Steampunk Workshop Macerator Pump

[D_E_Bishop]

I learned about this hack to build a macerator pump using a garbage disposal and decided since I no longer had my Sewer Solution, I'd try my hand at this. With a couple of exceptions I had to buy the supplies needed so it cost me a little more than $50, more like $105.00. Still not a bad price considering a SS is about $110 with 20' of discharge hose and a macerator pump will run $200 to $350.

I lucked out and there was an ad for a Badger 5 on Craigslist for $40, I offered the owner $30 and she said okay. Got it home and found that the electrical had never been hooked up. The tinned tips were bright and shiny and straight as a pin.

A few changes I made in mine, no copper scrap laying around so I used 1/4" aluminum and added a rubber gasket to ensure a good seal on the discharge side. I didn't have a 3/4" NPT tap on hand so I bought a drill and tap kit on line. I did not like the thought of the threads on the bolts Jake used cutting into the plastic ears on the 3" hose connector. I used SS but with a hex head. 1 1/2" was the first one with a smooth area for the ears to sit on. Cut about 3/4" off the threads.

On 04/08/ we're taking off for a couple weeks, I normally try and dump before leaving on the last day but this time I'm going to refrain from dumping so I can see if the whole thing will work for me. I do have a backup in that if it doesn't work, I can dump at the storage yard.

[hypoxia]

More horsepower should push the fluids with more pressure. There are 1/3 - 1 HP disposals and some turn a lot faster than others.

I've replaced a lot of Badger disposals due to leaking/rust and have switched to 1 HP Waste King L-8000 in stick houses. The Badger turns at 1725 RPM and the Waste King at 2800 RPM. There is a huge difference in flow between them.

I'm interested in pumping 200-300 feet and don't care about the power, 120VAC is fine.

[SoundGuy]

D.E.Bishop wrote:
I just don't understand why you have to tear down another's equipment.

SoundGuy wrote:
No need to get your knickers in a knot, no one is "tearing down" anything ... if this works for you then good on ya. :B

D.E.Bishop wrote:
Well SoundGuy, I just did a search for Macerator Pump in the advanced search function and found one thread that mentioned a couple of times that folks don't know why you need one in a campground.

Normally I don't either as our trailer's black tank's 30 gal capacity is sufficient for quite awhile with just two of us using the camper. However, the point is that by having my macerator on hand I always have the option of servicing my black tank while camping should the need ever arise as it has on a couple of occasions. My primary use is at home as I never stop and line up at a campground dump station. :B

D.E.Bishop wrote:
So my point of view is just a little different from yours.

Exactly - just a different point of view. No one is raining on your parade just because they see the issue a little differently. :R

[westend]

Nice project. Chances are, a new or lightly used quality garbage disposal is going to last longer and need less maintenance than a Flojet. It's about the difference in construction.

[shastagary]

I just did a search for Macerator Pump in the advanced search function and found one thread that mentioned a couple of times that folks don't know why you need one in a campground. I agree with that, I've never needed one in a campground.

i have my rv at a campground seasonal site that it stays at year round there are 8 campers close enough to the dump station to be able to use a macerator to pump our tanks and not have to move our rv's.
my rv has 2-35gal gray tanks and a32gal black tank and its much faster to pump the tanks than using a tote tank 3 trips to the dump station. i built my garbage disposer macerator 3 years ago.
i found the disposer new in the box at a salvation army store for $25.00 the rest of the parts cost about $20.00 so i only have $45.00 in the macerator. and i have a 2000 watt inverter mounted in my tow vehicle if i did want to use the macerator wherever i want to.

[Ron3rd]

The garbage disposal macerator pump has been going around for years and in fact, I think it's a great project and a great idea. I see nothing wrong with it if you have 120v to drive it.

I use the Sewer Solution for dumping at home. Only downside is it uses a lot of water.

[D_E_Bishop]

SoundGuy wrote:

D.E.Bishop wrote:
I just don't understand why you have to tear down another's equipment. I really enjoyed building the pump it is helpful to have and I'm proud of it, just like you are of yours.

No need to get your knickers in a knot, no one is "tearing down" anything ... if this works for you then good on ya. :B Nothing is free though so I'm just saying I'd personally put that $100 not into parts but into the purchase of a Flojet. Just an alternate point of view, that's all. 🙂

Well SoundGuy, I just did a search for Macerator Pump in the advanced search function and found one thread that mentioned a couple of times that folks don't know why you need one in a campground. I agree with that, I've never needed one in a campground.

I guess what I could have mentioned in my original post was that I won't be taking it on the road with us.:o So I don't have to worry about having 120vac to run it and I don't have to store it so I'm not worried about size and weight. So my $125 or so savings is good for a few nights rent on a camp space:B and I don't have to remove a rubber boot and use a screwdriver to turn the impeller clockwise before every use.:h I understand that instruction is in a manual for the FloJets.

So my point of view is just a little different from yours.

[SoundGuy]

D.E.Bishop wrote:
I just don't understand why you have to tear down another's equipment. I really enjoyed building the pump it is helpful to have and I'm proud of it, just like you are of yours.

No need to get your knickers in a knot, no one is "tearing down" anything ... if this works for you then good on ya. :B Nothing is free though so I'm just saying I'd personally put that $100 not into parts but into the purchase of a Flojet. Just an alternate point of view, that's all. 🙂

[D_E_Bishop]

I guess that if you are camping where you don't have 120vac but where there is a dump station up hill from your rig you can dump, that is a righteous way of taking care of dumping but if the dump was lower than your valves wouldn't a 3" stinky slinky work as well, faster and easier and oh yeah!, cheaper. So why do you need a pump at all?

I just don't understand why you have to tear down another's equipment. I really enjoyed building the pump it is helpful to have and I'm proud of it, just like you are of yours.

[rv2go]

wa8yxm wrote:
I always have 12 volts Don;t always have 120 VAC.

Are you saying that your motorhome does not have a generator that supplies 120 volts?

[SoundGuy]

D.E.Bishop wrote:
I learned about this hack to build a macerator pump using a garbage disposal and decided since I no longer had my Sewer Solution, I'd try my hand at this. With a couple of exceptions I had to buy the supplies needed so it cost me a little more than $50, more like $105.00. Still not a bad price considering a SS is about $110 with 20' of discharge hose and a macerator pump will run $200 to $350.

Yeah, I dunno, as a long time Flojet macerator owner I don't think I'd want to limit myself to a motor that needs shore power to run and would have instead put that $100 into the cost of a 12 vdc Flojet. Certainly a Flojet isn't cheap but I've owned mine since 2006 so I can hardly complain about the couple hundred it cost me at the time. These days it seems to be available for about $225 which IMO is quite reasonable considering how useful a macerator can be. :B

[rv2go]

I have been using my modification of a garbage disposal for my tanks for years. Hope yours works as good as mine. At times I pump 75 feet thru a 3/4 inch hose.

[wa8yxm]

I still like my Flo-Jet. runs on 12 volts. I always have 12 volts Don;t always have 120 VAC.

As for the Sewer Solution.. I do not like that, uses Fresh water which we are running out of to do a job better done by a few watts of 12 volts

[2oldman]

Good idea for the money involved, but those things are big, heavy, and don't run off 12v.