OK, I have rebuilt my Macerator pump. It is a Jabsco model. The problem is, I just don't see how it is supposed to operate?? I have worked on and rebuild many pumps and motors in my life but I a little baffled on this design. Here is my question: The water intake from the thru hull goes into the impeller pump jacket, just like a normal pump design, no problem. However the output of the pump goes into an enclosed chamber around the ouside of the actual sewage chopper/mulcher blade. The fresh water just goes into this enclosed area around the center of the actual chopper area. I would have thought that the water from the impeller would have gone into the chamber that actually does the choping and blending of the raw sewage....but on mine it does not appear to be so. Can anyone out there help explain how this pump is supposed to operate? What purpose does it have? I am afraid that perhaps the PO took it apart and did not reassemble correctly or ?? It does seem like all the parts are there per some exploded views I have seen of the macerator pump. Thanks for your input. Paul C30 #1828
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Macerators are used to dump tanks at sea
Water isn't supposed to come IN the thru-hull...Tank contents go OUT the thru-hull. Where are you trying to install it???
Water isn't supposed to come IN the thru-hull...Tank contents go OUT the thru-hull. Where are you trying to install it???
Factory installation
Hi Peggy, I have a 1980 C30. The plumbing is original as follows: Large drain hose from the holding tank to the T fitting where the Macerator pump assy is screwed into. The other port of the t fitting goes to the WASTE discharge fitting on the deck. The thru hull conection goes to the side of the macerator pump where the actual inpellar is. Based upon your response, I have a question: During pumpout at a discharge station, does the macerator come into play or does the station suck the waste out of the tank? If the macerator only discharges out thru a thru hull then I would have the same question as my orignal... how does the waste get thur to the impeller and forced out the discharge side of the macerator?? The only area I see possible is a very small clearance around the actual motor shaft... Sorry about the basic questions here...I am a newbe with this system. Thanks for your support
Paul
Hi Peggy, I have a 1980 C30. The plumbing is original as follows: Large drain hose from the holding tank to the T fitting where the Macerator pump assy is screwed into. The other port of the t fitting goes to the WASTE discharge fitting on the deck. The thru hull conection goes to the side of the macerator pump where the actual inpellar is. Based upon your response, I have a question: During pumpout at a discharge station, does the macerator come into play or does the station suck the waste out of the tank? If the macerator only discharges out thru a thru hull then I would have the same question as my orignal... how does the waste get thur to the impeller and forced out the discharge side of the macerator?? The only area I see possible is a very small clearance around the actual motor shaft... Sorry about the basic questions here...I am a newbe with this system. Thanks for your support
PaulMacerator has nothing to do with pumpout
Dockside pump sucks the waste out of the tank. No clearance is needed for the waste...if there were, any undissolved solids or paper couldn't be "pureed" by the chopper plate. The impeller impels (pulls--which what "impel" means...hence the name "impeller" for the neoprene doo-dad in the pump) the waste through the chopper plate... the only place it has to go when it gets into the impeller housing is out the opening on the side. I put the link to the manual that has an exploded drawing in it below. I strongly recommend replacing the tee fitting with a y-valve, which should always be turned to the pumpout side except when actually dumping the tank...thru-hull should also remain closed except when dumping the tank. And also that you "soft couple" the macerator to anything hard--tank, y-valve, pvc fitting, thru-hull--with some hose. The macerator cannot prevent sea water from making its way through it back into a tank if the thru-hull is left open..."soft coupling" provides shock absorption...and the y-valve is not only a back-up failsafe for the seacock, but also allows you to cut off the flow from the tank in the event the macerator fails and has to be removed. In addition to the macerator manual, I suggest you also read the articles in the HM forum reference library (forum homepage). Btw (after all this)...it's illegal to dump tank in any US waters...you must be at least 3 miles out to sea from the nearest point on the whole US coastline. So unless you're in coastal waters with immediate access to open sea, this entire conversation is moot...'cuz you can't use the macerator.
Dockside pump sucks the waste out of the tank. No clearance is needed for the waste...if there were, any undissolved solids or paper couldn't be "pureed" by the chopper plate. The impeller impels (pulls--which what "impel" means...hence the name "impeller" for the neoprene doo-dad in the pump) the waste through the chopper plate... the only place it has to go when it gets into the impeller housing is out the opening on the side. I put the link to the manual that has an exploded drawing in it below. I strongly recommend replacing the tee fitting with a y-valve, which should always be turned to the pumpout side except when actually dumping the tank...thru-hull should also remain closed except when dumping the tank. And also that you "soft couple" the macerator to anything hard--tank, y-valve, pvc fitting, thru-hull--with some hose. The macerator cannot prevent sea water from making its way through it back into a tank if the thru-hull is left open..."soft coupling" provides shock absorption...and the y-valve is not only a back-up failsafe for the seacock, but also allows you to cut off the flow from the tank in the event the macerator fails and has to be removed. In addition to the macerator manual, I suggest you also read the articles in the HM forum reference library (forum homepage). Btw (after all this)...it's illegal to dump tank in any US waters...you must be at least 3 miles out to sea from the nearest point on the whole US coastline. So unless you're in coastal waters with immediate access to open sea, this entire conversation is moot...'cuz you can't use the macerator.
Thanks!
Thanks Peggy, I have been away on business and just saw your response. I had the wrong idea of the operation of the system. All is clear now. Paul
Thanks Peggy, I have been away on business and just saw your response. I had the wrong idea of the operation of the system. All is clear now. Paul
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