Auto Bilge Pump Wiring

[IlliniDoc]

Well I am back. Here is my problem I wanted to replace my manual bilge pump with an auto/manual Sea Sense 800gph pump which has red, brown and black wires. I currently have an on off switch at the helm which I wanted to utilize so I wired as follows: since the old pump had connectors I wanted to use them so I connected the brown and black wires to the connector which run to the switch for the manual operation and connected the red wire directly to the battery. In my mind should work as advertised, wrong. ( checked the pump for operation before the installation) When I engaged the rocker switch nothing. checked all connections took apart and reconnected the wiring tried again and nothing. checked with different battery worked, out of desperation I cut off the connectors and touched directly to the battery nothing. so I disconnected the automatic (red wire) touched brown and black wire directly to the battery again and it worked. I am stumped what am I missing? Is there something internal in the pump that doesn't allow power from the same battery?
If anybody can point me in the right direction I would greatly appreciate it.
2016 Ranger RT 178c

 

[Scott Danforth]

What did the instructions show?

What troubleshooting have you done,?

 

[IlliniDoc]

Well the instructions said to use an on off auto switch. I was wanting to just use a single pole switch for the manual and connect directly to the battery for the auto. Reason being whenever I am on shore power to recharge both main switches are off. Which would obviously shut off power to the switch at the helm and both manual and auto modes. Which is not a problem when I am home boat is inside but when I am overnighting and docked outside the issue arises.

I have confirmed that the pump runs in both modes. The only time I have an issue is if the auto (red) wire is connected directly to the battery, then pump does not run. Take off the auto wire pump runs. Don’t know if the pump is wired so it has to be switched or what.

Battery is brand new and fully charged.

 

[IlliniDoc]

What did the instructions show?

The instructions said to use an on off auto switch, I want to use a single pole switch for the manual and connect directly to the battery for the auto. Reason being when I am on shore power to recharge both main switches are off which is not a problem when I am home boat is inside but if overnighting and boat is docked outside the problem arises.

What troubleshooting have you done,?

Have confirmed that the pump runs in both modes. I only have an issue when the auto (red) wire is connected to the battery. When connected no pump take wire off pump runs. Don’t know if pump is wired to only run when both modes are switched or what. Doesn’t make sense to me.
Battery is brand new and fully charged.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Is there clear path to ground on the black wire?

Do the instructions state that power can be either/or ?

 

[IlliniDoc]

Is there clear path to ground on the black wire?

Yes I even cut off my connectors and hooked up direct to the battery, same results.

Do the instructions state that power can be either/or ?

That is the kicker the only instructions are through a switch, as below.
I ASSUMED that I could hook up the auto direct to the battery. Did not even consider the possibility that the internal wiring wouldn’t allow that scenario, with your question I will make another assumption that I was wrong.
Don’t understand why it would make a difference but I used the power that was supplied to the factory switch, I could run a separate wire from the battery to a 3 position switch as shown. Was also trying to take some of the human error out of the auto mode.

 

[IlliniDoc]

Just for a follow up for all I contacted Sea Sense directly and after much back and forth their deduction was I needed a common power source and a manual/off/auto switch. apparently the auto mode was overriding the manual when hooked up separately. So am running a common fused power wire to my switch and bypassing the fuse box to avoid shutting off the pump when charging batteries.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Just for a follow up for all I contacted Sea Sense directly and after much back and forth their deduction was I needed a common power source and a manual/off/auto switch. apparently the auto mode was overriding the manual when hooked up separately. So am running a common fused power wire to my switch and bypassing the fuse box to avoid shutting off the pump when charging batteries.

That doesnt make sense. especially since the schematic shows battery power going to brown or red thru the switch.

 

[IlliniDoc]

That doesnt make sense. especially since the schematic shows battery power going to brown or red thru the switch.

I didn't think so either but not being very astute with electronics. Electrical is not my forte know enough to get myself in trouble. But never the less I am going to hook it up like he suggested before I run new wires to back of boat. I will let you know the results.

 

[IlliniDoc]

Well Scott I hooked the pump up to an extra battery I have, direct power to a single pole double throw switch and the pump works as advertised, up for manual, center off and down for auto. I still don't understand it but it works with a single power wire to the switch. I suppose it is due to having the power supplied from 2 different spots even though it is from the same battery. Lesson learned.
Thanks for you input.

 

[saltchuckmatt]

Well Scott I hooked the pump up to an extra battery I have, direct power to a single pole double throw switch and the pump works as advertised, up for manual, center off and down for auto. I still don't understand it but it works with a single power wire to the switch. I suppose it is due to having the power supplied from 2 different spots even though it is from the same battery. Lesson learned.
Thanks for you input.

I'd say you had a bad switch either internally or on the dash.

The pump should only receive power from one source at a time.

Does the pump have an auto water sensing switch on it or a manual moving switch?

 

[IlliniDoc]

I'd say you had a bad switch either internally or on the dash.

The switch at the helm was used for the old manual only pump and worked as it should. Can’t speak to the internal switch, but it works when hooked up with a single source of power.

The pump should only receive power from one source at a time.

That was my thinking as well.

Does the pump have an auto water sensing switch on it or a manual moving switch?

Manual

 

[IlliniDoc]

Just to put this to bed.
I ran a dedicated power wire and an extra wire for the pump auto function to a single pole double throw switch used the existing wiring for the manual mode and the ground. Pump works as it should. With the dedicated power wire I can use the pump and have the main power switch off for when charging batteries. Just have to make sure I don’t bump the switch to manual and drain the battery. Switch is lighted so that should help.
Doc

 

[saltchuckmatt]

Just to put this to bed.
I ran a dedicated power wire and an extra wire for the pump auto function to a single pole double throw switch used the existing wiring for the manual mode and the ground. Pump works as it should. With the dedicated power wire I can use the pump and have the main power switch off for when charging batteries. Just have to make sure I don’t bump the switch to manual and drain the battery. Switch is lighted so that should help.
Doc

Or hope you auto pump switch doesn't stick on ...

Always something!