Connecting Bilge Float

[Captain Caveman]

I installed the float and now just need to hook up the wiring. It should be easy to splice into the wiring at the pump. However, at the captain's seat the bilge is currently controlled with a 2-way rocker switch. It lights up when you turn on the bilge and goes dark when you turn it off. Of course, now I want the power to be continuous but I don't want to have the light on the switch drawing power all the time. Instead of trying to find a 3-way switch that matches all of the others, can I just reverse the wiring behind the switch so that when the switch is in the "off" position it's really on?

Anybody else do something similar or have a better suggestion?

 

[snowman48047]

Re: Connecting Bilge Float

can I just reverse the wiring behind the switch so that when the switch is in the "off" position it's really on?

No. You have a simple on/off switch. Swapping the wires will do nothing. If you put the float switch in and leave your switch "ON" then the pump wont actually run unless the float is "up" or, well, floating. The light will also come on indicating the pump is on but will shut off when the pump stops. I leave my 2 way switch on all the time and never turn it off. I have mine set up like you want to.

 

[Captain Caveman]

Re: Connecting Bilge Float

So I was just over-thinking, or more accurately not thinking about how the on-off switch really works. That makes sense that the light would only come on when the electrical connection is completed.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Connecting Bilge Float

Leave the switch wired as it is.
On is ON, and Off is Auto.

One wire from the float switch gets spliced into the Power lead from the Switch to the Pump.
The other lead goes directly to the battery +12 volts.
Even if the Master Battery Switch is OFF, the bilge pump will still come on automatically if the boat fills with water.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Connecting Bilge Float

Leave the switch wired as it is.
On is ON, and Off is Auto.

One wire from the float switch gets spliced into the Power lead from the Switch to the Pump.
The other lead goes directly to the battery +12 volts.
Even if the Master Battery Switch is OFF, the bilge pump will still come on automatically if the boat fills with water.

^This. The light will also come on when the float switch activates the pump even with the switch in the "off" position.