Tecma toilet problem

[Observer]

We have a Tecma toilet that is behaving oddly. When we visited the boat a few days ago, we found the heads had flooded with water from the toilet. The bowl was full of water and it appeared the 'before use' button had been operated repeatedly without the 'after use' button being used, with the result of water flooding over the rim of the bowl.

This would not have been possible if the battery switch had been set to 'off' by a previous user, but that's another issue.

While we were onboard, we actually heard, during the night, the 'before use' process operate a couple of times, apparently spontaneously. Clearly there is a fault, but where should I start looking? Does anybody have experience of similar problem.?

 

[longjohnsilver]

We have a Tecma toilet that is behaving oddly. When we visited the boat a few days ago, we found the heads had flooded with water from the toilet. The bowl was full of water and it appeared the 'before use' button had been operated repeatedly without the 'after use' button being used, with the result of water flooding over the rim of the bowl.

This would not have been possible if the battery switch had been set to 'off' by a previous user, but that's another issue.

While we were onboard, we actually heard, during the night, the 'before use' process operate a couple of times, apparently spontaneously. Clearly there is a fault, but where should I start looking? Does anybody have experience of similar problem.?

Incontinent ghost? Well it is halloween................................

Or more likely the switch needs looking at, maybe sticking slightly or praps damp has got to it.

 

[DougH]

Tim,

I do not know the age of your toilet installation but I have 4 of these toilets on my Sunseeker Manhattan 60 which was new in April this year.

The boat is berthed in Mallorca and I took the boat myself from Poole to Mallorca last May and did not experience any problems with the toilets whatsoever.

Suddenly during late August/early September the toilets started flooding with the fresh water flush exactly as yours.

The response from Sunseeker Estrella has been first class and they attempted to sort the problem over several days.

Eventually they called in the Techma Agent who was unable to to rectify the problem and had to order 3 new ' Motorised Valves '. On my boat the valves are sited in the bilges just below the toilets.

When the valves arrived the Techma engineer commented that the replacements were of the old design and not the same as the existing ones which of course were new in April.

We now always turn off the main water pump switch when underway or not on the boat as we have not used the boat for long enough periods to be confident that the problem has been solved.

Suggest you check these valves first as the ' Push Buttons ' on mine appear to be timers but if the valve remains open water will pass, timer or not.

If you wish to discuss the problem on the phone pleas PM me and I will give my number.

To all those people that castigate the service in the Med I can only say that the service we have received from the Team at Sunseeker Estrella in Cala d'Or has been exceptional and without fault.

Doug

 

[jfm]

We have a Tecma toilet that is behaving oddly. When we visited the boat a few days ago, we found the heads had flooded with water from the toilet. The bowl was full of water and it appeared the 'before use' button had been operated repeatedly without the 'after use' button being used, with the result of water flooding over the rim of the bowl.

This would not have been possible if the battery switch had been set to 'off' by a previous user, but that's another issue.

While we were onboard, we actually heard, during the night, the 'before use' process operate a couple of times, apparently spontaneously. Clearly there is a fault, but where should I start looking? Does anybody have experience of similar problem.?

Tim, never had this prob in 5 years of Tecma ownership on 2 boats. It can only be one of 2 things (poltergeists excluded)

1. Faulty solenoid valve, not closing. These are simple, 2 wire, power on to open, spring shut valves. Pretty reliable and hundreds of thousnads installed. Easy to test

2. Control box fault, ie sending a "before" signal when it hasn't been asked to. Suggest easiest answer is to replace the whole control panel. Aquafax in Luton do spares, cr card telephone order. Very easy to replace and about 4 wires to connect. Prise off the front trim to get to the fixing screws

From your description it sounds like item 2

BTW, while playing with the wires I'd recommend this mod which I've done to all mine. Fit a pair of carling switches, hidden inside the cupboard under the sink or somewhere so people other than you don't know they exist. One switch (latching) should be wired to break the circuit to the above mentioned solenoid valve for the flush water. T'other switch (non latching) should supply 24v striaght to the motor. With this arrangement you can drive manually. When an enthusiastic large teenager log dropper blocks a Tecma (rare, cos they're so good, but possible) the prob you have with Tecma's own control panel is you can't run the motor without also putting flush water into the bowl. So if you have a blockage that needs say 20-30 secs of motor to clear, you flood the bowl with horrid consequences. But with the 2 switches I'm suggesting you bypass Tecma's control panel and have total control over running the motor and supplying flush water, which allows you to clear blockages very easily. Highly recommended and as I say I've done this to all mine!

 

[rickp]

So if you have a blockage that needs say 20-30 secs of motor to clear, you flood the bowl with horrid consequences. But with the 2 switches I'm suggesting you bypass Tecma's control panel and have total control over running the motor and supplying flush water, which allows you to clear blockages very easily. Highly recommended and as I say I've done this to all mine!

I have manual valve in the feed water pipe - so in the circumstances you describe, I just turn off that valve and use the toilet control buttons as normal (as no additional water can now be introduced).

In 4 years, I've had to do it once - as like you say, they're bloody good toilets.

 

[splosh]

With a blockage is it not far simpler and cheaper just to turn off the ship's water pump, or even disconnect the dockside fresh water connection to stop the water supply?

 

[jfm]

With a blockage is it not far simpler and cheaper just to turn off the ship's water pump, or even disconnect the dockside fresh water connection to stop the water supply?

You can do that. But if the boat is full on in use (someone showering on transom, washing machine and dishwasher running, cook cooking, someone trying to fill an ice bucket, and so on) it's better to isolate the water locally and cure the blockage discreetly without drawing attention to the drama. All imho. "Cheaper" doesn't come into it - we're talking a couple of switches, or a valve in Rick's case, ie about a £tenner

 

[splosh]

Aahh, I knew you would have a method in your reason.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

You can do that. But if the boat is full on in use (someone showering on transom, washing machine and dishwasher running, cook cooking, someone trying to fill an ice bucket, and so on) it's better to isolate the water locally and cure the blockage discreetly without drawing attention to the drama. All imho. "Cheaper" doesn't come into it - we're talking a couple of switches, or a valve in Rick's case, ie about a £tenner

Blimey you're a tolerant skipper. When one of the teenagers we had on our boat during August blocked the Tecma toilet in the guests heads (despite my detailed instructions about what not to chuck down it), I lost it and locked all of them in the heads 'til they'd cleared it. Discreet I was not
Agree on the Tecmas. Never had a moment's trouble with them in 5 seasons

 

[Observer]

Thanks jfm and others. Much appreciated.

 

[tcm]

jfm's toilets

Blimey you're a tolerant skipper. When one of the teenagers we had on our boat during August blocked the Tecma toilet in the guests heads (despite my detailed instructions about what not to chuck down it), I lost it and locked all of them in the heads 'til they'd cleared it. Discreet I was not
Agree on the Tecmas. Never had a moment's trouble with them in 5 seasons

I have initmate knowledge of more than one of jfm's toilets after one of the aforementioned teenaged log-blocker incidents...

Back to the original question, the only thing i can think of is that the thin-filmy switch panel is somehow corroding/shorting? There is no sensor afaik to trigger a "before' flush? I'd blame my SSB if it was in the same country...