Bilge pump float switch in hard to reach place

[zboss]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

Well, you mean like this?

59400 series Hydro Air Switch > Bilge Accessories > Xylem Flow Control - Let's Solve Water.


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Uhhhh NO! They stole it!

Well... there you go.

[savoir]

Sue the buggers

[Schooner Chandlery]

We have three bilge pumps in different parts of the boat all use johnson controls proximity switches (hall) that seem to work just fine. They usually only get tested when I'm cleaning the bilge though. The main pump sees a little water but the other areas are dry.

We do measure bilge water height with a tank tender. Nice to be able to check remote areas with just a puff of air 👍


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[admiralslater]

I just made some FRP Ls for the engine rooms on the Outremer as Io can't easily reach the pump or switch. I am using the Groco AS 100 switch because all the connections are a foot above the pump and there are no moving parts.
We shall see

[HappyMdRSailor]

OP

I'm in the"Ultra Switch Crowd"... Yes spendy, but nothing but solid reliability ...

It's nice to have that green LED letting you know it's powered and ready to go...

[Blue Stocking]

I have a similar bilge situation as you, diaphram pumps as well. I have a bulkhead to the underside of the sole, separating the under-engine area. My solution. A 1" square batten with flat "L" shaped brackets at top and near lowest point. drilled holes thru which a 3/8" tube slides vertically. At the bottom of the tube is a standard toilet type float, which when rising, activates a standard rule switch mounted at the top of the batten. The switch is always dry, and can be easily tested from the engine bay. Has worked well for years. Photos on one of my older posts, maybe 3 yrs back. Not a fan of big main bilge pumps being submerged deep down under the very stuff that is trying to drown you.

[powsmias]

Originally Posted by sailingunity

We just got to our boat that we bought two months ago to find the bilge full. Aside from where the water came from, I found the issue to be the float switch (of course!). It has a diaphragm pump that has a line going down into the deep bilge under the engine maybe 2 feet under the bilge. The switch actually works, it's a sealed type where the entire switch floats and there is a contact inside that closes when it's nearly upside down.

The switch is zip tied to the pipe that runs into the bilge, I think the switch might have gotten stuck against the side of the bilge as the water rose.

I speculate the previous owner went with this setup because there isn't a good way to mount a more conventional switch way down there, it's inaccessible. I don't feel confident with it though, are there any better options?

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Anyone using one of these?

Jabsco Hydro Air Bilge Switch

pros-cons?

[fallingeggs]

Originally Posted by skipmac

I highly recommend the Ultra Switch. It's inside a vented plexiglass tube so keeps debris away from the float. All parts are sealed.



I did an installation similar to sailmonkey but I think a little simpler. I used a piece of SS flat bar and tie wrapped the Ultra to the bar, no need for an L bend or anything just a straight bar, and lowered it down into my almost inaccessible bilge sump.

+2 (as I have two)!


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[sailingunity]

Hey everyone just wanted to give a quick update. Before buying a new switch I decided to try a homegrown solution. I zip tied a piece of PVC pipe to the pipe going down into the bilge. This coaxes the switch to float in the right direction, so far I haven't had any failures. Thanks everyone for the advice and if I run into any more trouble with this one I'll probably get the ultra switch.

[puffcard]

Get this and no more worries. After trying everything out there this is the unit.