Raritan Sea Era Overflow

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I have a newly installed Sea Era, fresh water flush. When the toilet was flushed today (by my son when I was on the dock), for what ever reason it over flowed the toilet.

My only guess (and this is strickly a guess) is for some reason the solenoid didn't close because the fresh water tank was near empty so it was pulsing water then air, etc; until the tank was empty. There was nothing in the toilet, he only peed in it.

I filled the fresh water back up and then turned on my fresh water pump. Flushed to toilet and all is fine.
Any suggestions or ideas?
 
After the head had overflown with fresh water for a second time this weekend, I re-read the istructions. Here's what the "note" said:
"To avoid malfunction of water solenoid due to debris in water, installation of Freshwater Strainer (190601) is recommended."
I called Raritan to confirm this and they said yes the strainer should take care of the problem.
 
Raritan uses a "pilot-controlled" solenoid valve. In English, this means that some of the water pressure is used to help the valve shut off and stay sealed. If your water pressure falls below a certain level, it can't assist in closing the valve (and keeping it closed) and thus, water can run through the valve and possibly overflow the toilet. You need a minimum of 20 PSI in the pressure water system to insure that the valve stays shut off.
If you were for some reason, to disassemble the solenoid valve and take a look at the diaphragm inside it, the diaphragm has a pinhole in it - that's not a defect; the pinhole is supposed to be there, to get some of the pressure water onto the other side of the diaphragm, to help keep the valve closed off.

Also, the inline strainer before the solenoid valve will help to protect it from tank shavings, dirt and other stuff that may "catch" in the diaphragm's seat also stopping it from sealing. Raritan's strainer # 190601 is rated for pressure (up to 90 psi) so it can be installed in the pressure water line, ahead of the solenoid valve.
 
Thanks for the info Vic!
I got the Raritan strainer installed this past weekend - ne leaks so far.
With this type of solenoid, would you recommend leaving my fresh water pump ON even when not on the boat? I was wondering that if somehow the pressure in the system was relieved/reduced would that then cause a possible leak past the shut off solenoid?
Both times that my head did overflow, the fresh was pump was ON.
 
If it were I, I'd shut the pump down when you're going to be off the boat for more than a few hours. When leaving the boat on a Sunday night for example, turn the pump off for safety reasons - not just that the head may overflow, but if a line breaks, hose comes off, or whatever, the pump will come on as soon as the pressure drops in the lines - it could pump the entire contents of your water tank into the boat.

When you come onto the boat and turn on the pressure pump, you should be able to hear it running, and if it stays on for more than two or three minutes, go investigate! But in all likelihood, you won't have any more problems.
 
I would sure wire the head with the pessure pump breaker, if this is the case. I know I would end up leaving with the head powered up otherwise. I was thinking of this set up. I'll actually wire a relay to close the head circuit based on the hot from the pump circuit. This way the two devices will have their own breakers but the head will be contingent on the pump being on first.
 
Vic thanks again for the help when I was installing my new SeaEra. After using it for a week it is working perfectly. So much better than the manual Jabsco I had.
 
UPDATE: It's been about a month since I installed the in line strainer and I have had ZERO problems since!
Thanks again Vic!
 
Thanks Russ, for the update. I wish more people would keep us apprised on whether a suggestion we've made worked, or if it didn't. Thanks again, and enjoy the big weekend coming up.
 
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