Raritan LectraSan EC to MC Conversion Kit

If you're running an older Raritan LectraSan EC and the control box has started acting its age, you don't have to rip the whole system out. That's what the 32-601RFK is for. It converts an existing LectraSan EC over to Raritan's newer MC control, so you keep the treatment hardware you already installed and just bring the brains up to date.

Quick refresher on what a LectraSan actually does, because not every boater has run one. It's a USCG certified Type I marine sanitation device. Waste from the head passes through the unit, where the control runs a charge across salt water to generate its own disinfectant right on board. No chemicals to buy, no holding tank to pump out where Type I discharge is legal. The waste gets treated and macerated before it ever leaves the boat. For a lot of cruisers and liveaboards, that's the difference between planning your week around a pump-out and just going boating.

So why convert from EC to MC? Two reasons, mostly. First, the MC control is the current-production electronics, so parts and support are easier to come by than they are for the older EC board. Second, and this is the one owners actually feel, the MC control cut power draw by about 36 percent over the older setup. On a boat where the house bank is already doing a lot of work, pulling less amperage every flush adds up over a weekend at anchor. You're not reinventing the toilet. You're making the part that runs it more efficient and easier to live with.

One more thing worth understanding about the Type I side of this. A Type I MSD like the LectraSan is legal to discharge in most coastal and inland waters, though not inside designated No Discharge Zones, so know your local rules before you rely on it. The treatment brings the effluent down to the federal Type I standard before it discharges, which is exactly why so many boaters run these instead of hauling a full holding tank. Keeping the control healthy is a big part of keeping that treatment consistent, and that's really the case for staying on current MC electronics rather than nursing an out-of-production EC board season after season.

Here's the honest install picture. This is a control-side conversion, not a plug-and-play cartridge. You'll be working around your existing LectraSan plumbing and wiring, landing the new MC control, and getting the connections right before first power-up. If you've wired marine DC before and you're comfortable following the Raritan instructions, it's a very doable weekend job. If you're not, it's the kind of thing our crew or a good local yard can knock out quickly. Either way, budget it a dedicated circuit and take the time to seal your connections properly. This is a wet, salty part of the boat and it will punish a lazy crimp.

A couple of things to know going in. The kit is the conversion hardware, so plan to reuse the treatment cell and plumbing from your working EC system. If your existing unit's treatment components are shot, a conversion isn't going to bring them back, and you're better off talking to us about a full LectraSan MC before you spend the money here. And because the LectraSan makes its disinfectant from salt, boats that live in fresh water need Raritan's salt feed setup to keep it working. That's true of any LectraSan, not just the converted one, but it's worth flagging so nobody's surprised.

Bottom line, if you've already got a LectraSan EC that treats fine but you want current electronics and lower power draw, the 32-601RFK is the clean way to get there without a full teardown. It's a smart middle-ground upgrade. And if you're on the fence about whether your old unit is worth converting, give us a call. We'd rather talk you into the right fix than sell you the wrong box.