Bilge Pump Question

[thedukeryan]

I installed a new float switch the other day and have a few questions. First off the pump appears to have the +/- hooked up in reverse. I know this shouldn't hurt the pump but it seems to me that it would cause the pump to bring in instead of out With that said it functions fine so I was curious if maybe the wires are just marked wrong or do pumps work in either direction? The next question I have is about the float switch. I have it set up so I flip the switch on the dash and tehn the float switch takes over from there. In other words the float switch does nothing unless the bilge pump switch is turned on. The bilge pump does nothing unless the float switch engages. Hope that makes since. What do you guys think of this set up? Should I rewire it so the bilge switch turns on the pump wether the float switch engages or not and then wire the float switch so it turns on the pump even if the dash switch is off? All this leads me to my last set of questions. Can the float switch short out or cause my pump to short out if I have a direct connection between the float switch and pump? My concern is that if Im cruising and the float switch is jumping up and down it will cause my pump to constantly turn off/on each time the switch jumps up. Hope that all makes since.

 

[rbh]

Re: Bilge Pump Question

Look at the wiring diagram, you should be able to set it up so one hot leg and ground are to the battery direct so you can turn of you main switch and it will come on automaticly when water lifts leg high enough and the other is for a constant on from a toggle on dash.
rob

 

[thedukeryan]

Re: Bilge Pump Question

Rob is this considered the ideal set up. Shouldn't be a problem rewiring it. My concern is that the switch will jump up/down when cruising and could be hard on the pump & switch.

 

[rbh]

Re: Bilge Pump Question

I personally I dont see that as a problem.
rob

 

[cronx]

Re: Bilge Pump Question

I thought bilge pumps either were in Automatic mode (when float is lifted, the pump is turned on) or Manual On (regardless of the float, the pump is turned on and pumping), or OFF (self explanatory)

Refer to this diagram http://www.chipford.com/graphics/bilge_switch.jpg tell me what you think

 

[thedukeryan]

Re: Bilge Pump Question

I will probably rewire it so each switch is independent and can function on its own. Pretty easy to do just kinda liked the idea of being able to kill the float switch if need be when cruising. Sounds like this wont be a issue though. Still curious about the way its hooked up. Seems like the wires are in reverse but I left them this way since the pump does pump water out. If my memory is correct the black is hooked up to the white and the white hooked up to the black. Could be wrong about the colors but either way it seems like it is hooked up in reverse. It pumps water just fine so should I leave it alone?