This is a little off-topic, but at least it still is an important part of a boat, and still is electric...
Has anyone researched bilge pumps, and more specifically bilge pump switches lately?
I need to replace one, as it is constantly cycling (about every 2.5 min, it cycles on, but not more than a second, and may repeat that up to 8-10 times, then silent for another several minutes).
From reading reviews on Amazon - it sounds like NONE of the bilge pump switches out there are very reliable. I checked other sites for reviews (West Marine, Overtons, etc. - but either they had no reviews at all, or didn't have many).
There are several different types of float switches - mechanical microswitch, mercury switch (I'd be fine with that, but they don't seem to be around anymore?), and fully electronic.
The bilge pump in my boat was a Rule-Mate 1100. In the instructions, it mentions that it has automatic circuitry to detect an error due to trash in the pump. If it detects that the pump has been triggered, but no water is going out (sensing the load on the motor) - then it turns off the pump, waits for about 2.5 min, and then cycles the pump again. Once the debris is cleared, it should go back to normal operation.
The sensor is also "smart" enough to detect if you have dumped mostly oil in your bilge, and won't turn the pump on in that case, to prevent dumping the oil overboard. This all sounds great - if it works. Though the reviews for this pump indicate that it is not 100% reliable.
The above "auto detect" operation could explain some of my cycling, but I wouldn't expect it to cycle 6-8 times...
I'm tempted to go to a separate pump and traditional float switch - but am a little concerned, as all the switches with many reviews will have some that indicate the switch either sticks on, or sticks up, or fails off and floods the boat.
Any thoughts, recommendations?
John
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Posted by: oak <oak_box@yahoo.com>
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