Float Switch, Breaker?

[elittke]

I had a faulty float switch replaced that did not seem to want to shut off and ran down the battery. Now however with the new one in place it will not activate the pump. Now the pump works fine from the manual switch at the panel but the float switch will not activate the pump. With a tester it seems that there is no power to the float. I am thinking there must be another breaker somewhere. The one under the cockpit seat was tripped and now reset. I cannot locate a wire direct from the battery, so am thinking that a fuse or another breaker must be somewhere?. Its a 450 Sundancer, year 1996. Any thoughts are appreciated.

[a64pilot]

There should only be one breaker, and ideally it should be right beside of the switch. If your bilge pump isn’t working, you don’t want to be playing hunt for the breaker games.

Likely it’s wired wrong.

Toss it, buy this switch, a bilge pump is a very important piece of equipment and the cheap switches fail all of the time.
https://www.ultratef-gel.com/product...nior-2432volt/

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by elittke

... Now however with the new one in place it will not activate the pump. Now the pump works fine from the manual switch at the panel but the float switch will not activate the pump. With a tester it seems that there is no power to the float...

Check the "Manual-Automatic" selector switch. It's not working in the "Auto" position.

[Singularity]

FWIW Downwindmarine.com has the Ultra pump switches a little cheaper (at least currently). Also, the Senior version has a high water alarm switch integrated if it is of interest (I understand this is what makes the Senior different than the Junior version).


"Ultra Bilge Pumpswitch" Junior - Float Switches Alarms & Panels - Bilge & All Purpose Pumps - Pumps - Downwind Marine


"Ultra Bilge Pumpswitch" Senior - Float Switches Alarms & Panels - Bilge & All Purpose Pumps - Pumps - Downwind Marine


https://youtu.be/YJNlWoZnUfg

[nhschneider]

A good friend of mine had an Ultra Bilge Pump Switch Junior installed in his boat for many years. When it failed, he sent it in for a warranty replacement as it came with a lifetime warranty. The manufacturer refused, saying it had been installed for 20 years and that was sufficient service.

Fair winds and calm seas.

[smac999]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

There should only be one breaker, and ideally it should be right beside of the switch. If your bilge pump isn’t working, you don’t want to be playing hunt for the breaker games.

Likely it’s wired wrong.

Toss it, buy this switch, a bilge pump is a very important piece of equipment and the cheap switches fail all of the time.
https://www.ultratef-gel.com/product...nior-2432volt/

Many boats have dual feeds and dual breakers to a bilge pump. The dash manual switch will be Powered from dash and only work when the house switch is turned on. And it will have an auto feed direct from battery. It will have a fuse at battery or near battery switch. Wired On battery side of switch.

Yiu probably shorted the wire while changing the float and blew the auto fuse. Keep looking for it.

If the bilge pump stops working. Its not a find the breaker game. It’s use the manual switch. Which is wired and fused separately making it more redundant.