bilge pump float switch. is this right?

87 caravelle · May 23, 2009

so i bought a float switch for my pump but confused about installation. is this correct: find hot(red) wire from pump and follow it to battery. then find hot wire from battery to the switch at the helm. cut that wire and put wires for the float switch in line. now it goes(in theory) pump, batt., float switch, helm switch. now, (in theory) when i leave the boat for a long period of time, i turn the helm switch on, and IF something were to happen, and it takes on water the float will close the circuit and the pump will do its thing...right? i was going to install the float between the helm switch and the pump but that would leave the light on the helm switch on reguardless if the float was open or closed. ok now im confussed so im done. what do you think of the first idea guys. btw i know there no manual way to turn the pump on this way but why would i need to use it manually? im on lake in the marina, hopefully, so theres no sea water. if i need to i can rig a line to the float to pull it up to test it every now and then.