Bilge Switch

[kthoennes]

Quick question O Boating Sages: I have three bilge pumps, each one on a switch like the one pictured below. Relatively common. One position is auto, the other is manual override, and whenever the pump is running, the red light at the tip of the toggle glows red. We came to the boat yesterday and the forward switch was in auto, but the light was red and the pump was running - but the bilge was dry. The pump would not go off until I cut a wire. Rule 750 with an internal switch. I figured the pump switch was bad or stuck and I happened to have a spare, so I replaced it entirely. (Johnson 600, also an internal switch. Three wire, just like the Rule.) Same thing, the pump went on and would not stop. I tried connecting the new pump directly to the genset battery a couple feet away, then ran the shore hose water into the bilge to trip the pump, worked as it should - ran until it sucked air then stopped.

Is it just a bad toggle switch that won't snap out of manual?

 

[TowLou]

Quick question O Boating Sages: I have three bilge pumps, each one on a switch like the one pictured below. Relatively common. One position is auto, the other is manual override, and whenever the pump is running, the red light at the tip of the toggle glows red. We came to the boat yesterday and the forward switch was in auto, but the light was red and the pump was running - but the bilge was dry. The pump would not go off until I cut a wire. Rule 750 with an internal switch. I figured the pump switch was bad or stuck and I happened to have a spare, so I replaced it entirely. (Johnson 600, also an internal switch. Three wire, just like the Rule.) Same thing, the pump went on and would not stop. I tried connecting the new pump directly to the genset battery a couple feet away, then ran the shore hose water into the bilge to trip the pump, worked as it should - ran until it sucked air then stopped.

Is it just a bad toggle switch that won't snap out of manual? View attachment 132823

Very possibe see if 2 outta 3 wires right now you are getting voltage in the auto position. 3rd wire should be your negative.

 

[Porgy]

All three terminals are + Power from battery, power to the float switch, power that bypasses the float switch direct to the pump.

Check continuity of the switch. Try a different switch.

Also points out the benefits of diagnosing problems rather than the assume, guess and replace method.

 

[kthoennes]

Thanks to you both for the replies. Turns out it was way more complex than I thought (of course). I tested the switch at the pump, using a 12v cordless drill battery and three test wires. (That cordless drill battery is very handy for testing.) The pump was fine. The panel switch was bad. It clicked and felt fine, but didn't switch off. I did have a replacement switch in my vast parts collection, just had to find it. But that was only part of it. As I was testing and swapping the switches, I broke a spade connector/ jumper. One of these, photo below. Good luck finding one of those at an auto parts store. So I had to make a temp replacement with two singles and needle nose pliers, then ordered a proper replacement online. And then finally turns out the bilge pump wires somewhere downstream from the panel, coming out of the chase into the bilge, were swapped. The colors didn't match the wiring diagram, but I hadn't paid attention when I snipped out the old pump to notice the wiring was swapped. Black, brown, and then brown with a white stripe should be manual. Nope. I swapped the two browns on the new pump, purposely mismatching them in other words - and magically everything suddenly worked properly.

Well that was an ordeal. Anyway, thanks again. And once again as I was pretzel'ed in the bowels of the engine bay I had yet another reason to bellow to some anonymous, prior boat repair guy - Don't mess up the colors on the wiring diagram! FOLLOW THE COLORS you %#$@*!

 

[Comodave]

Ok, why would you expect that the wire colors were accurate??? Gotta love POs.

 

[tiltrider1]

Ok, why would you expect that the wire colors were accurate??? Gotta love POs.

Haha! Got to agree LOL. A good multi meter is your friend.