Bilge pump sensor

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Jon

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Apr 9, 2013
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Fluid Motion Model
C-288 C
My bilge pump sensor is not working. The pump works manually but the sensor does not activate the pump when the water rises above the sensor. I have on power to the sensor. Does anyone know if there is a fuse in that line or where the 12v fuse might be located? It's the pump and sensor under the drive shaft drip system. My boat is a 2011 R29.
Thanks,
Jon
 
On our R27 the manual switch for the bilge pump is on a separate circuit than the automatic switch. Redundancy I guess. I found the auto switch fuse was blown and replaced it. All good now. The fuse was in the port cockpit locker under the battery switches. Not sure where it would be is on the R29. The lesson was, do not test the auto bilge function by trying the manual switch! :evil:
 
Also make sure the sensors on the pump body are clean. On my 2012 R-29 the sensors are on the back side of the pump body, and sometimes get a layer of slime that keeps them from working. Switching on the pump switch at the panel works fine. I use a little Simple Green or Dawn dish soap to clean the pump and bilge, and everything works.
 
My problem was that the pump wouldn't shut off.
I did have to wipe the slime off. A little bit of bilge (or any kind of) cleaner helped right away.

There is a way to test the sensor without water. By putting two fingers over the two bumps on the face of the sensor for ten seconds. The pump should run.
 
Red raven,
Thanks for the info. Was the fuse an in line type? I will look for it this am.
Jon
 
Jon,

The fuse is an automotive type blade fuse in one of those in-line square black rubber fuse pockets. On the R27 It is connected directly to the battery input post on the thruster battery switch. There are three fuses there related to the bilge pumps. All are labeled on the wire next to the fuse pocket. One each for bilge pump #1, bilge pump #2, and the bilge alarm. Bilge pump #1 should be the one under the shaft drip seal.

The dash manual switch bypasses all of this by applying power to the #1 bilge pump from the 12V supply behind the dash.

Curt
 
Curt,
Thanks. I located the right where you said it would be. Solved the problem. Thanks again!

Jon
 
I am having a similar problem with my 2014 R21EC. The Bilge pump does not come on automatically but works perfectly if I turn on the manual switch. Is there an inline fuse for the automatic sensor like on the R27? If so where is it and what type of fuse would it be? I would like to go and pick up a spare before I head back out to the boat if possible. I looked in the R21 manual and did not see it listed.

Also I have a high water alarm which is not functioning (a pretty scary combination). If I arm it, it just screams regardless of the water level. I cleaned the sensors but that had no effect.

Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated, thanks.

Jeff
 
PetDrs":1s980fbv said:
I am having a similar problem with my 2014 R21EC. The Bilge pump does not come on automatically but works perfectly if I turn on the manual switch. Is there an inline fuse for the automatic sensor like on the R27? If so where is it and what type of fuse would it be? I would like to go and pick up a spare before I head back out to the boat if possible. I looked in the R21 manual and did not see it listed.

Also I have a high water alarm which is not functioning (a pretty scary combination). If I arm it, it just screams regardless of the water level. I cleaned the sensors but that had no effect.

Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated, thanks.

Jeff


Hi Jeff, On my 2014 21EC the fuse holder is only 8"-10" from the battery. It's the two blade automotive type. Mine (Johnson 750GPH) calls for 5amp maximum. I had issues with mine a few months back where the pump stayed on, didn't blow the fuse(wrong size in there) and burnt the auto sensor and melted plastic on the pump. (See photos in my album) As others have noted it's very important to keep the sensor clean and also recommend just popping out the pump cartridge every now and again to ensure there is nothing in the housing or wound up around the impeller. If your fuse is blown, clean the sensor buttons, install new fuse and test with fingers on each button or just fill the bilge with water until its up over the sensor. If it doesn't work your sensor is probably shot and can be purchased separately from the pump. Not sure about the high water alarm but if it's going off when you arm it and the buttons are clean then there is a good chance that it has a short somewhere and it may need replacing.
 
Hi Newf

Thanks for the info! Wow that melted pump and sensor looks nasty! I will pop by the automotive store and pick up a 5 amp fuse before heading down to my boat and hope that it will just be a blown fuse.

Not sure about the high water alarm..... That will probably require some more detective work.I will clean everything again and see if that helps.

I'm up in Nanoose Bay, a couple of hours north of you on the Island, we are almost neigbours!! 😀

Cheers!
 
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