bilge pump three way switch

[EsteroBayJay]

Hi,

Beginner boater here...

1998 bayliner capri 1750/3.0l merc/alpha 1 gen 2

installed pump with built in float switch. I have two wires(black and brown) coming from 2 way switch at controls. Pump has brown #1 and brown #2 and black wire from it. Is this even posible to wire? Or do I need 3 way switch?

Thanks Jay

 

[mthieme]

Re: bilge pump three way switch

Welcome aboard.
Yes you need a 3-way switch.
On - Off - Dock. or - Manual - OFF - AUTO.
The "dock" is for an automatic pump which has either a float switch or pressure switch built in so it will kick on automatically.
The white is negative.
The brown is on (manual override).
the brown with the black stripe is for dock.
I leave mine on the dock setting always.

Here's a page with a good diagram
http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/bilgePump.html

 

[jevery]

Re: bilge pump three way switch

You could use the 2 way switch if you tap the brown w/black stripe wire into the wire connecting the always hot side of the 2 way.

 

[EsteroBayJay]

Re: bilge pump three way switch

Okay,

If I go with the 2 way switch does that leave me with:
off/auto pump
on/manual on?

Any disadvantages to not having an "off" setting providing I understand the diagram.

Here is a pic of the front and back of the switch.

Thanks to both for the help!

 

[springhead]

Re: bilge pump three way switch

hey, no way do you use a three way switch for the bilge, you always want the bilge to operate.
the bilge is an important part of boating safety.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: bilge pump three way switch

black wire is ground, brown are postive. one brown goes to manual switch, the other goes to a constant hot source. this way the auto switch turns it on. i beleive it does matter where each brown wire goes. should be labled.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: bilge pump three way switch

The last Rule pump i bought had them labeled. One goes to the switch and one to a constant hot connection like TD said.It will work fine with a 2 way switch.My boat already had a 3 way bilge switch,left was dock or auto,middle was off.right was manual on.

Here is another diagram,
http://www.sailingsite.org/library/pumps/jabsco_rm1100-24_rule_mate_instructions_24.pdf

 

[jevery]

Re: bilge pump three way switch

If I go with the 2 way switch does that leave me with:
off/auto pump
on/manual on?

Yes

Any disadvantages to not having an "off" setting providing I understand the diagram.

No, you want the pump powered at all times

Advantage of tapping into the hot side on the back of the switch, (for brown wire with black stripe), is that your power source in auto mode will be on the same fuse protected circuit whether pump is running in auto or manual mode, but you can tap any power source for the auto mode given it's fuse protected.

 

[EsteroBayJay]

Re: bilge pump three way switch

Okay... a few updates:

I decided to go with the 2 way switch.

Process: I used Jevery's wire diagram listed above. Taped wire from hot before switch to brown/white at pump. Connected existing brown wire after switch to manual brown at pump.

Result: only manual on worked. If I switched existing brown after switch to the brown/white auto line then the auto would work.

Conclusion: Bilge Pro auto pump must be configured to work with a 3 way switch only. Everyone I consulted with agreed that Jevery's diagram should have worked unless the pump itself can't be wired this way. I decided to try the west marine 3 way switch recommended with the pump install instructions.

Process: Installed switch with fuse protected hot. Ran wire from switch to manual brown and to brown/white auto brown.

Result: again only manual on worked. Problem seems to be with wire that I added. Not sure what I could be doing wrong since install requires a simple connection between switch and brown/white wire. I will include some photos in the morning to help.

 

[jevery]

Re: bilge pump three way switch

Well Hmmm. Since you?ve verified that the pump does run in auto mode, the only explanation I can comprehend is that you?re not getting power through the wire you?ve added for the auto circuit. I know the diagram works because I just installed an auto pump in place of a manual with a two way switch on my boat using the method I described. Could you have tapped into the wrong wire on the back of the switch - the one that's hot only when the switch is on? Have you been able to verify with a tester that you have voltage between the black ground wire and the wire you?ve added for the brown/white with the switch in the off position?

 

[EsteroBayJay]

Re: bilge pump three way switch

Some pics to help. Sorry if lettering is small.

 

[EsteroBayJay]

Re: bilge pump three way switch

Let me point out I'm a novice at best when it come to electric. Any advice is very helpful even if it's not part of solving the problem. Also photos were taken after everything was disconnected. I only thing I can think of is maybe using the exisitng brown line is causing some type of issue. Maybe all new is the way to go. I will buy and try tester on new line tomorrow. Thanks to all for the help so far!

 

[triumphrick]

Re: bilge pump three way switch

I don't like the part where you said " taped wire from hot"...you really need to solder and cover using shrink sleeve or shrink wrap tape or use a mechanical tap connector. If all you have done is skinned the hot lead back, wrapped a wire around it and taped it you are asking for problems. Marine environmen is the worst for corrosion, vibration, etc and you will need to make proper connections! Good luck.

 

[EsteroBayJay]

Re: bilge pump three way switch

Thank you, I meant tapped not taped. I used the blue plastic tap connectors when I tried the 2 way switch.

 

[triumphrick]

Re: bilge pump three way switch

Very good! Your power is coming off the fuse properly and connections at the back of the switch look good as well. You may be on the right track tracing the original wire. Recently did an upgrade to my gps and had a failed connection inside a connector. It was not obvious and moving wires around caused it to be intermittent. That wire made a good pull wire to pull in upgraded power wire! Good luck.

 

[EsteroBayJay]

Re: bilge pump three way switch

Update,

I bypassed the existing wires in the boat and decided to just run all new from switch to the pump. It worked just fine. I think I read on another thread that sometimes it's better to just cut out the existing stuff and start with everything new. I was trying to use existing components to save work and time, but it ended up causing more of both. Thanks to again to eveyone!

 

[jevery]

Re: bilge pump three way switch

Happy to hear you got it figured out. Did you end up using the 3-way switch or the 2-way? Also curious what application you're using to add the text boxes to your pictures. Really helps to make things clear.

 

[msd58]

Re: bilge pump three way switch

I know this is a three year old thread. I just found it. I have two way switch in my boat too. I just bought a auto switch for my existing bilge pump. I want to use existing two way switch. If the hand drawing the guy "jevery" posted is he saying you can operate the pump by either auto or manual? Keep in mind I am adding a auto switch to an existing pump.