bilge pumps

[MASTER Brian]

Long story short....

I have 2 bilge pumps. They both need replaced. One has 3 wires, the other 2 wires. I can't recall the brand. Either Atwoods or Rule, think they are both Atwoods, but different design.

Why does one have 3 wires? Also, which is the best brand to buy? They are both operated by seperate console switches.

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: bilge pumps

The one with 3 wires is meant to be hooked up to a float switch so it can run in automatic mode as well as manual from the switch.

 

[MASTER Brian]

Re: bilge pumps

The one with 3 wires is meant to be hooked up to a float switch so it can run in automatic mode as well as manual from the switch.

That makes sense. I was wondering about that, but I haven't been able to locate a float switch as of yet.

I'm actually thinking of buying a WaterWitch automatic bilge switch and wiring it into one of the pumps. Then wiring the switch to turn that on/off. That way if I leave the boat in water overnight, I don't have to worry so much. I'm not real familiar with the float switches, so I don't know how reliable they are. I've been using a waterwitch switch for several years now in my jetskis and they work wonderful.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: bilge pumps

the pump with the 3 wires has a built in float switch. one wire went to ground, on the permanent hot, that is controlled by the float switch, the other wire went to the dash for a manual on, and power was thur the fuse panel.

 

[MASTER Brian]

Re: bilge pumps

the pump with the 3 wires has a built in float switch. one wire went to ground, on the permanent hot, that is controlled by the float switch, the other wire went to the dash for a manual on, and power was thur the fuse panel.

Should this pump have kicked on by itself if water was in the bilge? I never noticed that. I always had to flip the switch to get it to work.

 

[jtexas]

Re: bilge pumps

it probably did before it stopped working and your previous owner instead of figuring it out just threw another one in there without even bothering to take the old one out - wouldn't be the first time.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: bilge pumps

that's why i have 2 pumps, auto/manual and a manual. separate batteries, separate thur hulls. one quits you have the other.