Electrical problem - bilge pump

[bowjunkie35]

Last night as I was going through a systems check on my Skeeter I turned on the main power and then the bilge pumps. Check, both pumps came on as normal, but when I turned the switch off, the left pump stays on! <br /><br />So, needless to say, with the system power switch on, that pump will run all of the time, which is unacceptable.<br /><br />My first thought was the seperate switch for activating the pumps, but why would it turn one off if it was bad? I should add that they have always worked fine before.<br /><br />My other thought was to temporarily dis-connect the "stuck" pump and run with one, which I can do, but I would really like to figure out what the trouble is.<br /><br />Any suggestions?<br /><br />Thanks in advance for any help.<br /><br /><br />Steve in Iowa

 

[vipzach]

Re: Electrical problem - bilge pump

Let me get this straight. You have to pumps controlled from one on/off switch? <br />There is no way that one could stay on and one could go off, if there only power source is the switch. Maybe I am missing something here.

 

[willamettejeff]

Re: Electrical problem - bilge pump

Often when 2 bilge pumps are installed, one of them will be wired directly to the battery through a float switch so that it will still function even when all other switches are off. This is usually done on boats that stay in the water most of the time. If this is the case, then may have a stuck or broken float switch. Just a thought.

 

[bowjunkie35]

Re: Electrical problem - bilge pump

Originally posted by vipzach:<br /> Let me get this straight. You have to pumps controlled from one on/off switch? <br />There is no way that one could stay on and one could go off, if there only power source is the switch. Maybe I am missing something here.

Well, let me try to explain better.<br /><br />This is a bass boat. As with most of them, there is a main power switch which once flipped, enables you to operate everything from pumps to aerators to fish finders etc. With me so far right?<br /><br />So yesterday, as stated above, I am going through a system check to get it ready for the weekend. I turned on the main power switch. Everything was cool, no bilge pump running which is the way it is supposed to be and has always worked.<br /><br />So, while checking aerators, fishfinders, lights and the like, I get to the bilge pump switch. Yes, one switch for both pumps which is common on bass boats.<br /><br />I flip the switch, both pumps come on. I kill the switch and can still hear one pump running.<br /><br />So, I shut off the main. Turn the main power switch back on and you can still hear the one pump running. Hit the bilge pump switch and the other comes on as it should, but when you turn that switch off, the one still keeps running until you kill the main power. Obviously I have to have power to all of the systems so what should I do?<br /><br />I know, weird huh?<br /><br />Thanks Again!

 

[bowjunkie35]

Re: Electrical problem - bilge pump

Originally posted by willamettejeff:<br /> Often when 2 bilge pumps are installed, one of them will be wired directly to the battery through a float switch so that it will still function even when all other switches are off. This is usually done on boats that stay in the water most of the time. If this is the case, then may have a stuck or broken float switch. Just a thought.

I don't think so as I have used the pumps with the one main switch before. Plus, with a float switch and water in the bilge, would it not have come on by itself before when I was on the water?<br /><br />Anyway, I will give a better look into the bilge area to see if there is a float switch.<br /><br />Thanks so far guys!

 

[vipzach]

Re: Electrical problem - bilge pump

Look at the bilge pump and see where the wires go, I would bet that you have three wires on it.<br />1-battery(+)<br />1-switch<br />1-ground(battery)<br />If that is how it is wired you probly do have a stuck float switch. Lightly tap it and see if it turns off.

 

[willamettejeff]

Re: Electrical problem - bilge pump

If you have an automatic bilge pump the float switch is a part of the pump as vipzach points out. Also, if the manual pump switch is a double pole switch then it is possible to have the setup as I mentioned but still have both pumps come on with the switch, but only one to operate with the float switch. Many possible configurations, you'll need to figure out how yours are connected. Might first look behind dash at back of pump switch. If 2 rows of terminals, then it is a double pole switch and could itself cause your problem.

 

[amirm]

Re: Electrical problem - bilge pump

Jeff is right. If I rigged the boat, I would have the switch be across the float so that you could override the float. But the pump would still come on without the switch being on.<br /><br />Having had floats go bad and do exactly what yours are doing, I bet you have a bad float switch or one that is temporarily stuck. Do this. Find the fload if it is externaly and flip it up and down. That may fix it. If it is not a mechanical device, then you may be stuck replacing it.<br /><br />Amir

 

[Perfidiajoe]

Re: Electrical problem - bilge pump

I may be missing something but if it is wired to one switch & a float switch, shouldn't a stuck float activate both pumps?

 

[willamettejeff]

Re: Electrical problem - bilge pump

Perf, you'ld be right except in the case of a double poll pump switch.

 

[Perfidiajoe]

Re: Electrical problem - bilge pump

In the original post it does not sound as if it's a double pole switch, to me it sounds like there is a piece of this story missing.

 

[willamettejeff]

Re: Electrical problem - bilge pump

I suspect your thinking about a double throw switch instead of a double pole. Not possible to tell whether double pole switch without looking. In any event, original poster must be out fishing anyway.

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: Electrical problem - bilge pump

Something else that doesn't sound quite right is the fact that turning off the main battery switch kills the pump, most boats are wired so that the main switch does not kill the pumps, that way the pump should come on regardless of the main switch, in fact most ins companies insist on this.

 

[vipzach]

Re: Electrical problem - bilge pump

bowjunkie, did you blow up the boat trying to fix this or what?