[LED lights MR16]

I cant read by the cool white I like the warm white

Peter

[compost toilets]

We still haven't been offered any evidence that so-called 'composting' toilets actually do any composting, just a load of unsubstantiated claims the do.

 

And all from people who have been foolish enough to have already bought one.

 

 

MtB

Mike have you ever used one, emptied one because I do and like Julyian I find it works well and unlike cassettes only need emptying 3-4 times a year the poo that is. The wee depends on how much wine and cider I have drunk

 

Peter

[compost toilets]

Knowing how great UK councils are, you might be right. It probably does end up in a landfill, but that goes against WHO guidelines because it pollutes ground water and spreads disease. The fact that people are irresponsible with disposing of their dog shite doesn't justify you being irresponsible disposing of your own shite.

Have you ever seen a landfill site it is lined and covered so very little water gets in or leaves other than gas its not like the old days of open rubbish tips and my poo goes in a composting bin then the garden John says it finishes off composting in weeks

 

Peter

[compost toilets]

Fancy new computerised toilets...

 

Seriously though, putting human waste in the bin that will end up in landfill is against WHO guidelines, and quite illegal. I would have thought CRT would know better than to advise people that. This is why they have separate bins for dog shite.

And where do you think that goes in with rest of the rubbish and landfill I suspect unless their is a hidden compartment on the binner

 

Peter

[compost toilets]

I wonder if it's legal to go around burying your dried out poop. Is it any different to emptying your cassette in the hedge row? (if you don't use blue)

With a composting loo you are burying compost with cassette its not its this weeks poo. My composting loo is only emptied 3 times a year or so, so some of the poo is well on its way by the time it goes into the composting bin

 

Peter

[compost toilets]

Have you ever owned or even seen a cassette toilet? It doesn't sound like it so your views on cassette toilets don't count as you can't possibly know what you're talking about.

 

I live aboard and empty my cassette about once every two weeks because like you I make alternative arrangements for the liquid waste. Of course a cassette full of shit will stink when you empty it, but I think a composting toilet will also stink at some point during the process.

If you read my post wee pumped into 20 litre container then poured onto waste land the grass is very green there also I used one for the journey back after buying the boat and a few weeks after until the seperate was installed not my cup of tea the pumpout was better on previous boat. So I have sampled all 3 types and composting is best for me.

 

What do you do with the bucket of "solids"?

Are you liveaboard, or leisure user?

 

Bod

A friend puts it in his composting bin

 

Peter

[compost toilets]

After you've shelled out £1000 for a supposedly composting bog, you're bound to claim it works aren't you?

 

To admit otherwise would be to admit you've been had.

 

 

MtB

500 Squids over 2 years ago works great. Just love watching you lot with cassettes lug liquid poo twice a week to sluice scared you will get covered when it glugs allover and it stinks and you claim they are the best mmmm who has been had

 

Peter

[compost toilets]

Hi I have a seperate villa I have been using it for over 2 years it works great better than the pumpout in my old boat and the cassette I borrowed when I purchased this my new boat. Why simple no smell, nearly 4 months this last time before I emptied the solids, the wee is pumped into a 20 litre container which I poUr onto the grass. its fairly compact and its simple so less to go wrong. Their are plenty on here who have plenty to say about them but most have never even seen one never mind use it so their thoughts dont count as they cant possibly know what they are talking about can they

 

Peter

[Smaller Calorifier?]

Glad it's working well!

 

 

The TMV should come into it's own in very cold weather, allowing the engine to heat more quickly until the temp reaches the TMV setpoint, after which any further heat is siphoned off as it were to heat the calorifier.

 

Since much engine wear occurs when starting from cold, minimising the warm-up time should help reduce engine wear.

 

Now the main thermostat is sorted, maybe try adjusting the TMV set point upwards to 50-60°c to help with faster engine warmup. You can verify this by feeling the pipe going into the top of the calorifer, it should stay cold until the pipe from the engine is nearly hand hot (you can hardly keep your hand on it) beyond which the calorifier pipe soon reaches the same temp and the calorifer heats from top down.

 

BTW if cruising in a hard water area it may be good to fit a thermostat low down on the calorifier to switch off the pump when the calorifier is heated to 60-65C This is because above this temp, limescale can form in the heat exchanger and reduce it's performance. It would also help protect the TMV if it's not rated for water above this temp.

 

Would expect that the plate heat exchanger can transfer heat much better than a calorifier coil. Also adding a coil in this way would slow the engine warmup from cold, which isn't so good.

 

Might be better if the calorifier coil can be switched out, someone mentioned there's a solenoid heater valve for Fords that can be had quite cheaply:

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Fiesta-KA-Puma-NEW-HEATER-CONTROL-VALVE-/180948961093

 

Once the engine has warmed up it could give the choice of boosting the calorifier from say 65°C to 82°C without causing limescale problems and so on.

 

Not sure how the valve works but with 4 pipes it looks like it simply bypasses the heater output when not energised, which would be ideal. Hopefully the valves and pipes are big enough not to reduce flow thought the plate exchanger too much.

 

Overall though I'd prefer to 'keep-it-simple' and only consider adding a calorifer coil and valve if it's really needed.

 

cheers, Pete.

~smpt~

Lots of cars have the valve not very reliable in our experience leaks and failure through lack of use being the main problem

 

Peter

[Newbie trying to budget!!! Help!]

Hi my insurance is 34 squids monthly my blacking up north was 300 for drydock and power wash plus 6 tins of comastic at 35 squids a 5 litre tin trade. You also have painting repairs my servicing isnt expensive as I do it myself. In winter I use wood for the stove which I have tons of and about 25 litres of red diesel for the wispergen which does heating and leccy per week at 70 p per litre. I have solar panels so have no electric bills its not a cheap life but its not expensive and you have freedom that you never in houses and in our moorings we have a community which I really like

 

Peter

[Scammers!]

It's also worth noting that this scam isn't specific to paypal. Cheques, Bank transfers, debit card transactions etc can all be reversed in the UK.

Just spoke to my better half a bank manager they cant be reversed they have to be claimed back a very different kettle of fish

 

Peter

[Richard Parry responds to Simon Greer]

 

No, sorry, I agree with Nick and Paul.

 

It doesn't read to me like a "dismissal" of boaters at all.

Ditto for me a well written response

 

Peter

[Anyone know where I can get cheaper ones if these?]

These are flexible panels you can roll them up into a tube they also only weigh 5 kilos for 100w panel. They are designed to be glued down and operate even if hot according to the blurb anyway

 

Peter

[Boat People in Land Grab]

Cheers Nigel explained it well

 

Peter

[Anyone know where I can get cheaper ones if these?]

Or water trapped underneath...

Glued down with sikoflex poly sealant plus edges all sealed after so shouldnt be a problem and I am repainting roof so edges will be painted as well

 

Peter

[Duck Tape - Best Make?]

I've used 'Gorilla Tape' before - it has certainly appeared to be vastly superior to most of the silver duct tapes I've come across

 

 

 

(Edited 'cos I couldn't spell 'the'!)

Snap it costs more but you get more

 

Peter

[Anyone know where I can get cheaper ones if these?]

I have just glued down 6 of the nine flexible 100w solar panels I bought. I am very pleased with them and whilst I realise I am losing power by not tilting the fact that wind or thieving scumbags cant remove them gives me a nice warm feeling A real plus is that I will only have half as much roof to paint as well a bonus or what

 

Peter

[What is the time limit in Victoria Quays]

Think its 48hrs but I have stayed there longer its run by CV marine and normally lots of space

 

Peter

[KISS]

Composting toilet? Don't they need lots of electricity for fans and heating?

Small computer fan very small wattage no heating

 

Peter

[Just how eco can it be?]

Jambo,

 

Yes I accept and agree with all your points.

 

One thing missing though is the fact that people tend not to cruise around the cut in their houses so use no diesel.

 

Like your point regarding the tendency to use the home comforts in a house because they are available, I hold that people living on a boat are rather prone to burning diesel as the move the boat around the cut

 

.

MtB

Hi Mike whilst I agree with your point you can make houses that cost nothing to heat they have other costs. You could insulate a boat well put in underfloor heating that heated up the floor and your hot water whilst the engine ran, also you are charging your batteries as well so your lighting and other costs go down as well So that would be nearly as eco as the house and possibly in winter more so, I think the key is to design it in from the outset be it house or boat

 

Peter

[Just how eco can it be?]

 

No, but a very high proportion of Reading Bus's single deck fleet now run on compressed natural gas and their engines are 5 cylinder petrol jobs. I can't see why the system would not be applicable for local delivery work. However I understand the cost of the gas plant at the depot was high, so expanding CNG use for small operators would depend upon a larger one installing the [plant and allowing access.

Its the way forward no mater what we do diesels produce some unpleasant stuff whereas CNG/lpg are very clean. Years ago their was a fleet of hire boat running out of Whaley bridge on LPG quiet and clean thats the way to go

 

Peter

[Just how eco can it be?]

I can't see a rush on petrol engined trucks yet..

Trucks dont have that much of a problem they can fit the kit to try and clean up the particulates and NOX. They can fit the very high pressure injectors and they have adblue etc on little cars it is a problem

 

Peter

[Just how eco can it be?]

 

Really? Which ones?

Hi have a look at car price guides for small cars and you will notice that diesels are missing vauxhall adam none fiat 500s some off the range none and the rest very few, ford KA none fiesta very few they are pushing the eco boost petrol VW up plus the skoda and seat equivalnt none even Jaguar who we repair have a plan to remove them all their diesels and the current generation are all bought in from peugeot and so are fords if car makers had faith in the product they would make their own

 

Peter

[Moisture double-glazed ports!]

All my double glazed units fitted in 2008 are still good but they dont stop condensation do they bloody aluminium neither use nor ornament

 

Peter

[Bulk engine oil?]

I have a garage and buy my oil from whoever is the cheapest at the time, but the surprise is that the last time I was quoted 3 different prices for the same oil and I mean the exact same oil, the difference was 100 squids between cheapest and most expensive on a 209 litre barrel. for the record unipart was the cheapest this time it is ford who looks like getting the order.

 

Peter