for the mascerator pump to empty a full 25 gallon tank? My guage reads full, but it takes less than a minute to empty it. I have a hard time believing the mascerator pump can pump at 25gpm.
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Your gauge is right...the tank is still full
A macerator moves about 3 gal/minute. Your tank vent is blocked, causing the macerator to pull a vacuum. It'll only get a gallon or so before it can't pump any more waste against it. Don't use your head again till you clear the blockage--which is prob'ly at the thru-hull--'cuz you'll pressurize the tank. How many times do I have keep telling y'all to check your tank vents regularly...blast out the thru-hull with a hose every time you wash to boat? If you'd gone to a pumpout instead of using your macerator, you could have ended up with a cracked tank instead of just a full one.
A macerator moves about 3 gal/minute. Your tank vent is blocked, causing the macerator to pull a vacuum. It'll only get a gallon or so before it can't pump any more waste against it. Don't use your head again till you clear the blockage--which is prob'ly at the thru-hull--'cuz you'll pressurize the tank. How many times do I have keep telling y'all to check your tank vents regularly...blast out the thru-hull with a hose every time you wash to boat? If you'd gone to a pumpout instead of using your macerator, you could have ended up with a cracked tank instead of just a full one.
About five minutes is my experience, Mark
Honestly, there are times that it just won't pump well, loses it's prime, gets fouled, etc. Seems to be about a third of the time. One of these days, a diaphram pump is going in there instead. Good luck, Rick D.
Honestly, there are times that it just won't pump well, loses it's prime, gets fouled, etc. Seems to be about a third of the time. One of these days, a diaphram pump is going in there instead. Good luck, Rick D.
Diaphram in macerator pump
Rick; If you figure out how to get the macerator chopper blade fitted to a diaprhram pump, I'd like to hear about, but try this. The macerator for the forward head is visible. I Inserted a six inch length of clear vinyl hose at the macerator output to see the flow and know what is happening.
Rick; If you figure out how to get the macerator chopper blade fitted to a diaprhram pump, I'd like to hear about, but try this. The macerator for the forward head is visible. I Inserted a six inch length of clear vinyl hose at the macerator output to see the flow and know what is happening.
Larry, why do you think a macerator is necessary
to dump a tank? Solids and paper--unless you're using the wrong TP--dissolve in hours in the tank, making maceration unnecessary. The only reason macerators are so popular as tank discharge pumps is because they're about half the price of an electric diaphragm pump. A manual or electric diaphragm pump works just fine as an overboard discharge pump. However, no pump can empty a tank against a clogged vent.
to dump a tank? Solids and paper--unless you're using the wrong TP--dissolve in hours in the tank, making maceration unnecessary. The only reason macerators are so popular as tank discharge pumps is because they're about half the price of an electric diaphragm pump. A manual or electric diaphragm pump works just fine as an overboard discharge pump. However, no pump can empty a tank against a clogged vent.
Clogged Vent
Peggie, If I thought my vent was plugged while using the macerator or whatever kind of discharge pump I had, couldn't I just open the deck pumpout fitting and listen for a difference in the pump sound ? Wouldn't that act as a vent ? Stan "Christy Leigh" c320 #656
Peggie, If I thought my vent was plugged while using the macerator or whatever kind of discharge pump I had, couldn't I just open the deck pumpout fitting and listen for a difference in the pump sound ? Wouldn't that act as a vent ? Stan "Christy Leigh" c320 #656
That depends, Stan
If there's only a tee or wye fitting in the pumpout line, that would work...but if it's a y-valve, it won't because to use the y-valve to dump the tank, you have to close off the side to the deck fitting.
If there's only a tee or wye fitting in the pumpout line, that would work...but if it's a y-valve, it won't because to use the y-valve to dump the tank, you have to close off the side to the deck fitting.
Yeh, but Peggie....
First of all, every time I wash the boat I shoot water into the vent line, and secondly, the tank guage DOES go to empty every time I empty the tank. So do you think that the sending unit is misadjusted, or is there something else that may be amiss?
First of all, every time I wash the boat I shoot water into the vent line, and secondly, the tank guage DOES go to empty every time I empty the tank. So do you think that the sending unit is misadjusted, or is there something else that may be amiss?
I think your gauge is right...
Especially, since it has been up to now. The odds that it would give a false full reading at the same time the macerator quit pumping anything out after just one minute are just too long not believe the guage...so I don't think your tank is empty. If it's not a blocked vent, the impeller in the macerator may have failed.
Especially, since it has been up to now. The odds that it would give a false full reading at the same time the macerator quit pumping anything out after just one minute are just too long not believe the guage...so I don't think your tank is empty. If it's not a blocked vent, the impeller in the macerator may have failed.
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