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Big switch on the bulkhead in the head

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Quench
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Joined: Thu Feb 02, 2023 10:26 am
Home Port: North Carolina

Big switch on the bulkhead in the head

Post by Quench »

I've seen this in a few ads, so I know ours isn't the only one with this big heavy duty white switch that's below the cubby but close to the hull. Can someone please tell me what it does? I've searched all over and can't find an answer to this question. 1995 28TE.
Nancy
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Home Port: Lake Champlain

Re: Big switch on the bulkhead in the head

Post by Nancy »

Got a photo? Our '95 didn't have this.
Nancy
2005 Albin 35CB
Yanmar 6LYA-STP 370
Valentine

Former boats
1995 Albin 28TE, Cummins 6BTA5.9 250, 2012-2022
1978 Trojan F32, 1998-2012
1983 Grady White 241 Weekender, 1988-1997
1980 Wellcraft 192 Classic, 1983-1987
gmberkley
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Home Port: Fairhaven, MA
Location: Falmouth, MA

Re: Big switch on the bulkhead in the head

Post by gmberkley »

a photo would be very helpful, the only "big switch" I can think of right now is the main breaker switch, mine is mounted on the port side, on the bulkhead separating the fuel tank from the engine compartment.
Gregg M. Berkley 25 Ton Master USCG
2005 Albin 28 TE Flush Deck
Fairhaven, MA
Quench
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Home Port: North Carolina

Re: Big switch on the bulkhead in the head

Post by Quench »

I pulled this photo from a listing on YachtWorld, so I know we're not the only boat with this mystery switch (circled in red).
Albin 28 head.jpg
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Nancy
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Home Port: Lake Champlain

Re: Big switch on the bulkhead in the head

Post by Nancy »

No label, no nothing? Can't see it very well in the photo. Snap a pic next time you're on board?
Does your boat have a macerator pump? Where's the switch?
Nancy
2005 Albin 35CB
Yanmar 6LYA-STP 370
Valentine

Former boats
1995 Albin 28TE, Cummins 6BTA5.9 250, 2012-2022
1978 Trojan F32, 1998-2012
1983 Grady White 241 Weekender, 1988-1997
1980 Wellcraft 192 Classic, 1983-1987
gmberkley
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Posts: 248
Joined: Mon Dec 07, 2020 3:08 pm
Home Port: Fairhaven, MA
Location: Falmouth, MA

Re: Big switch on the bulkhead in the head

Post by gmberkley »

I can't tell what it may be from the pic, but in that same location on my boat, is my indicator lights for the the holding tank.
Gregg M. Berkley 25 Ton Master USCG
2005 Albin 28 TE Flush Deck
Fairhaven, MA
Quench
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Re: Big switch on the bulkhead in the head

Post by Quench »

Nancy wrote: Tue Oct 24, 2023 8:04 pm No label, no nothing? Can't see it very well in the photo. Snap a pic next time you're on board?
Does your boat have a macerator pump? Where's the switch?
No label. We do have a macerator, but unsure if it works. And there isn't a switch anywhere else that I'm aware of. But that's an interesting idea. There's a breaker for it on the main panel above the quarter berth, but I don't think that we've flipped it on yet. I'll try that next time we're down there.

Where is the switch for it usually located?
Nancy
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Home Port: Lake Champlain

Re: Big switch on the bulkhead in the head

Post by Nancy »

I'm not an expert on macerators as we can't use them here, and we always disable them. But the only switch I've ever seen is on the electrical panel.

Maybe it's an eject button. 8)
Nancy
2005 Albin 35CB
Yanmar 6LYA-STP 370
Valentine

Former boats
1995 Albin 28TE, Cummins 6BTA5.9 250, 2012-2022
1978 Trojan F32, 1998-2012
1983 Grady White 241 Weekender, 1988-1997
1980 Wellcraft 192 Classic, 1983-1987
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jrhess3
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Re: Big switch on the bulkhead in the head

Post by jrhess3 »

I believe that switch pumps out the water in the shower drain.
Quench
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Home Port: North Carolina

Re: Big switch on the bulkhead in the head

Post by Quench »

jrhess3 wrote: Tue Oct 31, 2023 12:01 am I believe that switch pumps out the water in the shower drain.
Interesting - there isn't a shower sump at the moment. It's been plumbed into the bilge. But there is a shower pump breaker. Both of these ideas seem plausible. The macerator is the only one that we can test at the moment.
Patrickgoggin
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Re: Big switch on the bulkhead in the head

Post by Patrickgoggin »

I have a switch on the cabinet below that switch that turns on the electric head.
Patrick

2000 Albin 28 TE “Phantom”
1978 34’ Californian LRC “Spirit” (Prev)
Quench
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Joined: Thu Feb 02, 2023 10:26 am
Home Port: North Carolina

Re: Big switch on the bulkhead in the head

Post by Quench »

Manual head on ours. I suppose that it could have been electric at some point.

I'm still surprised that nobody else has this switch and knows definitively what it does.
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Sisu22
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Re: Big switch on the bulkhead in the head

Post by Sisu22 »

For me, it is the macerator. Not sure if that is factory-original.
1994 TE 28' w/ Cummins 250
Quench
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Home Port: North Carolina

Re: Big switch on the bulkhead in the head

Post by Quench »

Tested this weekend. The macerator appears to be wired directly from the cabin breaker panel, which seems a bit weird. Seems like there should be a switch somewhere in that circuit. Regardless, the mystery switch isn't connected to that circuit. Maybe it was at some point and was bypassed. I haven't had time to get that deep into the bilge to see what's going on from the back of that switch.
Jkraft
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Re: Big switch on the bulkhead in the head

Post by Jkraft »

It’s normal for the macerator switch on the control panel to turn it on and off. It was that way on the 28 and my 31
USCG 100 Ton Master

Current boat:
"New Classic"
2006 31TE / Hull# 221
Cummins QSC 8.3 / 500 hp

Previous boats:
2002 28 TE with 315 Yanmar “Hair Of The Dog”
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