brown and white wires for bilge

[sasanm]

Guys, I am putting my boat back together and I noticed my rule bilge pump has a brown and white wire. My mayfair livewell pump has a brown and black wire. I know on my live well that brown is positive. SO is that the same for the bilge or is white positive?
Thanks,

 

[jevery]

Re: brown and white wires for bilge

Got a multimeter or a test light? Check each across a known black ground, (with the test instrument fo course), The + will light or show 12V, the - will not light or show continuity.

 

[nuttyboater]

Re: brown and white wires for bilge

White is almost always ground on boats and campers, rv's, etc.. But check it just to be sure!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: brown and white wires for bilge

Brown is power, white is ground. Its a DC motor, wire it backwards and it will run backwards and won't pump water.

 

[fdmsiv]

Re: brown and white wires for bilge

Sometimes the polarity of the wire is printed on the wire. I just had the same issue, staring at the pump trying to figure a way to tell the wires apart. Then I looked and there it was "POSITIVE" printed on the brown wire.

 

[lrice01]

Re: brown and white wires for bilge

I just replaced my Rule bilge pump. Yes, the black wire is negative and the brown or brown/white wire is positive. You can check out Rule's website for the technical info.

http://www.rule-industries.com/index.htm