Bilge pump light with automatic pump

[wshrier]

Hi all, we would really appreciate some help.

We have a Whale supersub smart 650 bilge pump. It has 3 wires: positive, negative and override. I am confused as to where I can wire a bilge pump alert light which comes on when the pump comes on automatically.

For the manual override I can wire the light in series with the over ride positive, so the light comes on which I switch the pump on. However for the automatic mode, the pump has an internal built in water sensor. So how can I wire the light to come on when the pump automatically detects water and comes on? I assume if I wire the light to the positive terminal of the pump the light will always be on regardless of pump operation.

Many thanks for your help!

[Spot]

Welcome to the forum. I got nothing, none of my boats have electric bilge pumps. So don't take my musings as gospel on this one...
Seems like you would really need to sense current on the black wire and light/buzzer off of that to indicate pump is running versus an indicator light that switched along with the pump (burnt out pump would still indicate 'on').

PS another active thread: https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ml#post3696434

[wshrier]

[QUOTE=Spot;3696479]Welcome to the forum. I got nothing, none of my boats have electric bilge pumps. So don't take my musings as gospel on this one...
Seems like you would really need to sense current on the black wire and light/buzzer off of that to indicate pump is running versus an indicator light that switched along with the pump (burnt out pump would still indicate 'on').



Thanks for the welcome and quick reply. That's a brilliant idea!

[Pizzazz]

You want to wire the indicator light to the override cable (white apparently) in parallel. That is connect the light to the override cable and ground (after the switch). If it does not work this way (unlikely), it means the pump has a relay/diode protection and then you need to disassemble the pump and tap the automatic switch.

[wshrier]

Originally Posted by Pizzazz

You want to wire the indicator light to the override cable (white apparently) in parallel. That is connect the light to the override cable and ground (after the switch). If it does not work this way (unlikely), it means the pump has a relay/diode protection and then you need to disassemble the pump and tap the automatic switch.

That's interesting. Thank you. So when the internal water sensor is activated and the pump turns on it should energise the manual over-ride wire in a "reverse" direction?

[Boots and Socks]

So, I am getting ready to do this with the help of my dock neighbor that has bilge pump lights on his boat at the binnacle. I am planning on doing low bilge and sump in yellow and high bilge in red. I will post how we did it.

[wshrier]

Originally Posted by Boots and Socks

So, I am getting ready to do this with the help of my dock neighbor that has bilge pump lights on his boat at the binnacle. I am planning on doing low bilge and sump in yellow and high bilge in red. I will post how we did it.

Good luck!

[Madehn]

Red wire off the light tapped into black wire of the pump. Black wire off the light to battery negative Your light will then come on anytime the pump runs regardless of what turns it on ie sensing switch or over ride. Do not disassemble the pump and muck about with their switch.

[wshrier]

Originally Posted by Madehn

Red wire off the light tapped into black wire of the pump. Black wire off the light to battery negative Your light will then come on anytime the pump runs regardless of what turns it on ie sensing switch or over ride. Do not disassemble the pump and muck about with their switch.

Perfect. Many thanks for your help!

[coopec43]

I'll be doing mine in the next few days. (I pinched this diagram from Hull Truth)

[Uncle Bob]

Coops diagram is how a separate float switch works but not sure about integral switch/pump. Please let us know when you install, got me interested.

[coopec43]

Originally Posted by Uncle Bob

Coops diagram is how a separate float switch works but not sure about integral switch/pump. Please let us know when you install, got me interested.

Electrics is not my strong suit but I think I understand the circuit diagram.


My three way switch is MANUAL/OFF/AUTO. The rest pf the diagram seems fairly logical.


I'm going to install both tomorrow so keep in touch

[Bycrick]

When I helped wire a boat several years ago, I ran across a "Load Sensing Indicator," called an LSI 55. Just Google it. Apply 12v to it and it lights up green. Put a load on the other terminals, and it lights red. Clearly indicates that the pump motor is drawing current, not just that the voltage is applied to the motor. It’s perfect for your use case. Connect it to the red and black wires to the pump.

[hjohnson]

This one is really simple. All you have to do is wire the indicator between +12v and the manual override line. When the pump turns on, it’s internal switch will pull that manual override to negative, and when you use the manual switch, it will also turn on the light.

[coopec43]

Originally Posted by coopec43

Electrics is not my strong suit but I think I understand the circuit diagram.

My three way switch is MANUAL/OFF/AUTO. The rest pf the diagram seems fairly logical.

I'm going to install both tomorrow so keep in touch

This is the diagram I meant to attach