New Hoses for Septic System, Questions for Peggy

  • Thread starter David Tomlinson
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David Tomlinson

Peggy, I have read all your forums and appreciate your expertise, thanks in advance for your help. I currently have a 40.5 Hunter with a macerator pump that recieves a hose from the septic tank, through the macerator, and then to a thru hull. Currently, the only way I know the macerator is working is by the sound of the Macerator, high pitched noise then low pitched whille it is pumping, back to high pitch. I can't stand just relying on the sound. When the macerator is pumping solid stuff near the bottom, it is easy to audibly hear the difference in sound, but after rinsing the tank with fresh water, I can hardly tell the difference between when the macerator is pumping vs. running dry. I recently installed a temporary switch, so that my kids and crew can not accidentaly leave the macerator on. So I can not look overboard and operate the switch at the same time. Can you suggest a good way of setting the pump up so that I have some other feed back telling me that the darn thing is working and pumping out the septic tank? This is one of the most critical systems on the boat and can certainly ruin any trip, I do not feel comfortable leaving it up to just the sound. Do you have any suggestions? The thru hull has easy access, I was thinking of putting a short section of clear hose (like 2 ") just before the Sea Cock so that I could lift the access panel and ensure that the pump was pumping? This short segment might need to be changed frequently, but that would be easier and more reasuring then replacing a macerator pump twice a year. Thanks again, for any help.
 
Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
Spring Loaded Toggle?

Dave: Have you considered a spring loaded toggle switch (or push button)? This would only be activated when you push it and would stop when released. As far as knowing that the tank is completely evacuated, can you just have someone look over the side as you are pumping? I would not trust these clear plastic hoses on a seacock period. You can also get a pump that does not burn up when it is run dry for short periods.
 
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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress

Why not just install a gauge

that you can read while the tank is being pumped out? If you already have a Snake River AcuGage system, e-mail Dennis to ask about installing a second panel. Even a second complete one-tank "mini" would be very inexpensive. Or put the macerator switch in the bilge next to the tank so you can watch the tank while the macerator is running.
 
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David Tomlinson

Macerator Switch

I did install a momentary switch and that has helped prevent burning up another macerator, but I still have a hard time knowing whether the macerator is pumping or just running. Peggie, sorry I spelled your name wrong. I am going to put in a tank monitor on the system and this should help to. The tank is under floor boards that prevent it from being easily checked. Fortunately we live in Puerto Rico, unfortunately there is no pump out in all of the carribean (Very Sad). We are against dumping waste anywhere else but the open ocean so we depend on our macerator pump. I just wish there was some type of "window" that I could put in the line, so that I could easily see stuff moving and help me not burn up the macerator. One of my crew (probably my 2 year old daughter) somehow got a rubber figurine into the septic tank (via the toilet I guess). Because it floats, it got sucked into the macerator, well the macerator sounded like it was pumping, under load as the Goofy character was getting spun around the macerator. I had no way of knowing because it "sounded" ok. After the expected 3 minutes it takes to pump the tank I suspected something was a miss, but too late. Had I had someway to see that nothing was getting pumped out, I would have stopped immediately and checked the macerator, hence saving it. Maybe it is impossible to child proof a boat, but I am trying, because after this comes grandkids, and I want my boat to be ready. Peggy, any suggestions. Can you buy clear PVC that I could put just infront of the discharge thru hull? Thanks for the help!
 
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