Tips For Installing A Macerator Pump On A Boat

Boat riding can be a pretty awesome sport to engage in. With boats, however, the issue of sanitation always comes up.

Macerator Pump

You need a proper and clean way of getting rid of the waste collected in the holding tank. This is where macerating comes in.

Macerating is basically soaking solid wastes in liquid to convert them into a fluid form. Macerator pumps are usually used in such instances.

Depending on your needs, there is a wide variety of macerators on the market. They can be used for domestic or commercial purposes.

If not done properly and on time, you may start to notice a foul smell in and around your boat.

How To Install A Macerator Pump On A Boat

If your macerator pump is not properly installed, it is likely to fail you. Follow the installation instructions you have as carefully as possible.

There will be guidelines on the maximum distance to set it from the tank. If you place it above the tank, you will not need a vented loop.

Installing a Y-valve will save you from having to pay for pump outs. You can also use it in areas with 'no-discharge’ policies. This is because it allows you to reroute the waste to either a discharge point or the holding tank.

The process is generally simple and straightforward. However, you need to:

1. Turn the pump off as soon as the process of draining is over. If you leave it running for too long, the pump may get damaged.

2. Make sure that the size of the discharge pipe is just right. The angles should be precise, and if in doubt, consult a professional.

3. Since you are dealing with waste, do your best to eliminate mistakes. Even the slightest mistake could lead to a big problem.

4. Just like with regular toilets, be careful with paper or any other material that could clog the system. Only use toilet paper or flushable wipes.

5. Note that your pump may need replacement every now and then. It will need replacement more frequently if it is used as the primary toilet.

6. To prevent a foul smell, find a way to prevent, mask or treat the smell from the holding tank. Remember that proper flushing is a good way to prevent such smells.

See this video about macerator pumps for boat toilets:

Conclusion

Boat riding is a generally fun and adventurous activity.

Luckily, no one has to trade comfort, proper sanitation and fresh air to ride a boat. There have emerged a number of ways to deal with the issue of personal hygiene, and macerating just happens to be one of them. Luckily for everyone, it works!

Thanks for reading. Go here to learn how to build your own boat.

How To Check Trailer Lights With A Multimeter

Have a trailer with lights that carries things like canoes and kayaks? It’s very important to know how to use a multimeter to check your trailer lights.

Using a multimeter can be fast and easy and will help you troubleshoot your trailer lights just in case there is a problem.

Listed below are instructions on how to use a multimeter:

Process For Using A Multimeter 

The very first thing that you need to do is put your multimeter in the ohms position.

Ensure that your red wire is on the volt dome jack and that the black wire is on the common jack.

Get the three-pin connector that connects to your car from the trailer, which has a terminal ring for ground.

You will notice that the wires of the connector are labelled; right turn, left turn, brake wire and a black wire that has no writing. Get the common wire from your multimeter and connect it to the terminal ring.

You will then use the red wire to cross-check all the other wires from the connector to see how much resistance your multimeter will read.

If the multimeter shows zero ohms, there is no connection between that line and the ground, and the problem could be a faulty bulb or a disconnected wire. If there are no connection problems, then the multimeter should give a reading of 0.32 ohms.

Now check the grounding of your chasing by connecting the chasing to the red positive wire. This should give a reading of 0.1 ohms for a properly grounded trailer.

For continuity tests, remember that the ohm reading is going to take the path of least resistance and trailer lights are connected in series-parallel circuits.

To get a true reading, disconnect all the bulbs and connect each bulb on its own to determine if it’s well connected. Make sure you read to see if there is an open circuit and whether it's your right turn signal, your left turn light, or your breaking lights. This is the way you'll troubleshoot it.

Conclusion

With this knowledge, you can easily troubleshoot your trailer’s lighting system should a problem arise. Having a multimeter around you whenever you travel with your trailer will always come in handy, especially now that you know how to use it.

I hope this helps! Feel free to like, share and comment.