Automatic Bilge Pump wiring questions.

[mtblackdog]

I just got a new atwood automatic bilge. I am replacing a manual pump. Switch on the dash model. My question is can I just wire the brown automatic pump wire direct to positive on battery as long as I put a 5 amp inline fuse in. If I were to wire to my switch on the dash how would I go about doing so. Do I run the brown yellow wire to the dash switch. The wiring instructions say to wire to a three way switch I am trying to avoid ordering the switch I need to get this pump in asap. Thanks for the help.

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: Automatic Bilge Pump wiring questions.

Black goes to battery negative. One of the brown leads goes to your dash switch and the other to the positive side of the battery with an appropriate fuse inline. I don't know which brown wire would go where. It should show in the instructions. [Touch each brown to the positive post and you'll know the pump wire if it runs (dash switch). If it doesn't, it's the float switch wire (battery +).] The one thru the float switch goes to the battery. That way the automatic feature is on all the time, and you can manually turn the pump on with the dash switch.

The idea of the double-throw switch on the dash is to enable either Automatic or Manual operation ... or shut it Off altogether.

 

[mtblackdog]

Re: Automatic Bilge Pump wiring questions.

Thanks that is what I thought. I have the instructions, but they route through a three way. The solid brown is the automatic, which I will wire direct to the positive and the brown and yellow go to the dash switch.
Jamie

 

[jtexas]

Re: Automatic Bilge Pump wiring questions.

Is this one of those automatic pumps without a float switch? They spin the pump every couple minutes and sense current draw to detect whether the pump is working or loafing. pretty clever, eh? wonder if it detects too much current (as in stalled motor) and shuts down?

Just curious...did they recommend a fuse on the auto circuit? not a bad idea anyway.

Trailered boat? I guess you realize that it'll keep testing for water in the bilge until you pull the brown lead off the battery?