Probably a stupid question, but I get the shower drain is run from the bilge pump through a y valve in basin locker. What I don't get is the switch on the front of the basin locker seems not to be needed it runs straight from the 12v panel. The boat is second hand to us, is it likely that this has been changed by somebody previously? So basically I can drain the shower but o Lyon be operating from the 12v panel, is the switch in the head stuck on?
323 Shower drain
- Thread starter DJBrookster
- Start date
My 311 is set up similar. In mine you must have both the breaker at the 12 volt panel and the switch turned on. I would suspect either your switch is broken in the on position or someone has altered the wiring.
Sound like the circuit may have been altered. My 323 has a float switch installed in the bilge, and the way it was originally wired, the pump would not activate from the shower switch in the head. It actually needs a parallel circuit directly to the pump which is located behind the back rest of the starboard settee. If I recall without looking at it, there is a junction box at that point already.
On my 2006 B323 you can operated the PUMP for bilge use by turning on the circuit breaker. My boat did not come with a float switch- it was a DIY. I can also operate the PUMP by operating the y valve to the shower position, then operating the switch on the head cabinet as needed to suck the water out.
Do you have the owner's manual? It looks like the wires 14, 162, all originate off the bilge pump breaker via the wago block. 14 goes to the junction box by the pumps. 162 goes to the switch in the head, then to the box to join 14 again.
I got tired of guest trying to turn on the head lights, but hitting the pump switch instead. I rewired to add a fan above the shower seat shelf- on the side of the medicine cabinet-and to add a smaller LED night light and the switch for the shower sump pump.
Do you have the owner's manual? It looks like the wires 14, 162, all originate off the bilge pump breaker via the wago block. 14 goes to the junction box by the pumps. 162 goes to the switch in the head, then to the box to join 14 again.
I got tired of guest trying to turn on the head lights, but hitting the pump switch instead. I rewired to add a fan above the shower seat shelf- on the side of the medicine cabinet-and to add a smaller LED night light and the switch for the shower sump pump.
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DJ,
I have an '06 Ben 343. Can't imagine that the 323 & 343 wiring would be much different. Here's how my boat is configured.
1. The "y" valve under the basin is for discharge of the toilet only. In one position,
effluent is diverted overboard; in the other position, the effluent is diverted into
the waste holding tank. Shower waste water is not mixed into this circuit.
2. The shower waste water drain has it's own plumbing & electrical circuit that is
separate from the bilge pump. There is a whale DC pump under the basin for the
shower plumbing. To activate the pump, the panel circuit breaker must be turned
on and the toggle switch mounted on the lavatory basin has to be turned on. If
my memory is correct, the thru hull valve for the shower drain is
in the lazerette locker toward the rear of the locker.
3. The bilge pump is a separate whale DC pump mounted on the port side behind the
port setee. There should be an automatic float switch for the pump in the bilge.
The bilge pump breaker switch on the breaker panel is sort of a manual override.
The circuit for the pump & float switch stays activated always as long as the house
battery switch is on. This is the same bilge pump configuration for every
Beneteau that I have chartered or owned.
Hope this helps.
I have an '06 Ben 343. Can't imagine that the 323 & 343 wiring would be much different. Here's how my boat is configured.
1. The "y" valve under the basin is for discharge of the toilet only. In one position,
effluent is diverted overboard; in the other position, the effluent is diverted into
the waste holding tank. Shower waste water is not mixed into this circuit.
2. The shower waste water drain has it's own plumbing & electrical circuit that is
separate from the bilge pump. There is a whale DC pump under the basin for the
shower plumbing. To activate the pump, the panel circuit breaker must be turned
on and the toggle switch mounted on the lavatory basin has to be turned on. If
my memory is correct, the thru hull valve for the shower drain is
in the lazerette locker toward the rear of the locker.
3. The bilge pump is a separate whale DC pump mounted on the port side behind the
port setee. There should be an automatic float switch for the pump in the bilge.
The bilge pump breaker switch on the breaker panel is sort of a manual override.
The circuit for the pump & float switch stays activated always as long as the house
battery switch is on. This is the same bilge pump configuration for every
Beneteau that I have chartered or owned.
Hope this helps.
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On my '99 352 you have to switch the shower drain breaker to the on position, this gives power to the switch / button in the bathroom. Then you have to push the button to make the pump work.. if the pump starts operating when you switch the breaker on , the switch / button is faulty ..
There are two distinctly different "Y" valves. The larger of the two is a splitter between the holding tank and a through hull. Than one should be locked shut so that there is no overboard discharge. The smaller one under the sink is tied to white bilge pump hose.
Sounds like different systems for Benes 35' and above. On my '96 Oc 351, there is a separate pump located under the sink that is controlled by a push button switch on the counter adjacent to the light switch. There is a breaker on the main panel for "Shower drain pump" that must be on to drain the shower via the push button switch. On Benes below 35', sounds like the same counter was used that already had the switch. Thats the reason they call them "Production Boats"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I believe there is some confusion between the gray water 1 1/2 "Y" valve and the 3/4 in red handed valve which switches between the bilge and shower drain. One pump two positions and a mini strainer before the pump/ shower / bilge pump. DIY on bilge pump switch parallel to switch at the bathroom sink. Do not forget to switch back the 3/4 valve to bilge or the water in the boat must cross the bathroom door sill to be pumped out if the pump has not burned out by then!
Might not be size so much as model years. My 331 works like you describe. Also, my sump diverter valve switches between draining the shower or the refrigerator! I have a similar pushbutton over the refridge that I push to drain it (once the plumbing valve has been switched). The bilge sump has its own DC pump and plumbing. Yet no float switch in the bilge!
When I read the posts on this Forum it is obvious that the word production boat should indicate identical construction but that is certainly not the case!
It is apparant that the words Beneteau production boats do not mean same design or installation.
To me, "production" means it comes off an assembly line, as in mass-produced. Page 3 of the B323 manual says, "Specifications, dimensions, capacities and descriptions are estimations for general information purposes, and are not contractual in nature." That means they'll make it different as they see fit- hopefully to make a better product.
Crimey, Chuck! You're finally kicking back in the Caribbean and THIS is how you spend your time!? Happy New Year!
"Production" does in no way imply identical. There are always running changes throughout the course of a model year. Supplier changes, employee suggested changes for production improvement and order of build are just a few things that occur. They can be subtle, but they happen. Major changes can occur from model year to model year.