Rewiring Bilge Pump

antdog

Cadet
Joined
May 11, 2009
Messages
25
Hey guys. I recently installed a new bilge pump and a new live well pump on my boat. Got em both in, ran the wire and hooked them both up. I used the shrink wrap butt splice AND shrink wrap on top of that. Finally got it all done, tested the pumps and they work!!! oh yeah!!!

Here's my question. I didn't connect them to the dash or thru the key switch. I put in toggle switches, a 3 way for my bilge pump (on/off/on), and a regular 2 way for my live well. Will I have ay problems with them being wired straight to toggle switches and not thru the dash? I didn't think so, but i want to be sure.

* They both have fuse wires installed between the battery and switches. *
 

seabob4

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jun 10, 2008
Messages
1,603
Re: Rewiring Bilge Pump

Hey guys. I recently installed a new bilge pump and a new live well pump on my boat. Got em both in, ran the wire and hooked them both up. I used the shrink wrap butt splice AND shrink wrap on top of that. Finally got it all done, tested the pumps and they work!!! oh yeah!!!

Here's my question. I didn't connect them to the dash or thru the key switch. I put in toggle switches, a 3 way for my bilge pump (on/off/on), and a regular 2 way for my live well. Will I have ay problems with them being wired straight to toggle switches and not thru the dash? I didn't think so, but i want to be sure.

* They both have fuse wires installed between the battery and switches. *

As long as the feeds that feed those switches are fused or breakered properly within 7" of the source of power, you can put a switch anywhere you damn well please on a boat!
cheersemoticon.gif
 

DukesFin

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Oct 12, 2005
Messages
500
Re: Rewiring Bilge Pump

Not sure what you mean by "thru the dash" but as long as you have + feed with a fuse going to the switch, from there to the pump, then to ground, you're fine!

Are you feeding power to your bilge pump (and switch) directly from your battery? I'm a fan of doing that, ESPECIALLY for the auto feature.
 

antdog

Cadet
Joined
May 11, 2009
Messages
25
Re: Rewiring Bilge Pump

By "thru the dash", I meant wired to come on when the key is on, and mounted on the dash. I mounted my switches near the back of my boat near the live well.

Also, yes, they're being fed directly from the battery. I have the fuses wired in between the battery and the toggle switches. So its, battery/fuse/toggle/pump.

I figured this was an ok set up, but I must defer to the greater minds on the forum.

Thanks
 

VIPV162

Cadet
Joined
Dec 31, 2007
Messages
14
Re: Rewiring Bilge Pump

:cool:I don't know about a greater mind here. But, it sounds like you got it setup likw you want it. Cool!
 

Sparkinator

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 15, 2009
Messages
423
Re: Rewiring Bilge Pump

The on/off/on on the bilge, I assume is on (switched)/ off/ on (automatic with float). The bilge shouldn't be wired through the ignition switch in case you spring a leak, you want the float to turn the pump on wheter the ignition is on or not.

Sounds like you wired them up right.
 
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