Installing the Biolet 45

Tuesday 28 December 2010

Here it is, out of the box and in position in the shed.

It is quite a bit fatter and a little bit longer than an ordinary toilet, but the height is the same.  When you sit down, a button under the seat is pressed, which opens inner doors.  After you finish, by closing the lid you release another button which sets three mixing blades and two heating elements in action for about a minute.  The mixing and heating expels liquid, which is largely responsible for odours, to be drawn up the vent.

It will accept toilet paper (a rare thing, here in Greece) but the instructions warn that you shouldn't throw cigarettes into the mix, in case it explodes.  Visiting smokers - be warned!

Dave uses a plumb line to find where the vent pipe will go

Our plumb-bob: a padlock on a piece of string

Moment of truth: using a hole saw on the ceiling ...

 ... and on the roof

This was one of the trickiest bits - fitting the pipe into the flexible rubber socket on the toilet

The pipe runs through the roof space

 and out the top (yes, I did do some of the work)

Another tricky bit - cutting the pipe at the same angle as the roof, and ensuring it is just the right length - not easy to get right, the instructions could have been a little bit clearer.  But we did get it right, amazingly, so they must have been quite clear?

The piece in the roof space is wrapped in polystyrene insulation which is provided in the installation kit

The top piece is also insulated, and then enclosed in an outer black tube which is fixed down with silicon and flashing

The instructions.  The Belgian website had a pdf file which I couldn't get to print, so Dave found the Canadian Biolet site which provided very comprehensive installation notes in clear English.

The toilet fitted and re-swathed in polythene to wait until we have a power supply (to make all those mixers and heaters work).  The extra hole in the wall is for electrics.  The solar panels should be sufficient to power the toilet, via a 24v DC to 230v AC inverter (technical electro-stuff, that even I'm starting to get the hang of).

Externally, the pipe is topped off with an insect-excluding gauze.  The pipe has to be at least 50 cm above the roof apex, to ensure a good air draw, taking any odours out of the toilet and away.

Our biggest concern now is how the stove and toilet will react to each other - the draw from the stove could prevent odours going up the vent.  We're hoping the planned interior wall and a heavy curtain, coupled with an external ventilation hole in the wall beside the toilet will do it.  Otherwise, we'll have to stick to the mattock and Pooh Corner technique during the cold months!





Some time ago, while researching the compost toilet issue, we came across this quote on 'treehugger.com':

"Imagine our delight when we recently discovered the swedish Mulltoa composting toilet. Lifting the lid fires up the fans; sitting on the toilet seat opens the trap doors; putting the lid back down activates the churning motors. It does everything automatically and anticipates your every move and movement. We want one now."

The whole article makes interesting reading, at: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/03/the_hot_poop_on.php . We hope they're right.