2001 SAN ballast not draining

[2001SAN]

Hello all,

Ballast pumps work in fill mode but not drain mode. When I fill both pumps operate but nothing when i hit drain. Any ideas?

D.

[NautiqueJeff]

In 2001, I believe there are separate pumps for fill and drain on each tank. I would guess your drain pump has failed.

http://www.nautiqueparts.com/ballasttankdrainpump.aspx

Be sure to check out this thread for some additional info.
http://www.planetnautique.com/vb3/sh...ast-empty-pump

[mike32]

Check wiring also I had a corroded terminal that caused this.

[2001SAN]

Thanks guys.

That was my first thought but the ballast system switches on both pumps when I fill. I can feel both pumps working/vibrating/humming with my hand on them when filling. This lead me to think that the pumps just work in reverse when draining? The pumps are attwood and are in series. Ballast breaker is good and green light comes on when I press drain, the pumps do not activate though. There are two wires going to each pump. I'm confused! I've had the boat for over year and the drain has never worked so maybe some diy wiring by the PO?

D.

D.

[NautiqueJeff]

Both pumps definitely should not be running in fill mode. These are older aerator pumps, and cannot be run in reverse. You need an impeller pump to do that. Maybe there is some, um, interesting wiring there, but if that was the intention of the PO, it never would have worked.

Also, to get to the drain pump, you would need to remove the tank. Do you have the tanks out of the boat? If not, I am not sure how you could feel both pumps.

[Chexi]

What Jeff said. If you have Attwood aerator pumps, you have 2 pumps in line (assuming this is still the factory original setup). One is for fill and the other is for drain. Both should not be coming on at the same time. Check your wiring. These pumps can run on very low voltage too. You could probably test each one out on a 9v battery. That way you can isolate whether it is a wiring issue or a pump issue.

Also, be sure that you are opening the valves on the starboard side behind the driver when trying to empty, and the boat should be at rest. You have a scupper through-hull, which will force water back into the tanks when you are moving. You actually don't even need the pumps to fill / empty your tanks with that system. If you open the valves and drive 20 mph, you will fill. Any time the valves are open and you are at rest, the tanks will start to empty. It's a simple design based on a vaccuum. I ran my old 99 Air for 2 years without working pumps.

[2001SAN]

ok, this is interesting! the tanks are not out but the dividers etc are. underneath the port side there are two attwood pumps mounted just below the tank on the side of the bilge. there is a short length of pipe connecting them. I can reach both of them no problem as they are literally side by side???! how should the pumps be mounted?

more confused now. i'll have to take a photo next time i'm at the boat and let you guys have a look. anyone else with stock ballast on this era of boat got a pic i could look at?

[crobi2]

The fill pump pushes water through the drain pump to fill and the drain pump pushes water through the fill pump to empty.

They are connected to each other at the "water out" connection.

The fill pump "water in" connection comes from the scupper.

The drain pump "water in" connection comes from the T that goes to the two tanks.

Clear as mud right?

[Chexi]

You can run aerator pumps dry without damaging them, so there is no harm in testing them out of the water.

[2001SAN]

Cool. These tests are out of the water. I'll have to have a look at the wiring when I get down next week.

Thanks all.

[jasonwm]

It's VERY common to see these pumps start to fail based on age. Fortunately a replacement is quite cheap, Attwood's 800GPH Tsunami series pump is a slightly better product in our experience, and is a direct replacement for all of the non-reversible pump systems for less than $30.

[MDerenthal]

I know this is old post but wanted to add comment if anyone else having similar issues. 2001SAN member was convinced both of his pumps were running at same time b/c he could feel them vibrating, but b/c both pumps are connected in series, one pump running / pushing water through the other one will make it seem as if both are vibrating / running when in fact they are not. The vibrations from either pump when running will be felt on the adjacent pump.