Macerator Cycles By Itself

[asalotto]

I was cleaning up the boat after a day of sailing yesterday, when I noticed a periodic noise. I traced it to the macerator. It seemed to "spin" or "whirl" for about 1 second, then repeat every 2 minutes. It did this 10 times before I left. The macerator was never turned on yesterday. The seacock was closed the whole day. The circuit breaker to the macerator was turned off all day. I turned off the DC batteries and the shore power, and it continued it's 1 second on 2 minutes off cycle. I'm scratching my head. What could cause this?

Thanks,
Anthony

 

[jssailem]

I turned off the DC batteries and the shore power, and it continued it's 1 second on 2 minutes off cycle.

If it still runs with these power sources off, then perhaps a former owner hard wired the it directly to the batteries. You can follow the wires to the power connection to be sure. Or you can start taking connected power cords off the batteries till it stops.

In such a condition you are going to have your batteries drained to zero before you expect it to happen.

 

[asalotto]

Thanks. But, I'm the original owner, straight from the Catalina factory. I'll check this, but I sure hope they wouldn't wire it that way, at least on purpose. But I'm hard pressed, except for some pressure situation, to imagine how it spins without power! Thanks.

 

[Rich Stidger]

On the plus side, at least it repeats its cycle quickly so you can evaluate your actions to remove power.

If all else fails, call GhostBusters.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Running dry has to have "fried" the impeller in it, so after you've sorted out what's causing it to cycle corrected the problem be sure to replace the impeller before attempting to use it.

Off the wall thought: are you sure it IS the macerator and not some critter trapped in it making the noise?

--Peggie

 

[JoeWhite]

I bet it is the fresh water pump that cycles. The best way to proove is to hold your hand on the motor and feel the vibration when it runs, or disconnect the power near the pump to be sure.

 

[senang]

My bet is on a bilge pump without a level switch. These beast turn every x minutes to measure resistance from an eventual waterlevel in the bilge. If no water they switch off and restart after x minutes.

 

[SV_Funday]

I agree with senang. I have one of those bilge pumps. Disconnect one of the power lines from the macerator and see if the sound continues.