steveziv
Member
This pertains to my 16.5' center console. The bilge pump works manually via its on/off switch at the helm. It used to run automatically as well, but stopped. In the bilge I found a float switch with one wire torn out and hanging loose. The two float switch wires were not connected to the (only) bilge pump, instead they run back up to the helm.
I assumed I could replace the switch and the whole system would work again. No such luck. Touching the float switch's wires together doesn't start the pump so there must be a problem elsewhere. My assumption is that the float switch wires somehow bypass the on/off switch at the helm.
So below is what's under the helm. The red wires are piggybacked and run from switch to switch (the breaker has been bypassed and replaced w/ a fuse). The switch is in the yellow circle it continues to work. In the blue circle is an abandoned connection that looked like a likely candidate. I tired touching it to both sides of the switch, both sides of the fuse, the battery, etc.; no reaction, dead end.
The float switch did activate the pump, now it doesn't. It seems like there should be a loose wire or bad connection I can fix but I can't find it. I could just put the new float switch in line with the pump and leave it on. Or run another wire and install a 3 way switch. But of course fixing it to the way it was would be quicker and cheaper. I just can't figure out how it was.
I assumed I could replace the switch and the whole system would work again. No such luck. Touching the float switch's wires together doesn't start the pump so there must be a problem elsewhere. My assumption is that the float switch wires somehow bypass the on/off switch at the helm.
So below is what's under the helm. The red wires are piggybacked and run from switch to switch (the breaker has been bypassed and replaced w/ a fuse). The switch is in the yellow circle it continues to work. In the blue circle is an abandoned connection that looked like a likely candidate. I tired touching it to both sides of the switch, both sides of the fuse, the battery, etc.; no reaction, dead end.
The float switch did activate the pump, now it doesn't. It seems like there should be a loose wire or bad connection I can fix but I can't find it. I could just put the new float switch in line with the pump and leave it on. Or run another wire and install a 3 way switch. But of course fixing it to the way it was would be quicker and cheaper. I just can't figure out how it was.
