Remind me about bilge pump eletrical connection.

[spikeitaudi]

So I was getting the boat prepared for the nor'easter here in Nj. I went to turn on the bilge switch (with the batt switch turned to off) and they didn't turn on. For some reason I remember that they hooked up directly to the batts and should come on even if the batt is switched to off. Of course once I switched that batt to both, 1, or 2 the bilge pump came on. Is this my imagination or does the bilge auto pump with float power on when the batts are switched to off. Meaning the pumps will only work when the batt switched is turned to off and the auto float activates it? I left the batts to both just I case and I have shore power but I can't remember.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Switch on the dash is the manual part - that needs battery switches ON. The auto part (float in the bilge) works regardless of battery switch position... as long as it's hooked up. You can test this by manually lifting the float switch.

 

[spikeitaudi]

Yep I tested before I launched but I had the battery switch on. So just wanted to make sure it will work with the batt switched to off.

Thanks for the reminder.

 

[Last Dollar]

My float switch will turn on the pump with any selection of the battery switch, even the off position. However I did just find this morning that my float switch had stopped working. I must have stepped on the wiring bundle where the float switch and pump are tied together. I found a connector pulled loose and upon re-inserting the connector my float switch now works again. Time to solder this boy together.