Premature bilge pump auto circuit failures?

[scoutabout]

Hey folks. I just had my third pump go bad in the Scout. Always the same issue - namely the internal float sensor goes bad and fails in the on position. I will hear it churning away when there's no water down there and have to pull the fuse to kill it. The pump will work fine if I turn it on at the helm but of course the automatic function is non-existent which is no good.

All three have been Rule's internal float model. Just wondering if anyone else has had the same issue or if I'm doing something wrong. The first factory installed one lasted 8 years, the replacement 3 years, and its replacement 1 year. That can't be normal.

 

[MH Hawker]

it may be time t o go to a float switch and pump combo

 

[scoutabout]

Yep - I'm thinking you're correct. A quick perusal of reviews on this particular style shows I'm not the only one to have this issue. Too bad. Rule always seemed like a good product to me...

 

[gm280]

That is the very reason I don't like float type bilge switches. They get stuck in either position and cause other issues. I go with a separate sensor type bilge switch that can't get stuck because there are no moving parts, only sensor probes. So you set the minimum height for the sensors and if the bilge water raises to that level, the pump switches on and drains the water out again. The bilge pump itself still can fail, but not because of a stuck switch. JMHO

 

[JASinIL2006]

That is the very reason I don't like float type bilge switches. They get stuck in either position and cause other issues. I go with a separate sensor type bilge switch that can't get stuck because there are no moving parts, only sensor probes. So you set the minimum height for the sensors and if the bilge water raises to that level, the pump switches on and drains the water out again. The bilge pump itself still can fail, but not because of a stuck switch. JMHO

I installed one of the sensor probe switches, too, and it's worked flawlessly for several years now. I like that there are no moving parts that can get stuck. Mine is a Johnson Ultima switch, I believe.

 

[scoutabout]

Most interesting about those probes - I didn't know there was such a thing. I'll check that out.