Shower pump will not turn on

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wandalbee
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Shower pump will not turn on

Driving from WA to WI my shower drain pump stopped working.  I have a 2021 16' er. 

This may only be a coincidence, but I had turned on my main water pump until it shut off by itself.  Before I turned on any faucet, I used the toilet and flushed it.  The water came out high pressure and I released the flush handle immediately.   Could this high pressure have damaged the shower drain pump?  Will I need to get this pump replaced?

I did check the fuse box.  The black handle switches were still on and it didn't look to my eye any fuses were bad. ( I was unable to find any info on what to look for when looking at a blown fuse in a Scamp.)

I was planning on winterizing my trailer today, but sure would like to have this cleared up before go any further.  Don't want to have any water in that drain pump for it to freeze.

Thank you,

Wanda 

ac0gv
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Two separate systems

Toilet gets its' pressure from the fresh water pump, and the drain pump is a separate pump under the floor. Both are 12 volt DC and protected with fuses while the 120 Volt AC is protected by the circuit breakers. If the pump is making no noise it is time to trouble shoot with a volt meter. If it is making noise it could be a plugged filter also under the floor. You can drain the shower onto the ground by removing the hose under the floor (outside). P.S. Did it freeze?

 

wandalbee
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Thank you ac0gv, for your

Thank you ac0gv, for your quick reply.  
Yes my fist night camping in MT.  In the morning when I left at 5am the temp was 27 degrees.  It warmed up quickly and the following evening I did take a shower and the shower drain pump was working then. There were no more low temp nights/mornings for the next 2 weeks.  On my way back home I took 44 across to Yuma AZ, then up to the PNW.  
 
There is no noise when I do turn the drain pump on.  
ac0gv, I am so darned clueless on how to get to the back of the distribution panel. ( I'm taking a guess the distribution panel is the panel the fuses are on?)  
Wanda

Wanda PNW

ac0gv
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Under the seat

Yours will not have the hinges. You can contact, the ground other places also. Also most people take the fuse out and do a continuity test.Or start at the motor and check for voltage there.And yes on the fuse location. Mine is older but has one inline in the battery box and the rest in the distribution panel.

 

 

wandalbee
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Thank you ac0gv.  I'll see

Thank you ac0gv.  I'll see what I can find in there tomorrow.  Appreciate your help!

Wanda

Wanda PNW

Mr.T
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Another quick check would be

Another quick check would be to have someone turn on the switch while underneath with a hand on the pump to feel for any vibration, as well as listen.  On ours, we have to clean the filter every few days, and the pump is quieter when the filter is plugged.

If I remember right, on ours the light in the bath is on the same fuse -- so if the light works it's not the fuse.

wandalbee
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Thank you Mr.T

Thank you Mr.T

The bathroom light works, so it is not my fuse.  I tried again to start the pump but nothing at all. I also felt the motor while the switch was on and nothing.  I took a photo of the switch, because it is slightly lifted off it's base.  When I push it back down it will just pop up again.  Don't know if that could be an issue with the pump not turning on?
 

 With a bit of work I removed the shower trap and cleaned it out. Not a whole lot of debris in it.  But when I was under the camper I thought I might as well un-screw the clear tubes going into the pump, so I could  release the water that was still in them.  Yesterday I had winterized the water lines and hot water heater, but not these tubes.  When I was getting the screw driver positioned, I saw this red wire was not connected to anything.  Could this just be a grounding wire?  And if not, does anyone know where it is suppose to be connected?

Hopefully I can get the photos out. 
wanda

My apologize, the red wire photo doesn't show where the end of it is.  It did not transfer to the forum very clearly.  It is resting on the trailer frame and hanging over the side of it.  

 

Wanda PNW

ac0gv
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Do not know if this will help but...

This is my pre-wired spare pump. The 12 vdc connects first to the switch and then the motor.

Mr.T
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red wire...

You've probably found the problem, there should be 2 wires coming from the pump, which go into the trailer.  Can't remember where the connections are made, and it's a muddy mess where I'm camped or I'd look at mine... 

wandalbee
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Thank ac0gv and Mr T,

Thank ac0gv and Mr T,

HA!!!   Oh Lordy!!  I'm feeling a little hysterical right now.   I've never worked on an electric or otherwise motor before...this is such new territory for me, and I'm willing to try.  
Any chance I may get electrocuted??

Do either of you know, will I reconnect it with an already existing screw, or electric tape, or..?

Wanda PNW

Mr.T
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It's 12 volts, no

It's 12 volts, no electrocution risk, but there's other risks.  Might want to get some in-person help, someone that can teach you a bit of basic electrical 101 while helping to find and fix the problem.

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