ran bilge pump for an hour by accident, no water in hull

[Glowplug007]

Did I kill it? Pour water in to test? For future reference, if I do need to replace the pump, whats the best brand?

 

[jdlough]

Re: ran bilge pump for an hour by accident, no water in hull

It's not like running the motor without muffs, so no, most likely you did not trash your bilge pump. The pump impeller fins did not touch anything, so nothing melted or got trashed.

Your battery may be a bit low, though.

The water test is never a bad idea. Do it.

For future replacement reference, everybody likes Rule pumps. iBoats here has plenty.

Actually, I have had great luck with Attwood pumps from Walmart. Johnson pumps are fine too.

No matter what pump you buy, it's not a bad idea to replace it every three years or so. At about 3 years, they seem to get "iffy".

 

[5150abf]

Re: ran bilge pump for an hour by accident, no water in hull

As long as the it still comes on you are fine and you should test it every year to be sure, I run an 1100 Rule and a 500 Mayfair and have ahd no problems.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: ran bilge pump for an hour by accident, no water in hull

Not guilty . . . don't do it again.

 

[robert graham]

Re: ran bilge pump for an hour by accident, no water in hull

Did I kill it? Pour water in to test? For future reference, if I do need to replace the pump, whats the best brand?

It's just a small 12 volt motor with a tiny impellar on it....worst you could do is run your battery down!...no harm done

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: ran bilge pump for an hour by accident, no water in hull

a float switch will reduce the risk of accidentally leaving it on. With a float switch, I find I never use the main switch. Not sure if it even works on one of mine.

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: ran bilge pump for an hour by accident, no water in hull

Someone... Ok It was me.... has done that once or twice on my boat. It still works.

 

[Mike Zee]

Re: ran bilge pump for an hour by accident, no water in hull

Someone... Ok It was me.... has done that once or twice on my boat. It still works.

X2. Somebody(?) left mine on from Erie to the house. 3.5 hrs. Bad thing is, that same person has done it like 3 times! You would think I, I mean he would learn.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: ran bilge pump for an hour by accident, no water in hull

a float switch will reduce the risk of accidentally leaving it on. With a float switch, I find I never use the main switch. Not sure if it even works on one of mine.

BINGO! The float switch keeps that from happening.

 

[sschefer]

Re: ran bilge pump for an hour by accident, no water in hull

BINGO! The float switch keeps that from happening.

LOL not if you were in too much of a hurry and got the standard dual positon switch instead of the one that's momentary on one side. Yup, ran that battery all the way past dead...