Rule-A-Matic Switch?

[worldmac1]

My wife and I are kind of new to the boating scene. We just purchased a 26 foot Sea Ray, and noticed that the floor in the bottom of the cabin stayed wet. I thought it was due to leaky windows, but as it turns out, I found a different problem. Under the last step down in the cabin is an area with a "Rule-A-Matic Switch" and another pump similar to the one in the bilge. The entire area was filled with water, and I had to use my wet dry vac to empty it out. Does this Rule-A-Matic Switch automatically turn on when the area fills up with water? Never seen one of these before. Oh, and one other thing...the switch on the control panel doesn't work either. Any help with this is greatly appreciated.

Greg worldmac1@yahoo.com

 

[DJ]

Re: Rule-A-Matic Switch?

The "Rule A Matic" switch should turn on a pump when that sump/bilge has water in it. Typically, those have three wires. One to the battery + side(or to dash switch), one to ground and one to the pump.

The switch on the dash may, or may not, connect to that pump. The dash switch should turn the pump on in one position. If it is a two way switch, it will turn the pump on-off-automatic (using float as a switch).

 

[worldmac1]

Re: Rule-A-Matic Switch?

Sweet!
Thanks for the quick response DJ! I'm heading to the lake in the morning and see what I can find out. I'll use your advice and see if I can get that bad boy turned on! Thanks again!!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Rule-A-Matic Switch?

I would also be looking at why that area has that much water in it. There should be a drain line from that area to the rear bilge and if so, there is probably a check valve in that line that allows water out of the forward area but is supposed to prevent rear bilge water flowing forward. If that check valve is stuck or otherwise non-functional, you will always have water up there.

 

[Pursuit2150]

Re: Rule-A-Matic Switch?

All of my float switches will activate even when at dock.
they are wired direct to the batteries.
In addition I can activate them with switches from the console.
I do that while on plane sometimes,because at that time most of the water in the bilge shifts.

 

[worldmac1]

Re: Rule-A-Matic Switch?

That's great additional info fellas! I appreciate the feedback. I'll look into the checkvalve thing as well. That may explain why the bilge area never has any water, or maybe the switch for the bilge area is working fine. After this storm front passes through I should have more time to investigate...

Thanks!