Quick ??? about automatic bilge pump.

[WAVENBYE2]

OK, I do have a bilge pump and I have no power to the pump switch? Should I always have power to the switch?? If it's an automatic and the float inside raises does that kick on the power to the switch too or no. I got to thinking
(UH OH) maybe I only get power when the float kicks in? We are heading out tomarrow to the lake and meating my son his girl and her 2yr. boy and rough camping on the shore tomarrow night and all day Sat. coming home Sun morning(afternoon) I will be working on her while beached with all my boat tools with me, no different than the driveway or home. "Should I have constant power to the Bilge pump switch on the dash is my question???"
THANKS.........Pat

 

[redone4x4]

Re: Quick ??? about automatic bilge pump.

you should, yes. mine is setup like yours though, and i don't. So it only works off the automatic float. I check the float each time I put it in the water before we head out. Im not good at wiring and havent been able to figure out how to keep the dash switch hot when the float is not. my pump only has 2 wires, not 3 like the newer style does.

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Quick ??? about automatic bilge pump.

So far I have only been able to see two wires(both brown) under dash leading to pump, The pump has one black and one brown, I am assuming that brown wire is the hot since both are brown to the swich(right?).

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: Quick ??? about automatic bilge pump.

not sure how your wired but your pump should work off of float and switch. what happens when you turn switch on? i'm guessing nothing as that why you working on it.

the circuit on my rule 800 is wired directly to one of the battery's so it has power even if the battery switch is shut off. it goes to a fuse then to the float switch in the bilge and if the float switch activates, runs the pump.
i also have a dash switch as you and i often run the pump to see if there is any water in the bilge. i do this for two, reasons the first is it get more water in the bilge than i want if i wait for float switch to kick on and the second,i can see the threw hull fitting and its easier to watch it than open the cover to the engine to see if there is any water in the bilge.

one thing that i cant tell you and is part of your question is whether my dash switch works with the battery switch off. if i could it would tell if it has a second circuit for the dash switch or is wired into the bilge float switch.

maybe check fuses and if you can get to dash switch and jump with a jump wire to make sure switch is working

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Quick ??? about automatic bilge pump.

Ok I just diconnected the electric fuel pump and used that for my jumper and turned the key on, Bilge pump works great, put plug in and two buckets of water, pump is strong! Could I disconnect the two brown wires from the switch and connect those just to test the wires, I used a wire tester earlier and no power to either one? which tells me BLACK is the positive?? no power to that one either?? I am working on her right now so suggestions would be appreciated!! Oh its an Attwood pump.

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Quick ??? about automatic bilge pump.

"UPDATE" the brown must be the positive and the black is (ground?), I hooked up opposite and water trinkled out, switched the polarity(wires) and pump is pumping full force. so now I need to trace all the wires or Just bypass them and hook it up, just not sure the best way of going about it?

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: Quick ??? about automatic bilge pump.

I did that too. I had mine out and when i put it back I accidently wired it backwards.
It made a good blender.
I took it back out and got a weatherpac plug and wired it in. not i can take it out all the time (why? i dont know) if i want to.
Also I have power to the switch all the time, then I have an auto and manual setting on the switch.

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Quick ??? about automatic bilge pump.

Ya know I thought that power should be in the switch all the time, Whaen I turn the key the fuel pump kicks on, but when key is turned off I can run blower any time, It just makes sense that bilge should be the same way, that way your not running your fuel pump until your ready to start her up, I am going to work on her in the water tomarrow after camp has been set up and waiting on my son his girl and her boy to get there after she gets off work, so I will have time, The good news is at least worse case scenario, I can jump the pump if I need to.

 

[Tyme2fish]

Re: Quick ??? about automatic bilge pump.

Check out this link complete with diagram.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5025934_wire-bilge-pump.html

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Quick ??? about automatic bilge pump.

Check out this link complete with diagram.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5025934_wire-bilge-pump.html

Thanks. Tyme2fish, It gives me the basic jist of how it should be hooked up, I don't have a float switch so I can just run the -wire straight to the battery
-side, and then the + to the pump from the pump switch, that explains the brown being possitive , sound about right to you guys, and there are only two wires to the pump not three like the newer models have, Its an Attwood and I am still looking up attwood but haven't found it, but it all seems pretty basic, open and closed switch with the pump switch. so far haven't found a fuse yet, could be as simple as that , I hope!! It(fuse) isn't hooked up under dash already looked. I am sure I'll get her fixed up tomarrow, wish me luck!!