I HATE AUTOMATIC BILGE PUMPS!

[Jeff J]

Ayuh,..... Bigger is better,....

Only if you have to compensate for something else

 

[Stinnett21]

Always have one of these on hand.

 

[Scott Danforth]

. Where is the size break?

Federal Register :: Request Access

www.ecfr.gov

 

[Lou C]

The best auto bilge switches I used were the Sure Bails with the Mercury switches. First one lasted 12 years and the one I put in after that is about the same age now. I bought a spare back then so if this one fails I have a replacement. They don’t make these anymore as far as I know….

 

[Horigan]

Gee, I currently use a electronic-sensing auto bilge pump. It has no float to get jammed and they last 5 years or so, before breaking. Every of those pumps that I had (say 6), failed in the electronic water sensor module. The pump would still work on manual.

I transitioned to the auto-sense pump, because a piece of crap got under the float, and guess what happened?

How do you test it?

 

[airshot]

Instead of bashing bilge pumps, why not fix the water intrusion issue, then no pump worries... My bilge pump is factory original and still works fine, 34 years old.....I don't see the problem....

 

[Lou C]

Moored/docked boat always get rain water in the bilge even with waterproofed covers.

 

[Jeff J]

Moored/docked boat always get rain water in the bilge even with waterproofed covers.

True, but I think a lot less than what gets in a ski boat during a active day on the lake.

 

[Jeff J]

Federal Register :: Request Access

www.ecfr.gov

Yeah, I’m not reading that crap just for curiosity’s sake. I spend more than enough time in CFR 14.

 

[Lou C]

True, but I think a lot less than what gets in a ski boat during a active day on the lake.

Agreed
the odd thing is that I find with my boat it gets less in the bilge from rain water when it's actually out on the mooring than when it's in the driveway.

 

[Chris1956]

"How do you test an auto sensing bilge pump?" They run every 2-3 minutes for a second or two to see if there is water to pump. So wait 3 min and listen for the pump to come on.

 

[Mc Tool]

"How do you test an auto sensing bilge pump?" They run every 2-3 minutes for a second or two to see if there is water to pump. So wait 3 min and listen for the pump to come on.

Those pumps are load sensing , the controller can sense the load on the motor and thusly knows if it is pumping water or not ,reliable enough but down side is the sensing pulsing of the motor. Any partial aeration of the pump can confuse them .
As for testing all you can really do is wait till it pulses and if its dry you should only get the pulse if there is water (tip a bucket full in )then the pulse should turn into a continuous run untill the water is gone, it may well run for a bit after the water is gone just to confirm ventilation

 

[Lou C]

I think a simple float switch as long as not prone to fouling with debris is simpler and better!

 

[airshot]

Those pumps are load sensing , the controller can sense the load on the motor and thusly knows if it is pumping water or not ,reliable enough but down side is the sensing pulsing of the motor. Any partial aeration of the pump can confuse them .
As for testing all you can really do is wait till it pulses and if its dry you should only get the pulse if there is water (tip a bucket full in )then the pulse should turn into a continuous run untill the water is gone, it may well run for a bit after the water is gone just to confirm ventilation

That sounds like something that is just waiting to go bad !

 

[airshot]

I think a simple float switch as long as not prone to fouling with debris is simpler and better!

If there is that much debris, perhaps the boat needs cleaned more often...been a boat owner over 60 years and have never had these issues with a bilge pump....don't even know anyone that has...no offense to anyone, just a problem I have never saw before...

 

[redneck joe]

Wow this thread is way more contentious than I thought it would become.