Companion / porta potti procedure

Submitted: Thursday, May 17, 2007 at 18:31
ThreadID: 45589 Views:8747 Replies:11 FollowUps:9
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G'Day all,

Well this weekend I'm off again but have family and a new companion toilet to use.

Now I thought I had it figured out, then talking with some non camping mates at work, a bit of confusion now exists on the best way to use these devices.

Of course wanting to be able to instruct family correctly, thought I'd seek a bit of advice on here.

Originally i thought you pumped some water into bowl (sliding vv at bottom shut) to create a 'toilet' then did your thing, and pulled the slide out to flush it away, pumping more water if reqd to clean if necessary.

Mate at work thinks should start with slide open allowing waste to go straight thru to bottom, then flush/pump and then shut slide valve.

So come on then fellow campers, whats the correct and best way?

Rgds

Ron
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Reply By: Notso - Thursday, May 17, 2007 at 18:54

Thursday, May 17, 2007 at 18:54
Leave it closed otherwise all the yucky smells come up whilst you are doing whatever you need to do.

Make sure you use the correct amount of green stuff in the botom holding tank and also put a good dose of the pink stuff into the water tank.

Messy things but convenient.
AnswerID: 240592

Follow Up By: Brew69(SA) - Thursday, May 17, 2007 at 19:24

Thursday, May 17, 2007 at 19:24
Am i the only one who thinks this is so wrong??????
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FollowupID: 501521

Follow Up By: warfer69 - Thursday, May 17, 2007 at 19:32

Thursday, May 17, 2007 at 19:32
YEP he forgot to mention the Toilet Paper thats why its messy ! lol
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Reply By: Willem - Thursday, May 17, 2007 at 18:56

Thursday, May 17, 2007 at 18:56
Good Grief....How old are you?

lol
AnswerID: 240593

Follow Up By: Ron173 - Thursday, May 17, 2007 at 20:12

Thursday, May 17, 2007 at 20:12
OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT THE SILLIEST QUESTION IS NOT TO ASK THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE
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Follow Up By: Willem - Thursday, May 17, 2007 at 21:06

Thursday, May 17, 2007 at 21:06
Mummy, mummy, come wipe me bot
As I have messed in me pot !!!!!

You pull the lever at the front and open the orifice so that the result can have a clear drop into the darkness below. Flush with water and wipe clean if there has been an 'ooops'...or is it 'pooops'???? on the bowl zone.

You got that Ronnie darling? hahahahahahahaha

Hahahahahahahaha............................
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Reply By: Gob & Denny - Thursday, May 17, 2007 at 19:10

Thursday, May 17, 2007 at 19:10
we always use ours as per your mates insrructions

steve
AnswerID: 240598

Reply By: slush - Thursday, May 17, 2007 at 20:42

Thursday, May 17, 2007 at 20:42
my experience is that if you leave the slide closed and did your #2's it will and has come back and lean on you so to speak. so open is my preference. what the wife does i don't no, but our thing is you mess it up u clean it up.
AnswerID: 240624

Reply By: Member - lyndon K (SA) - Thursday, May 17, 2007 at 20:50

Thursday, May 17, 2007 at 20:50
Cricky, what happened to just digging a hole??. Easier and cleaner for us. :))
Now is the only time you own
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Place faith not in tomorrow
For the clock may then be still

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AnswerID: 240632

Reply By: Leroy - Thursday, May 17, 2007 at 20:55

Thursday, May 17, 2007 at 20:55
And what do the instructions recommend? We hired a camper in NZ and did it with the slide open.....no skiddies then!

Leroy
AnswerID: 240635

Reply By: Peter 2 - Thursday, May 17, 2007 at 21:13

Thursday, May 17, 2007 at 21:13
the destructions with our Aldi one which is the same as the Companion and probably others say to only put fresh water in the top tank, NO chemical at all in the top tank and so many mils of chemical in the bottom tank.
It doesn't say whether to have the valve open or shut but says to open it after doing your business so I guess it depends on the quantity involved (rolling eyes).
We usually use twice the amount of chemical that is suggested other wise it gets a bit pongy.
AnswerID: 240639

Reply By: Peter - Thursday, May 17, 2007 at 21:41

Thursday, May 17, 2007 at 21:41
In the van we (I) always open the valve first. If not be aware of the blow-back effect if you fill the top up and then open the valve. Instead of the blue/green/pink chemicals I've swapped over to Bio Magic. Will never use the smelly chemicals again. Bio Magic doesn't have, or allow any smell whatsoever. Not cheap initially but much more user friendly
Peter
AnswerID: 240647

Follow Up By: Axel [ the real one ] - Friday, May 18, 2007 at 16:56

Friday, May 18, 2007 at 16:56
Peter ,you got some more details on the bio magic , where from ? $ ? how much to use ?ect ?
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Follow Up By: Peter - Friday, May 18, 2007 at 19:33

Friday, May 18, 2007 at 19:33
Axel
Bio Magic is available from most good camping stores. I paid $35 for 1 litre. It sounds expensive but I only use 70 mil in the Tetford toilet in the van. Buying in bulk drops the price a bit as well. It is totally biodegradable so can be used in septic tanks etc. The company is extremely helpful with advice as to how to use the product. IF you get any smell give them a ring and they will offer suggestions (such as placing some moist dirt or a tablespoon of yoghurt in the bottom tank to get the bacteria working). We used the van over the long weekend with 4 adults and 4 kids and never got any smell at all (even though the bottom tank was full by the end of the weekend). They do have a website - just search for bio magic. I've got 4 litres of the blue/green chemical that won't get used. You can also buy bio magic in a spray pack for use on airborne smells such as smoking etc.
Good luck with it
Peter
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Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Friday, May 18, 2007 at 02:23

Friday, May 18, 2007 at 02:23
Good grief,

You lot have got me thinking now.

Trap closed.
Pump a bit of water into the bowl.
This reduces the amount of smell from just deposited deposits.
When finished, pump more water into the bowl (if there's room:-)) and open the trap to dump the contents into the holding tank.

I also use Bio Magic.
The "green stuff" is poisonous. It is injected into dead bodies, (the formaldehyde that is) and is attributed to causing cancer.
Bill


I'm diagonally parked in a parallel Universe!

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AnswerID: 240682

Reply By: Ron173 - Friday, May 18, 2007 at 07:16

Friday, May 18, 2007 at 07:16
Well thanks for all the replies, will adopt the open door method.

So apart from Willems sarcasm, which is the lowest form of wit, it would appear that others are interested too, and its not such a daft (in Willems view) question after all.

I shall watch for Willem asking a question in future and see how stupid I think his question is, although I might wait a long time as he obviously knows everything.

Ron
AnswerID: 240686

Follow Up By: Keith_A (Qld) - Friday, May 18, 2007 at 16:05

Friday, May 18, 2007 at 16:05
Hi Ron - we found the liquid chemicals have a short shelf life - and you only find out too late. We now use Odour-B-Gone.
They come as round tablets and disolve in water.
White - fast release (1 week) ; blue - slow release (? how long).
These will not degrade if kept dry, unlike the liquid products.
They are Non-toxic; safe for septic toilets; and just works.
Box of 40 white ones - about $40. (also come in box of 20 - not sure of $)

The active Chemical is Sodium Perborate. ( NaBO3 )
In water, the chemical releases the oxidizing agent hydrogen peroxide and nascent oxygen.
Other uses for NaBO3 - an ingredient in toothpast (white teeth); mouthwash (kills germs); washing powders (whitens clothes); stain remover for carpet; removes mould from bathrooms and damp areas; removes smell from shoes;
It will decompose in the environment to natural borate - an essential micronutrient for healthy growth of plants (other than citrus & some natives).

Here is his details :
John Feruglio
JMF sales PO Box 191 Kilsyth Vic 3137.
Phn 03 9725 2363
Email : Odourbgone@optusnet.com.au

usual disclaimer - never met him; don't work for him; no shares in coy........ Keith
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FollowupID: 501706

Follow Up By: G.T. - Tuesday, May 22, 2007 at 12:24

Tuesday, May 22, 2007 at 12:24
Another tip is to line the bowl with a layer of toilet paper before you do no .`2`s .
This helps the disposal to the holding tank without skid marks. Regards G.T.
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Follow Up By: G.T. - Tuesday, May 22, 2007 at 12:27

Tuesday, May 22, 2007 at 12:27
P/S Your holding tank should not smell if you are using a quality additive. If it does increase the amount of additive or change brands.
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FollowupID: 502488

Reply By: Member -Dodger - Friday, May 18, 2007 at 17:04

Friday, May 18, 2007 at 17:04
We have been using a porta pottie for years and have always used the open slide system and let the lot drop thru.
As for Chemicals I believe that the tablets are great however we are still using the liquid chemicals. The bio friendly ones.

I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.

Cheers Dodg.

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