• Home
• Questions
• Products
  • Toilets
    • Full time use
    • Part time use
    • Mobile homes/boats
    • Powering the fan
    • Options
    • How it works
    • FAQs
  • Greywater
  • Compost bins
• Prices
• Specifications
• Certification
• Contact
• News
• Links

Powering the fan

Except in the case of the Excel NE and Centrex NE models, which normally operate successfully without a fan, you must ensure that the toilet fan is running 24 hours a day. This is to prevent odours, and improve the composting process, If the fan isn’t running, you can expect to experience odours and slower composting. There are various ways to power the fan...

Mains Powered Dwelling
If your property is supplied with mains electricity, then it is a simple matter of plugging the 12 volt transformer into a power point and connecting it to the fan. In case of mains power failure you might care to purchase our UPS which ensures power during outages.

Solar Powered Dwelling
If your house is powered by solar, then you will normally have a 12 or 24 volt DC battery bank. If you have a 12volt system, just connect the battery directly to the fan. Don’t forget to put a 0.5 amp fuse in line to the fan. If you have a 24 volt system, ask us to supply a 24 volt fan. The 12 volt 2 watt fan will use about 6 amp-hours of power.

Stand Alone Batteries / Wind Assisted Ventilators
A fully charged 12 volt 40 amp-hours sealed lead acid battery should power the 2 watt fan for 3-4 days. If the dwelling is in permanent use or you want the fan to work continuously you will need to have a second battery recharging. Wind assisted ventilators are another possible choice that operate at wind speeds of 5 km/hr and above ($155). They can be successfully combined with a 3 watt solar panel ($145)

Solar Panels
A 30watt solar panel connected to a regulator and sealed lead acid 12 volt 33 amp hour battery should give you continuous power to the fan even during poor weather. However, during the winter months in the southern states the panel may not generate adequate power to allow the fan to operate at its design speed. This could result in flattening the battery, which should be avoided. Under these conditions it may be necessary to add a timer, to switch the fan off during the night, or install a larger panel. The cost of the 30watt system, if purchased from Nature Loo is $595, excluding cables and freight.

Shipping Cost
For items shipped with a Classic toilet there is no charge. For items shipped with other toilets please request a quote.