Flojet Macerator Pump

[Redterpos3]

My birthday present just arrived, the flojet macerator pump from camping world.:W I couldn't tell when I purchased how far it could pump, but someone said 100 feet (they may not have been talking about this one?), the directions say 50 foot with a 3/4" diameter hose. I'm going to be pumping from my driveway down a slight slope to my sewer cleanout, probably around 100 feet away. Is this a problem? Or will the downslope help everything "move"?

[Redterpos3]

I've been reading on the camping world site, and some there say they used jumper cables from the TT battery to the pump wires. This sounds like the way for me to go for now. Is there anything I need to do in order to use this? the clips for the jumper cables seem too big to get a nice bite on the small pump wires? I'm not all that mechanical/electrical. Thanks for any help!:h

[beemerphile1]

Redterpos3 wrote:
My birthday present just arrived, the flojet macerator pump....

Wow, a poop cannon for a birthday gift, someone must love you! :B Sure beats using buckets.

[westend]

Don't forget the fuse on that wire!

[wmoses]

Redterpos3 wrote:
Ok, I've looked at the unit and looks like I need to make a number of connections, and get some k ind of "power source," to connect to. How do I do this? What do others use for this connection?

On my previous TV I ran a wire from the battery to the sewer outlet area and installed a trolling motor plug set at the wire - pump connection. I had to cut the clips of the end of the pump wires to install the male plug. Worked well. I have to do this on the new RV.

[Redterpos3]

Ok, I've looked at the unit and looks like I need to make a number of connections, and get some kind of "power source," to connect to. How do I do this? What do others use for this connection?

[rockylarson]

The pump will shut down to cool if overheated. You also might go thru a couple of fuses until you learn the operation. I always run 30 seconds or so of the gray water first to "wet" the hose, and to be sure there are no surprises at eather end. You can also shut the pump off and back flush if it appears to clog or just open the grey valve for a second or two to back wash a little. I run 1 inch hose a hundred feet up hill about two feet at home but only carry 3/4 inch hose on the road.
Good Luck.

[eHoefler]

I assembled 215' of 1" PVC pipe to pump off our fifth wheel while we lived in it last winter, worked extremely well!

[edatlanta]

I have a FloJet that I have never used. I bought it three years ago when I was going to host at a state park without sewer hookup, but they told me it was 100' from a bathhouse where I could pump into a sewer access. When I arrived I found that it was actually 205' with about a 3' vertical rise. Not only did I not have enough hose, I could just see me with 200' of hose full of black tank "stuff" when the pump would inform me it could go no further.

I never bought extra hose and have never used the FloJet, but I have it if I ever need it.

[Johnadam]

I pump mine with 100' of 3/4" hose. It does OK, but as others have mentioned, there is no substitute for opening that valve and WHOOOSH, letting it quickly drain into a short 3" hose. The pump is too slow to get the solids moving good. I usually have to do about 3 fill-pump cycles to get it reasonable clean. Also, if you are going to dump into a septic tank, you will have to use the green tank chemicals. The blue formaldehyde based chemicals will kill a septic tank in short order.

[720Deere]

I have been using the same pump for about 6 years now. Initially I had 100' of 3/4" hose which ran about half level and half of it slightly downhill. When I built a storage pad for the camper next to my garage, I buried a 1" HDPE line from the septic tank to right next to the outlet on the camper. That line drops about 2 feet in its 60' run and the pump barely seems to make an effort.

Even when I had 100' of 3/4" I never had any problems with the pump getting hot. I never pumped more than 50 gallons at one time though. Really the duty cycle is more important than how much head the pump has. Unless you were pumping up to an elevation 20' higher than the pump, you should not have any issues at all. If you are worried about it, limit the pump to 3 minutes on with a 5 minute break between cycles. My pump never gets so hot that I can't hold my hand on it and it will definitely take more heat than your hand can stand before you damage the pump. Enjoy your Flojet, it is probably the best purchase I ever made in camping accessories!

[wmoses]

I have 100' of 5/8" house and it has no problem pumping through that distance on level ground to my sewer clean out

[Redterpos3]

MNRon wrote:
they suggested using a 1" hose. They also commented that the concern would be overheating so I watch to make sure the motor doesn't get too hot (it doesn't pumping through the 1" hose).

Ok, thanks! It does sound like the overheating is the issue, and a larger diameter hose is a good idea. I'll look into that! Being able to dump at home from my current spot would be great!!

[Old-Biscuit]

I use mine to pump 75' with a 2' incline.......use a 25' & 50' 3/4" hose.

Typically pump 100 gallons (black & grey).

[MNRon]

I also have a 100' run to pump, but it's level not downhill. When I got the flojet a few years ago I talked with their technical services and they suggested using a 1" hose. They also commented that the concern would be overheating so I watch to make sure the motor doesn't get too hot (it doesn't pumping through the 1" hose).

I've gone through a couple instantiations of hose and have ended up with 2 50' 1" hoses I purchased from factoryhosedirect.com

Good luck, you'll love the ability to pump out at home.

Ron