Electra San Waste System Pro's and Cons

[Les_Curren]

On my boat I use the Electra san waist system. For the people who know not of this system, it is a sewage treatment system that uses 12VDC and salt to sterilize sewage. The sewage is turned into a dry powder that can be disposed of in any garbage can or just dumped on the ground.
I would like to hear pro's and con's related to useing this system in and over the road RV.
Questions about this type system are welcome however an online search will get you better info and probably more accurate answers.
RV.NET search has no mention of this system in the archives.

[mlts22]

If I want with a non-standard method, I'd go for an Incinolet, which is a propane fueled incinerator. Plop a liner in the toilet, do business, pull lever (which drops the paper to the fire), let it toast the refuse into ash.

[Harvey51]

Black water smells bad but it is fairly easy to treat and recycle completely. Salt water is trouble wherever it goes on land. It will interfere with sewage treatment after dumping.

[DiskDoctr]

How much salt water does each flush require? Won't that fill up your waste tank, too? How much salt does it use? I don't know the system you are describing.

As others mentioned, on a boat you have an 'unlimited' supply of water and unlimited dump capabilities of sanitized water.

In an RV, you often have a very limited 1) supply of water and/or 2) discharge of water and waste.

[Old-Biscuit]

Les Curren wrote:
Well two of you say I am trying to solve a problem that just doesn't exist. And maybe it doesn't exist for those who stay in organized campgrounds. Well ok lets say an rv'er is like me and doesn't stay in organized campgrounds but actually camps outs in the brush or maybe the desert. Now when our waste tank gets full we find it necessary to pick up and drive to a town or maybe a interstate where there is a dumpsite. Thats no little task packing up all your gear and coming down mountain roads or across twenty miles of desert sands.
But if we didn't have to leave every 4th or fifth day to dump sewage it would be much better.
Just a thought. Now maybe someone can pick holes in that thought.

1st hole) Usually will run out of fresh water before waste tanks are full.....

2nd hole) Install an extra drain valve towards end of drain line....now you can open all/some waste tank valves and equalize them extending your waste tank capacity.....$20

But hey..that's the neak thing about owning an RV....it's yours so you can do any modifications you want.
Post pic's when done.

[Les_Curren]

Well two of you say I am trying to solve a problem that just doesn't exist. And maybe it doesn't exist for those who stay in organized campgrounds. Well ok lets say an rv'er is like me and doesn't stay in organized campgrounds but actually camps outs in the brush or maybe the desert. Now when our waste tank gets full we find it necessary to pick up and drive to a town or maybe a interstate where there is a dumpsite. Thats no little task packing up all your gear and coming down mountain roads or across twenty miles of desert sands.
But if we didn't have to leave every 4th or fifth day to dump sewage it would be much better.
Just a thought. Now maybe someone can pick holes in that thought.

[wilpower]

It's a waste in boats, and it would be a bigger waste in RV's.
Like Old-Biscuit said you're trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist.
But, if you want to spend the $$$, go ahead and stimulate the economy.

[Old-Biscuit]

What ever floats your boat......Lectra/San away

[Les_Curren]

Old-Biscuit,
Well every one is entitled to their opinion, but it would be more impressive if you were not so negitive.
To start with the two tanks you mention are actually one and it is not much larger than a couple shoe boxs You don't not need a salt tank.
All you need is salt water which is easily come by if you simply ad a little table salt to each flush. You don't need to dump your sewage tank because the residue from the Electra San is only a very small amount of powder. Maybe a table spoon or two. The rest if any is simple water. As for the extra electric load, it draws 20amps for all of a couple minutes if that long.
Perhaps you would care to mention these so called "Assoiciated problems".

[Old-Biscuit]

The Lectra/San system typically uses salt water...readily available on the water.
If no salt water then a salt feed tank is needed.

Every time you flush toilet it discharges into a macerator tank then into a mixing tank and an electrical current is applied.
Treated waste is discharged with each flush.

Great for boats as it can just discharge right into the sea

An RV.....still going to have to discharge into a holding tank which one will still have to dump.
Will need the additional salt tank (plus water & salt) plus additional demand on 12V system to run macerator/mixer motor, power for electrodes and the additional space for the Lectra/San.

Macerator toilets for RV's are already available as are macerators.

Sounds like a lot of 'additions' to solve a problem that doesn't exist not to mention the associated problems that can arise with the system.

[2oldman]

I found one post in 2004 but nothing of any significance.