ordered a Flojet 18555 MACERATOR and I have some questions

I recently came across a great thread here called "Dump Rage" and in it people were talking about a Macerator and dumping at home. Due to a recent unfortunate event in our home sewer we have located our outside sewer clean out. This amazing discovery only cost me an entire Saturday,emergency visit from the city,then a plumber and a $375 lighter checkbook so I am trying to find the silver lining in it.
Its only about 10 feet from where we park the TT however there is a slight pitch there and the clean out is a bit on a upward slope (maybe about a foot) I had trouble in the past getting all the water out of my fresh tank where it sits when I did the fresh water sanitation. I would hate to get it parked into its spot only to find out I cant get the black/gray tanks empty.
So the next option is to park it on the street which is level and dump from there using the Flojet. Now its about a 50-70 foot distance and about a 5-6 foot slope uphill to our clean out. From what I have read the flowjet should be able to handle this.
Here are my questions:
1) will this work
2) if yes, what recommended hose size- I am thinking 3/4 inch and either a 25 +50 foot or a single 75 foot
3) I understand it just comes with 2 short wires to power the pump. Our battery bank is all the way in the front of the trailer, waste valves in the back... My generator (Champion 3400-Watt Inverter) has a 12-Volt DC automotive-style outlet and the flowjet manual states it needs a 12 VDC, 20 amp power source. The generator came with what looks like jumper cables to fit into this outlet but I was thinking of getting something like these off amazon
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KFBMWN6/ref=ox_sc_act_title_5?smid=A2WBV9COGZXR17&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MRPKPPG/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?smid=A9JH5EZBE3SH8&psc=1
However now that I look at my Circuit diagram for the generator the fuse is 8 Amps there so I am not sure that will work, I just dont want to have to purchase a separate battery for this alone or run it all the way to my battery banks up front. (I can hear my husband complain already about what a PITA my "poo-blender" has become when really I am doing this for him. )
Could I make a plug to use to go into the wall or the outlets on my generator? The amp on my circuit on my generator is 20 there?
If I could do that that would be the best option as I could use the generator while out camping into a vault toilet if there was no dump station and then plug into shore power when home.
If none of the above would work recommendations for a power source for this would be appreciated.
Thank you for your time.
M

15 Replies

PastorCharlie
Explorer
Jul 12, 2019
rvshrinker wrote:
I am building a carport for my trailer, which also serves as a place for guests, and I want to be able to dump at home. Unfortunately my sewer cleanout is 125 feet from where my grey tank valve will be.

Option 1 is to put a sewer dump at the end of the concrete pad. However the sewer would have to run 100 feet to the clean out and from my internet searching it seems like it will have to have a 25 inch drop in height to meet code/work. SO that is likely out, since my sewer clean out is at most 1 foot below ground.

Option 2 is to use a FloJet or other macerator, and a garden hose to my sewer clean out. From many reviews it seems that going 125 feet and totally flat in a 3/4” hose should be fine. Any concerns that it would not work?

I would really prefer a more permanent option. I’m doing a whole backyard project and it’s going to cost a lot of money so it sort of stinks that I’m going to be stuck running a garden hose across my new landscaping and pool area to dump poop. It’s just not very elegant. Plus I’ll have to do it manually rather than just leaving the trailer hooked up for guests, etc.

Any thoughts or other ideas? Or is the macerator my best option and not that bad?

You could bury a 1' PVC pipe from your pad to the cleanout and tie it into the line there. At the pad end install a garden hose adapter and use a short run of 3/4" or 1" commercial garden hose to connect from there to camper. That hose will be removeable and able to store it until needed. You will power the Macerator from camper battery. Mine pumps both tanks (100+ gal.) in 10/15 minutes.
rvshrinker
Explorer III
Jul 11, 2019
bpounds wrote:
For OP: Return the Macerator. Purchase a Sewer Solution. Pocket the extra cash. And disregard any need for electrical power.

For RVshrinker, how high your clean-out isn't the question you should ask. How deep is the trunk line is the question. Probably a lot deeper than a foot, and might give you the drainage slope you need, which is 1/4" per foot.

That makes sense. Thank you
bpounds
Nomad
Jul 11, 2019
For OP: Return the Macerator. Purchase a Sewer Solution. Pocket the extra cash. And disregard any need for electrical power.

For RVshrinker, how high your clean-out isn't the question you should ask. How deep is the trunk line is the question. Probably a lot deeper than a foot, and might give you the drainage slope you need, which is 1/4" per foot.
rvshrinker
Explorer III
Jul 11, 2019
I am building a carport for my trailer, which also serves as a place for guests, and I want to be able to dump at home. Unfortunately my sewer cleanout is 125 feet from where my grey tank valve will be.

Option 1 is to put a sewer dump at the end of the concrete pad. However the sewer would have to run 100 feet to the clean out and from my internet searching it seems like it will have to have a 25 inch drop in height to meet code/work. SO that is likely out, since my sewer clean out is at most 1 foot below ground.

Option 2 is to use a FloJet or other macerator, and a garden hose to my sewer clean out. From many reviews it seems that going 125 feet and totally flat in a 3/4” hose should be fine. Any concerns that it would not work?

I would really prefer a more permanent option. I’m doing a whole backyard project and it’s going to cost a lot of money so it sort of stinks that I’m going to be stuck running a garden hose across my new landscaping and pool area to dump poop. It’s just not very elegant. Plus I’ll have to do it manually rather than just leaving the trailer hooked up for guests, etc.

Any thoughts or other ideas? Or is the macerator my best option and not that bad?
PastorCharlie
Explorer
Jul 10, 2019
I hard wired a number 10 copper strand wire with 30 AMP fuse from the front of my 40 MH battery bank to the dump bay at the back and installed a ground wire from the frame at that location. Both are connected to a plug that mates with the macerator wiring. I purchased a 100' and a 40' 3/4 commercial hose for different applications. I have used both together for a 140' run. Never had a problem pumping with any combination of runs and up hill works fine. I use the Flojet macerator and it easily connects or disconnects to allow the original drain hose to be used.
ktmrfs
Explorer II
Jul 07, 2019
my cleanout is about 1 ft higher than the trailer dump valve. I've used the floject for years now. The main cleanout is further away than I wanted, so we dug down on the cleanout pipe, added a sanitary T, and ran pipe to near the side of the driveway to make a dump station. Just make sure you have some downhill slope in any added run to the cleanout.

1) I made a 12V circuit from the battery to a marine plug near the valve so I can easily plug in the flojet.
2) I bought a 3/4" diameter water hose dedicated to the flojet

I back the trailer into the driveway and dump away. Works perfect
D_E_Bishop
Explorer
Jul 06, 2019
A lot of folks have their macerator pumps hard wired in, and don't remove them.

I made my own and it uses 120vac so I don't care at all.

My opinion is have a 2 wire cable run to the waste cabinet and plug it in as you need it. Don't screw around with it, don't over think it, provide a 3" hose connection and a two wire 12vdc connection and be done with it.

Mine will pump up the 12 inches I need and once it is flowing gravity feed takes over.

K.I.S.S.
IAMICHABOD
Explorer II
Jul 06, 2019
2oldman wrote:
I use a garden battery which I also use to pump water from my truck to RV tank.

I gotta ask what is a"garden battery" does it need special feeding,how deep do you plant it do you have to prune it or just let it go,a picture would be nice also some info on the care and feeding of this thing.:W
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Jul 06, 2019
Observations. on MY flo-Jet

IO had a bunch of 10/2 wire (Speaker wire no less very nice) so no problems DO put a fuse near the battery (30 amps for 10 ga)

THe switch "Handle" has a fuse hidden under a cover on the "Bottom" of the handle

THe pump suffers from "Stiction" so the motor shaft extends out the 'Bottom' of the pump and has a slot. Give it a twist before hooking up.

FInally 1 foot up hill no problem

Oh and level your trailer before dumping. Park the low side on 2x whatever the width of the tire treads are.
2oldman
Explorer II
Jul 06, 2019
melloftus wrote:
recommendations for a power source for this would be appreciated.
I use a garden battery which I also use to pump water from my truck to RV tank. I cut the macerator wires nice and short and use big alligator clips. Things heat up after a while.