Home made macerator

Garbage disposals don't "pump"....

Here is a link on how to build your own garbage disposer macerator pump.

http://steampunkworkshop.com/diy-rv-macerator-pump

When I visit my daughter, I use a garbage disposal unit adapted to the 3" drain to pump my holding tanks 100' and 5' uphill thru a 5/8" garden hose. Works like a charm. Even better that the 12volt macerator pump that I have.

For what it's worth, I sourced a 1" ID hose and run it 100' with the standard Macerating pump available out there.. no issues.. not saying this is the cheapest way, but it's what I do..

DIY Macerator, Steampunk Work Shop

The disposal pumped for the builder.

Francesca Knowles wrote:
Garbage disposals don't "pump"....

I think you would find that underneath the shredder table are vanes that act as vanes in a pump. They are a support for the shredder ring but also act as a quasi pump vane within the drain cavity of the disposal. At least every one I've dismantled has been like that. I would imagine they are built like that to afford evacuation of the drain chamber with enough pressure through the final drain opening.
It's easy to prove this to yourself. Fill the sink with water, making sure the disposal is clean, and observe the time it takes for the sink to empty without the disposal powered. Do the same procedure but with the disposal powered.

The Steampunk builder could have incorporated a clean out with his macerator by attaching a plastic irrigation valve and hose fitting onto the dishwasher inlet. I guess a guy could just rinse the 3" hose and disposer by directing water into the disconnected hose, also.

I made one last year. I had a TT parked on a piece of property I own (the lot has water and power but no sewer) and getting the trailer on/off the lot required backing up a long, steep driveway that is quite narrow, so I was using a blue boy tank for the black water, but loading the full blue boy into the bed of the pickup was a pain. The nearest dump station is about 10 minutes down a major highway so towing the blue boy was not an option.

When I was checking out prices for the Flojet 12 volt macerator (here in Canada the dealers want $350) I came across Steampunk's site and I got the idea. I picked up a brand new garbage disposal unit for $10 at a garage sale and modified it as per steampunk. I had to do a bit of grinding with a dremel tool to fit the 3" fittings, but it was pretty easy. Unfortunately, it would not pump with more than a 1 foot head, so I bought a water pump on sale at home depot and connected it to the outlet of the garbage disposal.

It worked great, about a 5 foot rise up into the blue boy in the box of the truck through a 5/8 hose, about 40 feet. I picked up a second blue boy so I have enough capacity to empty the black tank, plus about 5 gallons to flush out the empty black tank and another 5 gallons from the grey tank to clean out the whole system. Emptying the blue boys from the box of the truck is fast and easy with a 10 foot 3" hose.

I was a bit worried that the pump would not be able to handle the slurry that comes out of the macerator, but it worked really well. This is the pump I bought: HD pump

Thanks for all of the replys guys.I had bought a new Badger model on ebay a few months ago but couldn't find the directions again, it was the link posted. I too had thought about using the dishwasher inlet for a flushing port; and I just looked in it thru the discharge port and it does have about 6 vanes on the bottom of the plate so I guess it can pump somewhat..Thanks again.

I made one with a Badger disposal I bought at the local Habitat Restore for about $8.

Probably spent about $20 on various parts to make the macerator.

I had heard of the idea - had not seen any directions; but the result was similar to Steampunk Workshop above. It will pump 100 feet using 5/8" hose. It will lift (outlet higher than pump) about 10'.

Only use it now and then, but when needed; its' a great solution.

Regards,
Doug

Yes, someone has, A few years ago someone posted a thread in one of the forums here showing photos and all.

And for the guy who said garbage disposals do not pump.. NOT TRUE, they do.

There are many types of pumps, one is centrifugal A disposal is this kind of pump, by "Throwing" liquid toward the outside and putting a "Vent" (outlet) there it pumps. and this is exactly how they are made.

In addition a Garbage disposal literally chopps/grinds semi-solids into little bits.

The macerator pump is two devices,, If you look down the 3" throat you see the macerator, Little blades, may be metal or plastic, which stir things up and encurage breakup.. What you do not see is the pump which is below the metal plate, I am not sure what the proper name for this pump is but it works by varying the size of chambers as they turn in an offset circle (the moving disc and vanes and the compartment they move in are not concentric) so as the wheel turns the vanes compress and then pass the outlet forcing the fluid out. Then they expand and suck down another load from the macerator compartment.

Work good they do.


One suggestion, If you decide to buy a FLO JET like I did (portable) and use it only when needed.. Put a large flat screwdriver in the case with it.

on the bottom of the motor is a slotted shaft.

Turn it (I believe it turns clockwise) a few turns before hooking up the pump.

Saves fuses and @*(#$#@! ing.