The Excel NE composting toilet is ideal for off-grid installations, and for your rustic home-away from home. The Excel NE is to be used when you don’t have access to conventional electricity. Installations include, but are not limited to: cabins, cottages, homes, yurts, pool houses, cabanas, bunkies, camps, treehouses and workshops. Read below to hear what customers have had to say over the decades about their Excel NE.
“We built another shed to house this unit and put it to work. Installation was extremely easy as well as the set up. We were surprised at the lack of smell from the unit (the main point) as well as the easy of maintaining it. Since we only use it on weekends in the summer and a few weekends in winter, it requires very very little in the way of maintenance. Keeping it clean using the supplied solution, rotating the drum at the end of the weekend and periodical cleaning of the composting chamber is all that is required. Now the finished composted waste looks, feels, and smells like rich loam earth. We would recommend this product to anyone who is looking for a low cost, environmental solution to their waste problem. No septic tanks to be pumped out. No worry about environmental impact of an out house. And surprisingly…no flies, which one might think you would get. Get one, you’ll love it!” – Mike G.
“We could have put in a real outdoor style toilet but did not want the constant smell that is associated with outdoor toilets. With the SunMar we can enjoy a smell free process and the compost is recycled to the surrounding woods without worry of smell or contamination of the environment. There is little maintenance involved. In the spring, we add moisture, compost and microbe mix to begin the season. We have been very happy with our composting toilet.” – Elizabeth V.
“Our magnificent Sun-Mar is beloved of young and old. Problem free, odour free – come and see!” – JK G.
“Our mountain cabin is located on steep, rocky terrain where septic systems are not possible. It works very well and is odor free.” – Edward K.
“Although I live near an urban area, with city utilities available, as a social and environmental statement I choose to live “off the grid” with solar power and recycled waste. I process my blackwater with Sun-Mar’s Centrex 2000 NE composting toilet system. I started with another manufacturer’s product, but it failed within a few months. I have enjoyed my Sun-Mar system for 5 years now. I appreciate its simplicity and reliability. I am able to process waste from 3 low-flush toilets that feed the bio-drum which is located in a walk-in space under the house. The staff at Sun-Mar has been extremely knowledgeable and helpful. When small problems arise they offer expert advice at no charge and supplies at a reasonable fee. In fact, I am so pleased with Sun-Mar’s products and service that when I built a guest cottage, I installed a Sun-Mar Excel NE whose performance is flawless. Thank you so much for your fine products, friendly service, and longstanding dedication to living in harmony with Mother Earth.” – John D.
“In July, I installed the Sun-Mar Excel NE at my fishing camp in Northern Quebec. Prior to the installation, we had an outdoor toilet that always produced a slight odor in the vicinity of the camp. After closing down the outdoor toilet and after one month using the Sun-Mar Excel NE. I was absolutely amazed at the efficiency of the Sun-Mar system. It works perfectly and all my family members who have stayed at the camp are really pleased with the new installation. In addition, I found that my communication with Sun-Mar Corporation on installation and operating procedures to have been excellent. In conclusion, I totally recommend this product to anyone who wants an efficient and trouble free toilet facility.” – Rodney S.
“We have been extremely pleased with our Sun-Mar Excel NE. We have not had any problems other than using too fine a peat moss initially. Since you introduced the Compost-Sure mix, we have not had any problems at all. Our cottage is on a very small lake in Glen Almond P.Q. and because of the impossibility of any other system but an outhouse this was the perfect option for us. We have it in the cottage and have no odor from it. We have accommodated up to 8 people for a week-end with no adverse effect. We highly recommend this product for peace of mind and good ecological sense.” – Celine and Ron P.
“As we are on a rocky island, 7 miles from the marina, we were looking at about a $20,000 bill to install an approved septic system. I met Sun-Mar at the Cottage Life show and signed up for the Show Special. As hydro has not invaded our island yet, we chose the NE model. We installed it in a purpose-built building.
That year, the cottage was very well used and we found that Sun-Mar’s recommended capacity was accurate. So, the next year we bought a second NE and installed it in an edifice liberated from the construction site of a cottage being converted to year round. Our installations cost a fraction of a conventional system and produces excellent compost for our small flower garden. The Sun-Mar staff have always answered queries in a prompt and useful manner.” – Ken K.
“I will share my experience with one of your composting toilets (Excel-NE). We love it. I have a remote cabin on the Owyhee Lake in the Eastern Oregon desert country where there is no electricity or running water except what I pump out of the lake. My wife and I built it in 1972, and also built an outhouse. In 1995 I added a 8′ by 8′ bathroom on the back of the cabin and installed the composting toilet and a shower stall.” – Norman P.
“Very much appreciate unit after many years of the typical “Out House”. The unit is very simple to use and we have only unloaded the compost one time in 3 summers of use.” – Philip R.
“Our Sun-Mar toilet works great. We have a log cabin that is the woods with no water or hydro. Therefore with no power we needed the Excel-NE and it has worked great with no problems. We have even had 16 people up on a weekend with no problems.” – Phil M.
“Our cabin is located in a remote, wooded area. There is no electric service available, no on-site water and septic regulations allowed only a privy with holding tank. The Excel NE answered our needs. We were able to install it in a heated bathroom. Its cost equaled that of an outdoor privy and we were not faced with pumping fees. We use your solar panel/fan in the stack. It is an outstanding performer, exceeding our expectations.” – CJ R.
“Buying a Sun-Mar Excel-NE composting toilet was the best move we ever made at our cabin on Powell Lake. It works so well with no mess, no smell and takes very little time to maintain. The unit is installed on a float cabin eliminating the need for a shore based outhouse. It also saves us having to maintain a walkway to shore to get to an outhouse. Because of fluctuating lake levels this can be a full time job. This leaves me more time to take my kids fishing!!” – Shane D.
“The Sun-Mar Excel-NE has been the perfect choice for our cabin in the woods. The electricity often goes off between our visits and so this was a great worry free solution. We have had no problems and absolutely no odors! We even trained our son to use it from a toddler. We even use our cabin in winter without problems.” – Susan and Patrick R.
“We are very happy with the Sun-Mar toilet. We have had as many as 30 people use it on weekends. We have been using it 5 years with no problems. It is everything you said it would be. We are pleased.” – Nancy R.
“Been working fine – it has been a bonus in this household, particularly for my flower beds!” – Bob G.
“I needed a sanitation answer to a problem, and got it in my non-electric unit. I was building a home on 43 very rural acres in southern Colorado, and had no electricity, septic, or anything. I installed my composting toilet in my storage shed, but now, 1 year later, still use it most of the time. I know it will add years to the life of my septic system, and I enjoy my morning walk to the shed.” – Louise C.
“My son & I built a camp, Water was not available, so we heard about Sun-Mar composting toilets. We then got some information and purchased the Excel NE and have never regretted it. It works like a charm.” – Betty B.
“This cabin is located in Pittsburg N.H. 5 miles from the nearest power. The toilet was installed to add convenience to our family. Versus an out house, the unit performed great for weekend use for our family of three, however as more people came to enjoy the lake, and peace and quiet, we found that odor from liquids was noticeable.” – Bill H.
“We first installed our Excel in a shed on our property. In Spring we brought it into its “new” bathroom in our garage with loft. We get a lot of questions about it, but I am proud to say it works great.” – Terry S.
“Our Sun-Mar NE composting toilet has been the perfect addition to our summer and weekend retreat. It was very easy to install and has been maintenance and odor free for all year. Thanks to you for everything but the “pleasure” is all ours.” – Mike M.
“Our cottage near Seeley’s Bay, Ontario is very rustic with no electricity or running water/septic. We’ve had our Sun-Mar Excel-NE just over a year and are very pleased with the results – no mess, no smell, and much more pleasant than the “outhouse”.” – Edward H.
“Deidre B. of Omagaki Wilderness Lodge was so pleased with her first Excel-NE that she now has more than ten in operation at the camp. Omagaki entertains hundreds of visitors every season at their beautiful remote location in the Ottawa valley which runs entirely on solar energy. Deidre is “very satisfied with the performance of the units” and likes the fact that her toilet facilities are never going to destroy her business’ most precious resource – nature!” – Omagaki Wilderness Lodge
“We have an island on this lake with no electricity. The Sun-Mar N.E. has allowed us to have an indoor toilet which was an impossibility before this. We think its great. No more stumbling in the dark to find the outhouse.” – Connie N.
“We have the Excel NE with the 12 volt fan option. We installed the Excel-NE per the instructions and it went well. We have been using the Excel-NE for about three weeks now and think it is great, no odor, no fuss, no water. I am 56 years 5′ 6″ Margaret is 54 and 4′ 11″ the step was the only thing we were not sure about, but it has not been a problem at all. And after all we can feel better about not running the pump or using all that water. We should have done this years ago.” – Margaret and Phillip F.
“Our experience with our Sun-Mar non-electric composting toilet has been nothing but positive. What a great idea! We would & do recommend this system to anyone who needs an alternative to the conventional septic system. Our cabin is located on a 4 acre island on Eagle Lake near Vermilion Bay, Ontario. We built the cabin in the early spring, taking advantage of the ice cover to transport the materials to the island. We were inspected by the local building inspector and by the inspector from the districts’ Health Unit. They both took one look at the Sun-Mar & inspection in that area was ended. To say they were happy with our choice was an understatement. “Its the way of the future” we were told. We agree.” – Greg and Karen M.
“The composting toilet replaced Ye Olde Outhouse at our weekend cottage at the beginning of the summer, and has attracted so much interest we considered setting up turnstiles and charging for a guided tour! Once we had learned how to achieve the correct moisture level (a matter of trial and error) the system has performed very well. For the most part there are only two or three of us at the cottage but we have had groups of as many as eight on long weekends. I was relieved (nice choice of word!) to find that the system coped very well. In fact, we have been surprised at the bulk — or lack of it — so far. Anyone considering a composting toilet needs to understand that that it requires a little nurturing. In return, it pays great dividends. And it sure beats Ye Olde Outhouse. We look forward to a place in the Toilet Hall of Fame.” – Geoff J.
“This Excel-NE is another of the many Sun-Mar installations around Proudfoot Lake. As Kim D. says, “we’ve been very happy with it and we’ll also put one into the new cottage we’re building”. Bob C., their neighbor, has a family of four. He uses his NE “every weekend from about May on, when the ice goes out”. When asked what happens to the toilet paper, Bob said, “I just turn it before we leave and when we come back everything is gone. I hope everyone buys one.” We do too! – Kim D & Bob C.
“We are Sun-Mar owners and feel that buying the composting toilet was one of our wisest purchases. There have been minor – easily corrected problems. One time excess moisture collected in the bottom. We found that raising the front of the unit slightly corrected that. Overall we have been very pleased with our Sun-Mar.” – Dennis and Elaine P.
“One of the features I like about the Sun-Mar non-electric unit is the fact that it uses no electricity or water which saves hundreds of thousands of gallons of water as well as no additional electrical loads. Our house runs on solar power for electricity so this is an important feature. … There are two full-time residents at our house so this unit works pretty well for our needs. Visiting friends and relatives are surprised there is no big odor problem and how simple the composting idea is.” – Linda O.
“A breeze to install/set-up. Absolutely odor free! Everyone loves it. Occasional use, sometimes heavy (6+ people). Only had to empty it once so far – second year of use.” – Joe D.
“We have a true “camp” — a deluxe tent in the bush on Lake Huron. No running water, no electricity. We didn’t want to build an outhouse so I researched toilets. The Sun-Mar Excel Non Electric seemed to fit the bill. My husband was hesitant, thinking that it would smell! Not only did it not smell, but it survived three bear visits INTO our camp! The bears wrecked EVERYTHING — but were not attracted to the toilet — it didn’t smell! … Even when I empty the compost there is no smell — it only enhances the environment and DOES NOT attract animals. My husband works in Environmental and is now so convinced of its benefit that he recommends it for any eco-tourist site — environmentally friendly and NO SMELL!” – O.M.
“Our Excel-NE is an excellent addition to our primitive Colorado mountain cabin. It is odor free and simple to install. The ladies and grand kids appreciate it, especially during the winter. They don’t have to make the 75 yard trip to the outdoor toilet.” – Don S.
“Everyone loves to try my toilet. They are sure its going to smell – and it doesn’t! It is easy to use and easy to care for. Thank you for making this product available.” – Kathie M.
“We have a summer cottage on a barrier beach here on Cape Cod. We installed our Sun-Mar and since then have helped 4 other cottage owners switch over from old fashioned outhouses to your product.” – Steve H.
“When my husband Jim and I retired to our hunting cabin in the Wisconsin Northwoods, we decided to simplify our lifestyle. He built a small building about 8′ from our 25′ by 25′ A-frame, to use as a bathroom and shower house, and we installed the Excel-NE. In 4 years of daily use, we have had no problems with our composting toilet. In fact, we are delighted with it! There is absolutely no odor, to the surprise of our “downstate”, city visitors. The compost is sprinkled near our plentiful trees, bushes and flowers and dug in to enrich our sand/clay soil. It improves our soil.” – Pat and Jim G.
