Bilge Pump Question

csvencer

csvencer

Senior Member
Now I know this is probably a dumb Q but I have never found the answer.

For bilge pump wiring there is always the auto-off-on switch with the three wires going back to the pump but why? I always run 12V hot to the float then to the pump, then ground the pump and also run the hot to a bilge switch on the dash. Gives me full time auto and manual override. Is there something I am missing? If I put in one of those auto-off-on switches what happens when the bilge fills and the switch is in off? And then what about auto? I just don't get it...

-Svence
 
Mine is wired from the float switch to the battery switch with simply an on off switch at the helm. I like having my batteries isolated completely when off, but others like hooking the float switch straight to one of there batteries. And yes, if you have the 3 way switch and your bilge gets water it will not pump out unless the switch is in the auto position. I've also seen people add an extra float switch higher up as an emergency protection that is straight to the battery.
 
So whats the deal with the damn 3 position switch then? When would I ever want to stop my bilge pump from pumping as water comes into the bilge... Doesn't make sense to me.

-Svence
 
You would have one wire from the auto side of the switch going to the float switch and one wire from the manual side of the switch going straight to the pump. This way you can select to run in auto, when the water level comes up the pump comes on automaticlly or you can choose to run the pump when ever you want in manual. Also if your float stop working you can flip it to manual and run that way.

If you rely on the float alone and it takes a dump then you can't run the pump. 3 Wires 1) from auto to float then to pump, 2) from manual to pump 3) ground wire.

Some auto/manual switches are set up to be momentary in the manual position which means you have to hold the switch when using manual. I like mine to be maintain, I flip it into manual and it stays till I turn it off.

Hope this helps.
 
See I get how it works I just don't understand why, and maybe I won't ever.

I get auto from my float, manual from my standard on-off switch, and no ambiguous middle ground where it won't even turn on if I am sinking.

-Svence
 
Some people do it for trailering purposes. Ever seen a bilge pump come on in a boat on a trailer at a red light? With a convertabile sitting next to the bilge outlet?:you: for you, not so funny to them:bat:.
 
If that works for you then everything is fine except you dont have a means to stop the pump if the float gets hung up or burns closed keeping the pump running. I have heard some pumps can run dry with out damage so that may not be an issue either.


I prefer mine wired where I can choose auto/off/manual. :beer:
 
had a surveyer rasie a stink about a three position switch once, he said the auto portion should be wired hot all the time per code(don't know which code he was quoting). I would have to say, the majority of the boats I see with the three positon switch, the switch is left in the off position allmost all the time. I have two 2000 gph pumps in my V, each one plumbed with smooth wall 1 1/4 hose, each one with its own dedicated ground wire, float switch, inline fuse for the switch(may be changing to a breaker), and a separate line and power supply for the dash mounted switch. I keep a spare pump with aligator clips and 10' feet of hose in the cuddy for jic!

BTW, we've done the auto switch at the stop light before with a 34 Searay, it dumped about 10 gal of bilge water into a Chyrsler convertable at the light. At least it got here off the cell phone
 
spareparts said:
had a surveyer rasie a stink about a three position switch once, he said the auto portion should be wired hot all the time per code(don't know which code he was quoting).

He was probably speaking about the ABYC (American Boat and Yacht Council) code for electronics. It's kinda like a general building code for anything that floats. The funny thing is it's a voluntary thing, and builders don't "have" to follow it. Just good general guidlines for safety for boat systems.
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