Bilge Pump Float Switch

rjbathgate · 04 June 2012, 06:48

Hey,

There is a float switch attached to my bilge pump (Float Master), but I don't think it's working...

On the dash, with the bilge power off, all is off.
On the dash, with the bilge power on, the bilge pump runs all the time.

I'm thinking when the dash switch is on, it should then go through the float switch, and only turn on the pump if the float switch is floating on...

I've 'fiddled' with the float switch flicking it up and down - it moves ok, but the pump continues to pump... (even if dry).

Is the float switch in need of replacement? Or is there anything I can try before hand? The cabling is in a horrible place, so not the easiest to pull out and rewire in a new one.

Thanks in advance
Rob

Smithyyy · 04 June 2012, 08:22

Depends how it's wired I guess - my boat has a dash switch that turns the pump on continously, but then a separate switch that supplies the float switch - so if the separate switch is on then the pump runs if there's water in the boat. Have you tried moving the float switch with the dash switch turned off, see if the pump starts running then? Some systems require the switch to be in the"on" position for a few seconds before the pump starts so you may need to hold it on for a short while

But then float switches seem to be famously unreliable anyway so the other option is it's just bu*****ed!

HUMBER P4VWL · 04 June 2012, 08:46

Ours is a three way toggle. Off, auto (float activated) and on (to manually power it).

Courageous · 04 June 2012, 10:42

Mine is via a 3 way switch, down is "ON" continuously (an overrride). Middle position is "OFF" and switched up is "AUTO". Interestingly mine just went too and I ended up with a boat full of water again

You may have a short circuit on yours if configured similarly or as you say a buggered float switch. Try disconnecting the float switch connection and see if it stops.

rjbathgate · 06 June 2012, 09:05

Hey all,

Ahh ha this is ringing bells now on how it should work...

Next time I venture out, I'll give it a play and see what occurs..

Cheers

rjbathgate · 10 June 2012, 04:43

Update...

Nothing happens when I manually lift the float switch with the dash turned off...
And it's just on with the dash on...

New float switch? Wiring wise, I presume the float switch go directly to the battery / +ve bus, not via any dash switch, since it's a switch itself?

Ta!

Smithyyy · 10 June 2012, 07:48

Depends what you want it to do of course - sorry for stating the obvious, but if you wire it direct to the battery it'll run whenever there's water in the boat while you're away whether you want it to or not, run it via the switch and you can decide whether to leave it active or not but won't be able to run it continuously independently of the float switch

Or you could fit an extra switch or replace the existing one with a three position (off-on-automatic) while you're at it. This link has a diagram for another make of pump which illustrates how it works (although electronic float switches are slightly different)

http://www.shurflo.com/files/Educati...-40%20111.pdf/