Macerator functioning issues

[Scott]

1991 Sea Ray 270 purchased used, only used the overboard discharge once several years ago as I usually do dockside pumpout.

Discovered the macerator was no longer working, and found that it was badly rusted and falling apart. I replaced the macerator, but it still does not work. The exposed wires look fine, as do the 2 fuses behind the switch in the head.

What should I look for next?

 

[barnbuoy]

is there power at the pump?

 

[Vic Willman]

Is there a breaker for it in the panel box? Is it turned on? Some macerator pump hookups have two switches, each operated by a different hand. Sort of like the safety switches on power presses, etc. You're going to have to do a little investigating, with a DC voltmeter.

 

[GrecRI]

Yeah, the big question is whether you have power at the pump. If not, you have to find out where the power is interrupted. There may be another fuse somewhere in the line.

I have a 1985 Sea Ray 260 and my macerator failed last Fall. There was no voltage at the pump and the fuse at the pump was fine. After checking the wire color (I don't remember what color it is - orange or brown maybe?), I looked for and found a line fuse on the same color wire only a foot or so from one of the batteries in the engine compartment. Sure enough, that fuse had been blown.

Of course, the new fuse blew again right away, so I had to replace the macerator. Point being, there may be another fuse in the line that your unaware of.

I think this is more common on older boats that have had numerous owners. When installing something, if they don't see a fuse in the line, they install one - (better safe than sorry) not realizing that there is already a fuse in the line. Unfortunately, it makes it a bit more difficult to troubleshoot future problems.