TROUBLESHOOTING

Just Starting Out - it smells!

It may not smell like the wonderfully earthy smell from day one. Be patient. It can take some time for the magic to happen. Once the composting process has had a chance to start, the smell will be greatly improved. 

 

Too Dry 

If the contents of your solids bin are too dry this can cause it to smell. Add some water and mix well. 

 

Excess Moisture in solids bin

If the solids bin is excessively moist so that the contents become clay-like, add some extra cover material and mix well using the agitator. 

 

Condensation

If you have a buildup of condensation inside the unit, this is nothing to worry about. It means the composting process is working. You'll want to make sure that your hinges are well-greased to avoid rusting. We also suggest adding an absorbent material such as kitchen roll on either side of the solids bin (not under it) to absorb excess moisture. If you'd rather not, you can always vent Cuddy externally. 

 

Fruit Flies

If you find that you are attracting small flies in your CUDDY composting toilet, the first step is to try to determine how they are getting inside. 

 

If you are venting externally, the most likely entry point is the external vent hose not having a suitable filter.   

 

To kill any flies, we suggest adding 3 cups of food-grade Diatomaceous Earth to the solids bin and mixing thoroughly with the agitator.  Diatomaceous earth is a naturally occurring mineral commonly used in the food industry to prevent insects.

 

Fan Not Working

Check if power is being supplied. Turn it off and on again… only kidding!

Check the positive and negative wires are correctly connected. The fan will not work if the polarity is reversed.  

Check that the fan is not blocked from rotating by any debris. 

If you still experience difficulty, please contact us for assistance. If the fan needs to be replaced, a free replacement will be sent. 

​

Agitator Handle not turning - Do not forcefully turn the handle!

Check that nothing is under the solids bin to misalign the agitator in the bin and the drive shaft. 

Try to rotate the handle in the opposite direction to free it.  

Check if blocks of dehydrated coco coir are blocking it. Ensure that the coco coir is fully hydrated by adding additional water.  

Ensure nothing is wrapped around the agitator - if so, empty the solids bin and untangle it. 

 

The Solids bin moves when I turn the handle.

Check that there are no small parts or coco coir under the solids bin.

Check that there is nothing stuck between the interface between the solids bin and the drive shaft. 

 

The liquid light is always on and won’t turn off.

Check that the circuit board isn’t damaged. If the circuit board is damaged, disconnect the power and contact us for a replacement circuit board.

 

Ensure there is no water or moisture on the circuit board. If drying the circuit board resolves the problem, the waterproof coating has failed and the board needs to be replaced.  Contact us for a replacement circuit board.

 

Try reversing the polarity of the 12V power supply. If this resolves the issue with the LED but disables the fan, contact us for a replacement cable.

 

The LED liquid indicator light isn’t turning on.

First, check that power is being supplied to the indicator light circuit:

 

• If the LED is powered by 9V battery:

  • Check the battery is not flat. 

 

• If the LED is powered by 12V (optional setup):

  • Check that 12V power is being supplied - if the fan is connected, it should be running.

  • Try supplying power with a 9V battery. Test it by pinching the spring contacts together. If this resolves the issue, contact us for a replacement 12V power lead. 

 

Then with the power on, pinch the spring contacts together, so they touch. If this activates the light, check that there is no obstruction between the springs and the contact screws on the urine bottle or that the springs and contacts are not rusty.

 

Check that the springs and contacts are not rusty. If they are rusty try removing the rust to see if this resolves the issue and contact us to obtain replacements. 

 

Check that the LED is working correctly by providing 9V or 12V power. If it does not work, please contact us for a replacement.

 

If the above does not resolve the issue, please contact us to troubleshoot further.

 

The LED liquid indicator light is permanently on.

Try reversing the polarity of the power supply. 

• If this resolves the issue and you are using a 9V battery, please contact us for a replacement battery connector.

• If this resolves the issue and you are using 12V power, confirm that the fan is running with the reverse polarity. If the fan is not running, please contact us for a replacement power lead.

 

If this does not resolve the issue, please contact us for a replacement circuit board.

 

For other issues, check our website and Facebook group for more help and information.