kchace
Guru
- Joined
- Sep 29, 2013
- Messages
- 2,266
- Location
- USA
- Vessel Name
- Shalloway
- Vessel Make
- Defever 44, twin Perkins
... All four bilge pumps are powered via a single breaker on the 32v panel but the audio alarm associated with the bilge pumps are powered by 12v breaker. Both AC and DC power panels are set up so just about everything has its own breaker/power supply. And the refrigerator is 110 or 12v.*...
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I usually don't give these kinds of answers, but after reading this several times it seems pretty clear - Having ALL of your bilge pumps connected to a single breaker is a serious problem for 2 reasons. First if any one pump goes bad you lose ALL of your pumping ability. Second, it is not possible to use a breaker of the correct size that will allow even 2 pumps to run simultaneously and yet trip at the correct current for a single failed pump. You don't mention how the automatic functions of the pumps are wired, but IMO it is best to wire each automatic pump circuit separately - through a properly sized fuse or breaker - to a separate battery or bank. It should also not be possible to turn off the automatic function, because if it can be done, it someday will be.
Ken