In the box: your Cuddy or Cuddy Lite unit, a reusable carbon filter, a 4 foot (120 cm) 12V power cable for the fan, and a 9V battery connector housed internally. You'll need to separately source a 9V battery (or a 12V Power Kit, if you'd rather run the liquid-level LED off 12V instead), and a carbon-rich cover material such as coco coir, sustainably sourced peat moss, or sawdust.

Lift the lid and seat to see inside the unit, then remove the solids bin. On the CUDDY, the bin is locked in place for shipping — extend the handle at the front and rotate it 180° so the agitator's legs point down towards the base to release it. Connect the 12V power cable to an appropriately fused power supply, then insert the male connector into the power socket at the bottom rear of the unit.

On the CUDDY: place carbon-rich cover material (coco coir, peat moss, or sawdust) in the base of the solids bin — enough to cover 1–2 inches of the agitator's legs, roughly 40% of a standard 650g coco coir brick. On the CUDDY Lite (no agitator): line the bin with an 8 gallon / 30 litre compostable bag, then add enough aggregate to cover the bottom of the bag.

Insert a 9V battery into the battery box. To confirm it's working, place a magnet on the plastic "nose" under the seat that comes down to meet the top of the liquids bottle.  (this closes the circuit) — the LED should light up.

The unit runs on 12V DC and draws a very low 0.1A, so a low-amperage fuse is recommended. The power connector is a 5.5 x 2.1mm DC jack. For a household outlet, use a 5.5 x 2.1mm 12V adapter rated at 1A or 2A. If you're not comfortable with electrical work, it's worth having a professional installer connect it.

It's water-resistant, not waterproof. The main risk point is the power connector at the bottom rear where the 12V cable attaches. As the power input is recessed the risk is low, so as long as the Cuddy is not swimming in inches of water it will be fine. Just be aware of the 12v power input. 

Rotate the knob on the seat to open the plates, sit back, and go. Afterwards on the CUDDY: close the plates, extend the handle, and rotate the agitator several times in each direction to mix the solids bin contents. On the CUDDY Lite: toss a handful or two of your chosen cover aggregate over the waste, making sure it's completely covered to avoid odours.

The contents of the solids bin need 6–12 months to fully complete the composting process and kill off any pathogens, once removed and set aside.

The LED indicator turns on when it needs emptying. Lift the seat, remove the bottle, and unscrew the drain cap — the blue valve lets air into the bottle to stop it "chugging" as it drains. Pour slowly anyway, just in case, to avoid splashback.

It helps to keep some hydrated coco coir in a leak-proof bag so it's ready to use whenever you need it. If more than one person might be using the toilet overnight, it's worth checking the liquid level before bed.

There's no fixed schedule — it depends on how many people are using it and how often. Emptying isn't anyone's favourite job, but Cuddy's designed to make it as quick and painless as possible.

This is usually because the aggregate (cover material) is too dry or too wet. Add a small amount of water or extra dry coir to the solids bin and mix it in thoroughly with the agitator.

That's the opposite problem — too much moisture. Add more carbon-rich cover material (coco coir, peat moss, or sawdust) and mix well with the agitator.

This is a normal side-effect of composting. Place some absorbent material (like a wad of kitchen paper) on either side of the solids bin to soak up the excess moisture — just don't place it underneath the bin. Also consider venting your Cuddy externally to get rid of excess moisture. 

They usually get in through an externally vented hose that isn't properly screened — check the entry point first. Then add 3 cups of food-grade diatomaceous earth to the solids bin and mix thoroughly with the agitator; it's a natural, mineral-based insecticide that's safe to use here.

Check three things in order: that power is actually reaching the unit, that the positive and negative wires are connected the right way around (reversed polarity stops it working), and that nothing is physically blocking the fan blade. If none of that resolves it, get in touch — we'll organise a free replacement if the fan itself needs replacing.

Don't force it. Try turning it the other way first. If it's still stuck, check for unhydrated lumps of coco coir blocking things (add water to hydrate them), make sure nothing's underneath the solids bin causing misalignment with the drive shaft, and check whether material has wrapped around the agitator itself — if so, empty the bin and untangle it.

Check underneath the bin and at the connection point between the bin and the drive shaft for small objects or clumped coco coir, and clear anything you find.

This is usually a circuit board issue (moisture or damage) or a polarity issue. Check the board for visible damage or moisture — if it's just damp, let it dry fully and see if that fixes it (if drying resolves it, the board's protective coating has likely failed and it's worth getting a replacement board from us). Otherwise, try reversing the polarity of the 12V power supply; if that fixes the LED but stops the fan working, get in touch for a replacement cable.

If you're running it on a 9V battery, try a fresh one first. If you're on the 12V setup, confirm the fan is running (which confirms 12V power is present), then test the LED circuit by pinching the spring contacts together. If it works on a 9V battery but not on 12V, contact us for a replacement 12V power lead.

Try reversing the polarity of the power supply first. On a 9V setup, if that fixes it, the battery connector likely needs replacing. On a 12V setup, check the fan still runs after reversing polarity — if it stops, you'll need a replacement power lead from us.

Reach out to us directly, or check the Compo Crew Facebook group, where a lot of other Cuddy owners share fixes for less common issues.

Use a soft cloth or sponge only — anything abrasive, like the rough side of a dish sponge, can scratch the plastic. Never use chlorine bleach, as it interferes with the composting process itself.

Yes — wear eye protection and gloves when doing maintenance on a toilet that's been in use, and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.

Every 6–12 months. We'd recommend 4mm activated carbon pellets.

The blue silicone valve can deteriorate over time. Replacements are available from us directly.

Avoid leaving the unit in prolonged direct sunlight, as UV exposure can weaken the plastic over time. And treat it like anything else that opens and closes — keep fingers clear of the lid hinges and the drop-zone flap switch to avoid getting pinched.

Yes — Cuddy can be secured in place, which is worth doing if you're expecting bumpy roads, choppy seas, or a rough night. Securing hardware (screws/rivets) is sold separately.

Yes, via the optional 12V Power Kit, which includes a float switch, contact screws, power cable, conduit, cable ties, and adhesive fasteners.

Yes, both CUDDY and CUDDY Lite can be configured to vent externally if you'd prefer. You'll need a venting hose with a 0.825" (21mm) internal diameter.

There's an optional drain-away kit for connecting to an external tank, sold separately.

Once emptied, let it mature for a further 6–12 months (bury it in the centre of a compost pile, covered with leaves or straw) before using it in the garden. For proper composting practice, we'd point you to The Humanure Handbook by Joseph Jenkins. If you're travelling and can't compost on-site, transfer the contents into compostable bags and dispose of them in general waste — check your local regulations.

Empty it into a regular toilet, an RV dump station, or another appropriate facility, keeping local regulations and courtesy to others in mind.

Yes — use vegetable-starch-based compostable bags rather than "biodegradable" plastic ones, which don't break down the same way.

Two years from the date of purchase (or delivery, for pre-orders), covering defects in materials, construction, or workmanship under normal use, provided the installation and care instructions have been followed.

General wear and tear; damage from improper installation, maintenance, or repair; misuse, abuse, negligence, accidents, or alterations; third-party accessories not made by CompoCloset; and it's non-transferable — it only covers the original purchaser.

Contact info@compocloset.com for evaluation. Once approved, we repair or replace the item at no charge and arrange the return logistics with you.