Bilge pumps

[H28]

I was under the impression that each bilge pump was wired thusly: directly to the battery via the float switch and to the panel for the ability to manually turn on the bilge pumps. Neither of my bilge pump were turned on at the panel and I came to the boat and the high water alarm had gone off. Neither bilge pump activated automatically. Water just above the prop shaft. When I flipped them on at the panel both activated.

The one toward the bow stayed on even when the water went below it's float switch. The one toward the Stern shut off when the water went below its float switch.

That doesn't seem correct to me. What am I missing?

 

[baz]

Sounds like a stuck float switch. I would advise yo immediately check those two bilge pump float switches for proper operation.

Your explanation for the pumps operations is correct IMO. They both should activate the pump via the float switch and the manual switch set to ON, on the 12v panel should run the pumps continuously even if there's no water to pump out. You said they stopped when using the manual switch and that does not sound right.

 

[SGIDAVE]

I was under the impression that each bilge pump was wired thusly: directly to the battery via the float switch and to the panel for the ability to manually turn on the bilge pumps. Neither of my bilge pump were turned on at the panel and I came to the boat and the high water alarm had gone off. Neither bilge pump activated automatically. Water just above the prop shaft. When I flipped them on at the panel both activated.

The one toward the bow stayed on even when the water went below it's float switch. The one toward the Stern shut off when the water went below its float switch.

That doesn't seem correct to me. What am I missing?

Hello H.,

Your description is correct. The 'automatic' function of the bilge pump (bp) requires the inline fuse at the battery AND the float switch to be in working order. As you now realize these are CRITICAL safety items, so periodic checking is necessary. The 'ultima' (a Johnson branded product) float switch has two circles embossed into the black plastic and can be tested by putting a wet fingertip on each circle. Aside from the fuse and the float switch, there are several crimped butt connectors in the mix which should be of the heat shrink variety since the bilge area is very damp/wet.

Both the float switch and the bp itself occasionally fail, so keeping track of whether they work is important.

On my 21EC at least, the 'high water' alarm is simply a second float switch...except it is connected to the alarm buzzer instead of a bp. Testing the hw alarm is a good idea too as you can envision a 'perfect storm' of events whereby your bilge pump 'automatic' function has failed along with the high water alarm not working...you could be a dangerous situation with water ABOVE the prop shaft before learning of the condition...YIKES 😱

dave

dave

 

[knotflying]

A) check the in line fuse at the battery switches. If they are okay,(B) get some simple green sand clean the face on the sensor. If an oil film builds up they won't work. They are made to not function if oil is in the bilge. Once clean and the fuses are good put one finger on each embossed circle. The pump should activate, if not your sensors are shot.

 

[CAPTCRUNCH]

A) check the in line fuse at the battery switches. If they are okay,(B) get some simple green sand clean the face on the sensor. If an oil film builds up they won't work. They are made to not function if oil is in the bilge. Once clean and the fuses are good put one finger on each embossed circle. The pump should activate, if not your sensors are shot.

With all due respect, I should point out that "green sand" is sometimes hard to find.

 

[ddenver]

A) check the in line fuse at the battery switches. If they are okay,(B) get some simple green sand clean the face on the sensor. If an oil film builds up they won't work. They are made to not function if oil is in the bilge. Once clean and the fuses are good put one finger on each embossed circle. The pump should activate, if not your sensors are shot.

With all due respect, I should point out that "green sand" is sometimes hard to find.

Lack of green sand availability - or anything else that tends to eventually get a green tinge on it - is ONLY a problem there on the east coast. Here in the PNW (Pacific Northwest) everything from sidewalks to house roofs all eventually start going green as moss and/or other greenish organisms take root.

So really finding "green sand" (in either simple or complex form!) is just a matter of where you are looking.

Of course, its entirely possible that knoflying was really suggesting the Simple Green product too!

Take care,
Dan, Tanya, and Hannah on Echo

 

[knotflying]

A) check the in line fuse at the battery switches. If they are okay,(B) get some simple green sand clean the face on the sensor. If an oil film builds up they won't work. They are made to not function if oil is in the bilge. Once clean and the fuses are good put one finger on each embossed circle. The pump should activate, if not your sensors are shot.

With all due respect, I should point out that "green sand" is sometimes hard to find.

Lack of green sand availability - or anything else that tends to eventually get a green tinge on it - is ONLY a problem there on the east coast. Here in the PNW (Pacific Northwest) everything from sidewalks to house roofs all eventually start going green as moss and/or other greenish organisms take root.

So really finding "green sand" (in either simple or complex form!) is just a matter of where you are looking.

Of course, its entirely possible that knoflying was really suggesting the Simple Green product too!

Take care,
Dan, Tanya, and Hannah on Echo

Don't know how that word "sand" got in there, fat finger I guess . I did mean simple green.

 

[baz]

The "a" and "s" are adjacent keys on the keyboard... at least they are on my KB. Easy to do or it could be the auto spelling feature your computer employs.... sometimes the spelling feature can produce very embarrassing terms. :lol: My daughter sent a message one day and she wanted to use the word "deck" and it came across as "dick" and in context is was extremely funny as she was talking about her husband. 😉 😱