Bain Posted August 4, 2008 Report Share Posted August 4, 2008 Okay, so I'm wondering if someone can satisfy my curiosity. I went out for dinner last night, and was later in the restroom, where there were a bunch of self-flushing urinals. How do they work? There was a plate on the photo-electric sensor housing, behind which I assume there's a battery that operates the sensor and some sort of solenoid that trips the flush mechanism. But what kind of battery would generate enough power to keep working a gazillion times in a busy airport or restaurant? Or . . . do I have the whole set-up figured wrong? And yes, you're right. I do need to get a life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghentjr Posted August 4, 2008 Report Share Posted August 4, 2008 Low voltage power supply through a transformer from the 120v system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad Fabry Posted August 5, 2008 Report Share Posted August 5, 2008 I've found that I have automatic flushing at my house. Even when I don't flush flush the toilet it's always flushed the next time I use it. I suspect the mechanism is powered by bitching and it's the closet thing to perpetual motion yet found. Maybe the airport hires wives to power the system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erby Posted August 5, 2008 Report Share Posted August 5, 2008 Well, at least you weren't in one of the dives. They don't have self flushing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inspectorjoe Posted August 5, 2008 Report Share Posted August 5, 2008 The Sloan 180-SMO is powered by four C batteries. The rated battery life is 72,000 flushes. That's amazing. Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtblum Posted August 5, 2008 Report Share Posted August 5, 2008 Hey Joe, Get a hobby! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bain Posted August 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2008 Thanks, everyone. I s'pose the battery operated gizmos are primarily retrofits, and the the AC systems are typically installed before the walls are finished. And leave Joe alone. I'm the one who started this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inspectorjoe Posted August 5, 2008 Report Share Posted August 5, 2008 Get a hobby? Urinals ARE my hobby. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asihi Posted August 5, 2008 Report Share Posted August 5, 2008 Originally posted by Bain Okay, so I'm wondering if someone can satisfy my curiosity. I went out for dinner last night, and was later in the restroom, where there were a bunch of self-flushing urinals. How do they work? There was a plate on the photo-electric sensor housing, behind which I assume there's a battery that operates the sensor and some sort of solenoid that trips the flush mechanism. But what kind of battery would generate enough power to keep working a gazillion times in a busy airport or restaurant? Or . . . do I have the whole set-up figured wrong? And yes, you're right. I do need to get a life. Out to dinner last week, my son and I made a trip to the bathroom and he asked me the same question. Being a dad, I didn't want to look like I didn't know and I couldn't pass up an opportunity to mess with him, so I told him it was a camera. I said that there's a person in another room that's watching him go and when you finish, they press a button to flush the toilet. His eyes got as big a silver dollar pancakes. I let him off the hook after a couple of minutes, but I think the damage has already been done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Raymond Posted August 5, 2008 Report Share Posted August 5, 2008 Out to dinner last week, my son and I made a trip to the bathroom and he asked me the same question. Being a dad, I didn't want to look like I didn't know and I couldn't pass up an opportunity to mess with him, so I told him it was a camera. I said that there's a person in another room that's watching him go and when you finish, they press a button to flush the toilet. His eyes got as big a silver dollar pancakes. I let him off the hook after a couple of minutes, but I think the damage has already been done. I bet you told him there is a little man who lives in the fridge to turn the light on when he opens the door, too. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesse Posted August 5, 2008 Report Share Posted August 5, 2008 Originally posted by Tom Raymond I bet you told him there is a little man who lives in the fridge to turn the light on when he opens the door, too. Tom There isn't? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtblum Posted August 5, 2008 Report Share Posted August 5, 2008 Nobody has work right now, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hausdok Posted August 6, 2008 Report Share Posted August 6, 2008 Originally posted by gtblum Nobody has work right now, right? Dunno about you, but I'm busier now than I've been at any time over the past 5 years. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phillip Posted August 6, 2008 Report Share Posted August 6, 2008 I am the slowest I have been in 5 years myself. Some around here has been busy, some have not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Stanley Posted August 12, 2008 Report Share Posted August 12, 2008 Article in todays local rag related to Denmarks energy conservation. Automatic toilets with 2 speed flushing - depends on what is in there. How could that work? Sensors that smell or weigh contents?? Maybe there is a little man or Mrs Fabry???? edit: Think about how you would inspect those - both speeds!! That might exceed the SOP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hausdok Posted August 12, 2008 Report Share Posted August 12, 2008 Not really related but... A few years ago, Seattle installed fancy self-cleaning toilets downtown on Pioneer Square. These things cost them hundreds of thousands of dollars and had cost them millions to operate since they were installed. The trouble was, they became shooting galleries and places for hookers to hook up, so they decided to yank them. I just saw a blurb in the Seattle paper sometime within the past week that said they'd put them on Craig's list or Ebay to try and sell them and hadn't gotten any offers and have now dropped the reserve to $1000 each. That's efficiency for you! ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewInspector Posted August 24, 2008 Report Share Posted August 24, 2008 Aussie Toilet has dual flush, one button for #1 and one for #2. I think it's called the Caroma. It's huge in Europe. I read it in a highly recommended book called "flushed, a history of plumbing". Roger H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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