be portable. Otherwise, your tank will be subjected to CG approval.

[magentawave]

And here is a pee diverter on eBay for $55 with free shipping: Urine Separator Diverter Waterless Composting Dry Natural Toilet Insert | eBay

[jkindredpdx]

Originally Posted by magentawave

And here is a pee diverter on eBay for $55 with free shipping: Urine Separator Diverter Waterless Composting Dry Natural Toilet Insert | eBay

And IMHO they are all expensive for a little piece of plastic. I'm in the middle of my rebuild and will soon be experimenting with forming... My first attempt will be taking an oven, heat gun, and cobbled up form to modify a $5 bedpan. I'll eventually post something on my blog with the process and pictures.

[magentawave]

I agree that the prices of those pee diverters are crazy expensive! I mean c'mon, $50 to $100 for a little piece of plastic?! I don't know how much demand there is for those things but it seems like there is an opportunity there. Hmmm, your idea of modifying a plastic bed pan could be good. I'm going to look into that. If not suitable then I'm probably going to modify a pre-made plastic funnel like the guy in that "$10 to $20 compost toilet" thread did.

[Canibul]

This is a perfect application for a 3D printer. I've finally gotten to the point where I can think up the part I want on a CAD program and print it within the hour in most cases. For simple things like you're needing here. Have you drawn this piece out with anything like Sketchup? Any chance you could design a part that would work and be no bigger than 200 mm in any one direction?

How about making a fiberglass one?

[jkindredpdx]

Originally Posted by Canibul

This is a perfect application for a 3D printer. I've finally gotten to the point where I can think up the part I want on a CAD program and print it within the hour in most cases. For simple things like you're needing here. Have you drawn this piece out with anything like Sketchup? Any chance you could design a part that would work and be no bigger than 200 mm in any one direction?

How about making a fiberglass one?

3D printer would be awesome... I started free version of SketchUp Make | SketchUp last week. Watch the training videos and the tool is easily used...I learned it in less than one evening and have several scale 3D models of head layouts and details of the pooper and parts including stirrer and urine separator. It's a little difficult to deal with the irregular shapes on a boat, but gives good information about interferences and dimensional restrictions. I used a tape measure and iPhone camera to get all my dimensions. Definitely worth 10 times the price $0.

[Ocean Girl]

Yes, I agree, $90 for a diverter is crazy. I was one of the first customer to ask to buy the C Head diverter alone. I could tell he felt bad charging that amount, but that is how much labor and supplies he has in it. It's really over built.

One big reason why I went with it is because it is deep. I've been offshore in Rain Dog with a boat load of guys, heeling at 30, in a gale. As soon as they peed in the head the pee would slosh out!! We had puddles of pee, I was not in my happy place .

So if you go funnel, be sure to take in account wave action and heeling. A nice deep funnel with big drain would be my advice.



Cheers
Erika