dhays
Guru
- Joined
- May 26, 2015
- Messages
- 9,045
- Location
- United States
- Vessel Name
- Kinship
- Vessel Make
- North Pacific 43
I would like a solution to something that really isn't a problem.
I have a 12v Reverso fuel transfer pump in the crossover line between my fuel tanks. The reversing switch is a spring loaded toggle at the helm station in the PH. The pump doesn't pump that fast (I don't have the specs with me) and so if there is much fuel to transfer it can take quite a while.
The toggle switch needs to be held continuously to keep the pump operating. This is a very reasonable safety precaution so someone doesn't accidentally hit the switch and not realize it, or intentionally flip the switch and then walk away and forget about it, in the mean time fuel gets pumped out through the vent of the now full tank.
I get really tired of holding that toggle switch and so would like another solution. I would really like a reversing switch with an LED indicator. That way I could flip the switch and have a visual indicator that the pump is running. This would solve the stand-there-holding-the-stupid-switch problem, but leaves me vulnerable to the accidental or forgetful problems.
A timer would solve that forgetful problem. Tony Athens recommends this and suggests a simple mechanical twist timer such as you might find on a bathroom fan. This is a great idea but the only place where it would make a decent install would be back in the ER. That would mean having to open up the ER, get down in and over to the timer etc...
So, are there 12v timer switches? Something that could be pressed or flipped and then deactivate after a set number of minutes? I wouldn't even care if it was variable. It it would activate the pump for 10 minutes that would be great. It would be easy and clean to install those two switches where the current toggle switch is now.
I have looked, but electrical switch specifications tend to confuse my poor, weak, mind.
I have a 12v Reverso fuel transfer pump in the crossover line between my fuel tanks. The reversing switch is a spring loaded toggle at the helm station in the PH. The pump doesn't pump that fast (I don't have the specs with me) and so if there is much fuel to transfer it can take quite a while.
The toggle switch needs to be held continuously to keep the pump operating. This is a very reasonable safety precaution so someone doesn't accidentally hit the switch and not realize it, or intentionally flip the switch and then walk away and forget about it, in the mean time fuel gets pumped out through the vent of the now full tank.
I get really tired of holding that toggle switch and so would like another solution. I would really like a reversing switch with an LED indicator. That way I could flip the switch and have a visual indicator that the pump is running. This would solve the stand-there-holding-the-stupid-switch problem, but leaves me vulnerable to the accidental or forgetful problems.
A timer would solve that forgetful problem. Tony Athens recommends this and suggests a simple mechanical twist timer such as you might find on a bathroom fan. This is a great idea but the only place where it would make a decent install would be back in the ER. That would mean having to open up the ER, get down in and over to the timer etc...
So, are there 12v timer switches? Something that could be pressed or flipped and then deactivate after a set number of minutes? I wouldn't even care if it was variable. It it would activate the pump for 10 minutes that would be great. It would be easy and clean to install those two switches where the current toggle switch is now.
I have looked, but electrical switch specifications tend to confuse my poor, weak, mind.