Marine toilet and fresh water flush

[fishfoxey]

Hi is there anything out there to splice into the sea water flush circuit for my jabsco toilet to enable me to switch to use fresh water to flush rather than river water. Something along the lines of a switchable valve that can go into the pipe from the seacock allowing a switch over to a pipe running from the freshwater tank? Thx

 

[Alpha22]

What you are looking for is a 3-way valve... much depends on the dia of the pipework.
Personally I don't like the idea of having the toilet connected to the fresh water tank......

Jabsco Radial Y-Type Diverter Valve 38 mm - 1.5"

 

[beermonkey]

Is it true that flushing with fresh water, as opposed to sea-water, stops the accumulation over time of that familiar 'whiff'.

Many have made the claim, I'm not sure my snoz has ever been able to tell the difference.

 

[Momac]

I flush the toilet using the shower hose which is easy on my boat but maybe not on yours.

 

[harvey38]

Just getting our toilet system changed over from sea water flush overboard to fresh water and holding tank, much more hygienic, gets rid of the stink and better for the harbour.

 

[jrudge]

bear in mind the Wc will suck sea water and boat water is under pressure so just connecting to the pipe will not have a happy ending

 

[fishfoxey]

bear in mind the Wc will suck sea water and boat water is under pressure so just connecting to the pipe will not have a happy ending

Hi in what way? If I tap into the flush inlet but have the seacock closed when tapped into fresh water will this cause issues?

 

[fishfoxey]

I flush the toilet using the shower hose which is easy on my boat but maybe not on yours.

I'm liking this as the cheap option, I reckon mine would reach as well.

 

[ashtead]

You can certainly use the shower head to fill the exit pipe but it’s the inlet pipe from the seacock to the pump surely which causes the issues ?

 

[vas]

to follow on what JRudge said:
seawater flush, the toilet on pressing the button actively sucks water to flush.
freshwater flush, on opening the solenoid, freshwater will be on positive pressure trying to go through the impeller and fill the bowl.

So to have either, you need a 3way valve AND a solenoid and some smart electric setup.
When flushing sea you have the 3way on sea and hit the button
when flushing fresh, you have the 3way on fresh and on hitting the button, you close circuit to open up the solenoid that lets the fresh water reach the impeller.

In theory you could have a manual 3way which you turn accordingly and the solenoid wired to the flush button all the time. Even when flushing sea, opening the solenoid to the fresh wont do much as water will stop on the 3way.
obvs all that implies el. toilet, I guess manual will be a bit more complicated but never had a manual one

works, have done the solenoid on my jabsco style el. toilet, but have cancelled completely the seawater flushing.
no nasty smells anymore, v.happy!

V.

 

[jrudge]

As above water will just fill the Wc. There will be no solonoid to turn it off.

 

[Momac]

You can certainly use the shower head to fill the exit pipe but it’s the inlet pipe from the seacock to the pump surely which causes the issues ?

I have the inlet sea cock in the closed position. We get no smells .
I started flushing the loo with this method soon after buying our first boat in 2008.

 

[Greg2]

I have the inlet sea cock in the closed position. We get no smells .
I started flushing the loo with this method soon after buying our first boat in 2008.

But presumably the pump system is still trying to draw in river/sea water which will cause problems at some point? When opening only the outlet seacock to pump out accumulated water in the bowl on ours it is clear that pressure is overcoming seals in the pump.

 

[Momac]

But presumably the pump system is still trying to draw in river/sea water which will cause problems at some point? When opening only the outlet seacock to pump out accumulated water in the bowl on ours it is clear that pressure is overcoming seals in the pump.

If that is occurring it doesn't seem to be a problem providing the pump seals are okay.
I had a 'Jabsco electric conversion' pump which had been working well but eventually did seem to be causing a slight problem and needed a service kit.

Earlier this year , instead of a service kit on the electric pump , I changed to a manual twist and lock pump which was a big improvement and also . In fact it was so much better I don't intend to revert yo the electric pump.

 

[simonfraser]

You can certainly use the shower head to fill the exit pipe but it’s the inlet pipe from the seacock to the pump surely which causes the issues ?

for sure that is where the smell comes from, assuming you pump out sufficiently and there nothing left from the bowl in the outlet hose

my boat is on a trailer, only if i forget to pump out / empty the inlet hose when back on land, i get a smell when using the system for the first time

 

[Simon 420]

We only get the smell on the first flush afer the boat has been sitting for a while. Then it's not a problem

 

[Elessar]

Hi is there anything out there to splice into the sea water flush circuit for my jabsco toilet to enable me to switch to use fresh water to flush rather than river water. Something along the lines of a switchable valve that can go into the pipe from the seacock allowing a switch over to a pipe running from the freshwater tank? Thx

Yes. This.

Jabsco Fresh Water Electric Toilet Solenoid Valve 12V

It is an anti syphon valve designed for the job so no worries about connecting to the freshwater supply.

I changed one loo for a Tecma which is the best solution, the other was hard to change so I used this valve.

You’ll not go back.