Mayfair Switch 2 wire versus 3 wire

[airhog]

I am a little confused and need some help. I curently have a mayfair bilge with a mayfair model #36172 3 wire switch. The switch no longer works for auto bilge and I always need to visit the boat to manually turn on the bilge.
Problem is that I can only find a 2 wire switch to purchase and not the original 3 wire that I have. Can I use the 2 wire switch in place of the 3 wire and still have my manual override work from the helm. I like the manual switch for those just in case times and bilge testing.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Mayfair Switch 2 wire versus 3 wire

Yes, you can use a standard on-off switch. But you will not be able to have an OFF selection. Yes -- the switch will have an off (open) position but that merely disables the MANUAL function. The AUTO feature will be active at all times and you will need to wire the AUTO (float switch) directly to the battery to accomplish this.

 

[chasecd]

Re: Mayfair Switch 2 wire versus 3 wire

The question is, how do you do that?

I too had a wiring configuration for a 3 wire mayfair pump with a float switch. But, with a 2 wire pump now, how do I wire it?

The float has a hot wire to the on/off feed from the battery, so it is always hot. The leads coming from the dash switch (with 5 amp fuse) works manually when I turn the on/off power switch from the battery. But, I need to wire the pump and the float switch and am not sure exactly how.
Any help would be nice.
Thanks