Has anyone here ever had success running either of these in a solar-powered off-grid structure?
I’ve seen and read several sources/product reviews that advise against using each of these (especially incinerating toilets) with a solar setup, but I’ve heard anecdotes from a couple of people who used a dedicated solar panel for a mini-split and had no problem.
I think an incinerating toilet is the best option for my location, but I’m not sure if I can swing it off-grid.
(Cross posted in !off_grid)
Wouldn’t a composting toilet be a better option in almost any circumstance? Incineration only adds to the carbon problem.
My (limited) understanding is that they release only a small amount of CO2, using only solar electricity–no propane in my situation. What’s left is a tiny bit of sterile ash that can be emptied outside or sprinkled in the trash. And composting toilets sounded promising until I really started researching them. Ultimately, dumping out solids all the time was too much of a gross-out factor for me, and dedicating a space for dumping them out was a big issue. I was really set on the Envirolet or SunMar central composting systems for a while, but even they were a much bigger hassle to clean and maintain, and the outdoor tank takes up too much space to be practical for my setting.
Interesting. From a quick internet search, no one even mentions CO2 for any type of waste management.
If you’re looking at a permanent fixture with an external tank anyway, why not a traditional septic system? Properly installed and colonized, they’re just a longer term composting solution that’s easier to maintain.
Septic’s unfortunately not an option in that location. It would definitely be much more convenient in the long run.
My mini-split uses around 400 watts when it is on and it is several years old and not a particularly energy efficient model, so running a newer more efficient model is no problem.
As far as an incinerating toilet, I can’t comment on that specifically, but I could recommend a maceration sewage pump which would allow you to move the waste practically anywhere you wanted for storage, disposal, or even incineration. I have been using one of these for a couple of years with no problems.
Just out of curiosity, why is a septic system not an option? There may be other similar systems that would work.
The ground is so rocky that digging to that extent is prohibitively expensive, unfortunately.
In the Ambition Strikes YouTube channel, they’ve installed several mini splits and an incinerating toilet. Their entire property runs off solar + batteries.
2 caviouts though:
- they’re not professionals, often times they don’t really know what they’re doing
- their solar setup is massive, so can probably absorb the issues with high surge devices by the sheer scale of it.
Folks with money and DIY skills have made mini-splits work in campervans, so it should be possible. There’s a lot more mounting area for panels on the ground than on a van roof. :-)
