I agree with Flyu2there--- Why do you need a macerator?
I agree with Flyu2there--- Why do you need a macerator?
2008 Millennium H3-45
2013 Chevy Avalanche
You may never need it..........
BUT.....I would rather HAVE it than WISH I had it !!!!
In my last trip with my previous (pre-fire) Marathon the campgroud had the sewage dump way back at the back of the site. Way too far to be reached with my 10 foot hose, and I didn't happen to have another 10 or 15 foot extension. Plus that would have been a LONG level travel through a standard system.All that being said, what purpose could they ever serve in a motorhome?
Intead, I grabbed one of my older garden hoses and hooked it to the macerator output. On the Marathon, there were two places it would discharge, either left or right side, about the front of the 4th bay.
Hooked up the hose, and ran it back to the sewer pipe, and then pushed the button for the macerator. I have to say, it was probably the easiest dump I have ever done.
In the Marathon case, the macerator is in the bottom front of the water bay, and is connected with manual Y valves to the black and gray tanks. Just pull the levers, push the run button (also in the water bay), and out comes the bad stuff.
I found it much easier to use than a gravity fill. I wish my current Marathon had it.
Ray
The reason you want a macerator pump is:
To empty the tank at a location that does not have a normal sewer connection. Maybe you are staying at a friends house and the tanks are full. You connect a garden hose ( one specifically designated for this duty only) and run it into the house and right into a toilet or washing machine drain . Turn on pump, problem solved. You can pump it 5 to 10 feet higher than the tank outlet, so you have many more options than just running onto the ground.
You can also use it to empty the gray tank ( if you have separate tanks) since it always seems to fill up first. You can just run it into the bushes , away from the coach by the distance equal to the length of your hose. It beats just dumping on the ground under the coach.
I try to use exercise every component for an hr or so at least once a month or so.
If used very infrequently chances are it will fail prematurely.
Our toilet is a macerator I love it. We only have 1 holding tank, never any solids. If I run my electronic odor control(killing odor by electrocution of bacteria) I have NO ODOR regardless how I dump.
All the buses with a bath and 1/2 also will have macerator toilets.
You could also simply use their toilet......course that wouldn't be as much fun as dragging a hose across hardwood floors, carpeting or perhaps throough a window! Should they have a septic system, tanks usually around 2000 gallons, might cause them some grief there too as that is way to much effluent at one time and the stuff works its way up through the shower pans....probably won't be invited back.
All I am saying is that I have used these damn things for years on boats and 1 in 4 times it may work. As mentioned watch what happens when Kotex goes through it, or tries. The system is unsanitary, stinks, leaks (sooner or later)...oh what the hay, a little e boli never hurt anyone.
It may be convenient as Ray mentioned but do the ends justify the means? I think not.
John
I'm curious, is it any less sanitary than the big 4 inch dump hose, which always seems to pull out of the sewer opening, or leak?
Granted, I only have a statistical sample of one usage, but that one time was clean and easy. I got nothing on my hands, nor on the pavement. I then hooked the dump hose to the hose-bib, and rinsed out the hose.
If they don't work, then certainly that is a different issue. And, if my wife is putting pads down the toilet, she's in big trouble in either case!
Ray
I agree, Ray.
The one-and-only time I've used mine it was a breeze. If it wasn't for the momentary switch that I have (and I may correct that) I would use the macerator all the time to dump.
That single black garden hose is much easier, and no dirtier to handle, than the large RV sewer hose.
Maybe I just got lucky with my experience....
Yes John, you are probably right in the scenarios you have experienced. I however want to dump into an outdoor municipal sewer that is presently not conveniently close to the drive. Not all want to pump into a septic tank.
Without having tried it yet, I don't hesitate to say I don't anticipate it being any more unsanitary than the large gravity dump method.
I do value your opinion and will be on guard.
The cleaning of the drain hose seems to be the problem to me. I will not be connecting it directly to any potable water supply.
What do you think of those long gravity hoses that sit on little stands to keep it all going down hill? Now that's something I don't like!
JIM
Last edited by JIM CHALOUPKA; 03-07-2009 at 08:00 PM.