Flojet RV waste pump March 05, 2012, 08:39:46 am Yahoo Message Number: 128953Are any members here using this pump instead of the conventional gravity sewer hose? I have this pump and I have not figured out where to connect the 20 amp wire to make it work. I have a 2011 24' TK and the battery box is on the curb side. Thank you
Re: Flojet RV waste pump Reply #1 – March 05, 2012, 10:08:56 am Yahoo Message Number: 128954Quote Are any members here using this pump instead of the conventional gravity sewer hose? I have this pump and I have not figured out where to connect the 20 amp wire to make it work. I have a 2011 24' TK and the battery box is on the curb side. Thank you RV, I use the sewer hose when I can and the Flojet at home. I extended the wires with heavier gauge (12 as I recall) and bought clamps at the Shack to attach to battery. This is probably a distance of 6' from bat to pump on the MB. Don't know what length wire you will need and what gauge it would have to be for that length. Others can help you with that once length is known. Terry Tanner, Tecsnoz Group has excellent article dated 5/5/2005 on this subject. Maybe this link will work. http://tinyurl.com/6pc2f42Joe Hamm
Re: Flojet RV waste pump Reply #2 – March 05, 2012, 10:15:15 am Yahoo Message Number: 128955Quote Are any members here using this pump instead of the conventional gravity sewer hose? I have this pump and I have not figured out where to connect the 20 amp wire to make it work. I have a 2011 24' TK and the battery box is on the curb side. Thank you RV, I use the sewer hose when I can and the Flojet at home. I extended the wires with heavier gauge (12 as I recall) and bought clamps at the Shack to attach to battery. This is probably a distance of 6' from bat to pump on the MB. Don't know what length wire you will need and what gauge it would have to be for that length. Others can help you with that once length is known. Terry Tanner, Tecsnoz Group has excellent article dated 5/5/2005 on this subject. Maybe this link will work. http://tinyurl.com/6pc2f42Joe HammWell, I see that link will not work. Joe
Re: Flojet RV waste pump Reply #3 – March 05, 2012, 10:31:08 am Yahoo Message Number: 128956Quote Are any members here using this pump instead of the conventional gravity sewer hose? I have this pump and I have not figured out where to connect the 20 amp wire to make it work. I have a 2011 24' TK and the battery box is on the curb side. Thank you RV, I use the sewer hose when I can and the Flojet at home. I extended the wires with heavier gauge (12 as I recall) and bought clamps at the Shack to attach to battery. This is probably a distance of 6' from bat to pump on the MB. Don't know what length wire you will need and what gauge it would have to be for that length. Others can help you with that once length is known. Terry Tanner, Tecsnoz Group has excellent article dated 5/5/2005 on this subject. Maybe this link will work. http://tinyurl.com/6pc2f42Joe HammWell, I see that link will not work. Joe Try this: http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/AONUTy88rfikFKkSCIVflVzPgmsqpu6Ayqahjio07NSy4u9sZ74C2vLl_M5U26cn15RcZ-G42-z3gVvr6MZsCAMFlfEQOS8UCg/Macerator.pdf Joe
Re: Flojet RV waste pump Reply #4 – March 05, 2012, 11:26:36 am Yahoo Message Number: 128957See "Macerator.pdf"
Re: Flojet RV waste pump Reply #5 – March 06, 2012, 12:20:49 am Yahoo Message Number: 128967Thank you Joe and Terry for your replies. Terry I joined Techsnoz today and reviewed your write up. I would like to use the Flojet in lieu of the conventional one all the time. I was wondering if I could run the wires to the 4 prong trailer connection. This would be easier access instead of running the wire(s) under the coach to the battery box. I think the newer versions are 20 amp instead of 16. Your thoughts are welcoime. James--"I love the infantry because they are the underdogs. They are the mud-rain-frost-and-wind boys. They have no comforts, and they even learn to live without the necessities. And in the end they are the guys that wars can't be won without." - Ernie Pyle"A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves." - Edward R. Murrow***James A Jackson*mobile: 909 553-4768home: 951 769-7665 ** ** **[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Flojet RV waste pump Reply #6 – March 06, 2012, 07:55:26 am Yahoo Message Number: 128969James, I think I would not rely on the trailer connection. While it might be rated for 20 amps (mine is not), a number of us have found the ground back there inadequate. Also, you are looking at a 30' run to get to the rear of your rig, plus however long to get to your pump. That long run will reduce voltage at the service end of things. It would seem better and easier to either come off the engine battery directly or come off the house batteries directly. You could use a connector at the pump end of things and make the other end a permanent connection, with the wire run placed and tied well. Just remember to include a fuse near the battery.Ken F in NM
Re: Flojet RV waste pump Reply #7 – March 06, 2012, 09:43:34 am Yahoo Message Number: 128971"I would not rely on the trailer connection." Agreed! That connection is designed to power a few lights, not a heavy-duty pump. I'd wire the FloJet pump directly to the house batteries, adding an inline fuse if the pump doesn't have one of its own.Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: Flojet RV waste pump Reply #8 – March 06, 2012, 11:26:38 am Yahoo Message Number: 128973I agree with Andy, connect the Flojet power cable directly to the house batteries.I believe the Flojet has an SAE connector
Re: Flojet RV waste pump Reply #9 – March 06, 2012, 12:03:59 pm Yahoo Message Number: 128974James, I see your problem a bit more clearly now. The Flojet spec sheet says you need a 10 gauge power line for longer runs. And you have a longer run to the battery compartment since it is on the opposite side of the LD from the sewer outlet.So, you might consider:1. Buying a standard 10 gauge extension cord of the proper length, with polarized male/female connectors (ie one blade wider than the other). This could be grounded or ungrounded.2. Fitting a matching polarized male connector to the Flojet power connection. If you're using a grounded extension cord, use a grounded connector but just leave the ground connection unused.3. Making a custom pigtail connector to the batteries with a similar polarized female connector, to be left permanently attached to the batteries. Put a fuse
Re: Flojet RV waste pump Reply #10 – March 06, 2012, 01:14:56 pm Yahoo Message Number: 128975Ok - although it would be easy access to wire it to the trailer connection - it is not a 20 amp circut.. I will use a variation of the model developed by Terry to make this work. Thanks to everyone for their input.--"I love the infantry because they are the underdogs. They are the mud-rain-frost-and-wind boys. They have no comforts, and they even learn to live without the necessities. And in the end they are the guys that wars can't be won without." - Ernie Pyle"A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves." - Edward R. Murrow***James A Jackson*mobile: 909 553-4768home: 951 769-7665 ** ** **[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Flojet RV waste pump Reply #11 – March 06, 2012, 09:05:57 pm Yahoo Message Number: 128978Terry I like your idea the best. I will make a trip to Home Depot tomorrow. Why is the polarized extension cord important? James--"I love the infantry because they are the underdogs. They are the mud-rain-frost-and-wind boys. They have no comforts, and they even learn to live without the necessities. And in the end they are the guys that wars can't be won without." - Ernie Pyle"A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves." - Edward R. Murrow***James A Jackson*mobile: 909 553-4768home: 951 769-7665 ** ** **[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Flojet RV waste pump Reply #12 – March 06, 2012, 09:32:28 pm Yahoo Message Number: 128979"Why is the polarized extension cord important?" With a DC pump, polarity determines which direction it runs. If you reverse the polarity, you'll be pumping backward, with possibly disastrous consequences. Parenthetically, while a conventional 120V extension cord is a readily available item, I always prefer not to mix 12V equipment and 120V connectors. It's way too easy for somebody--not you, of course!--to innocently plug your 12VDC device into a 120VAC wall socket, a mistake that's certain to fry the device in question. In my humble opinion, it's worth going to the trouble of using polarized 12V connectors. Any auto parts store should be able to supply these, and you can substitute them for the AC plug and socket of a heavy-duty 120V extension cord. As Terry Tanner said, your best bet is "a 12 gauge wire extension cord *with unique plug ends* for 12 volt DC."Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/