my 323 owners manual says that "The (bilge) " pump is normally automatic..." If that is true, then my boat was built to different standards. (1) I filled the sump compartment with water and nothing happened; (2) there is nothing in the compartment except a hose with a bronze strainer on it that leads to the electric bilge pump (the pump can only be automated by a switch labeled "bilge pump" on the 12V panel) and a black flexible hose that leads out of the compartment (I was not able to determine its purpose, although it may be linked to the hand-operated bilge pump) . What I did not find was any kind of float switch that would activate the bilge pump when water accumulation in the compartment reaches a certain level. Am I missing something?
automatic bilge pump in 323?
- Thread starter new323owner
- Start date
The 323 does not have an automatic bilge pump. The only means of activation is the switch on the DC panel. I had to install a float switch in the bilge on my 323. The bilge is extremely shallow so I installed it as close to the sump hole as I could get it.Obviously there is no future in drilling holes in the bottom of the hull at that point, so I glued it in place. The fun part is determining how to wire it so that the pump will work when activated from the shower, will also work when manually activated, and still function when activated by the float. You have to get a little creative with the wiring diagram.
As for the manual bilge pump, it's intake is the white hose under the floorboard just forward of the companionway steps. It's not connected in any way to the main bilge.
As for the manual bilge pump, it's intake is the white hose under the floorboard just forward of the companionway steps. It's not connected in any way to the main bilge.
There should be a small 12vdc electric junction box near the bilge sump, in that box would be the additional wires that a float switch connects to. Pos/Neg/Brown signal wire if I remember correctly. Your wiring diagram should show them. You may also find evidence of bilge pump switch removal there.
"No bilge pump switch" is a common complaint from many 323 owners. Obviously, when on the boat you can turn the pump on by the breaker. Unattended at the slip, there is no protection, so we add our own float switch. I'm about to do as Doug did, put a switch under the salon table.
I originally laid in a wire back to the battery from the bilge, as most would suggest, which would be okay with the common on/auto/off pump control swtich. If you did that, you could remove the wire off the circuit breaker. But I had second thoughts about it being removed from the breaker, but still needing a fuse somewhere. My present thinking is to take a wire off the hot side of that breaker, with a fuse on it near the breaker, then run that wire to the switch and back to the pump connection box.
My 2006 B323 has that black thingy also, but it is a conduit, not a hose. If you look closely, I believe you will find a white messenger string, probably tied back on the conduit itself. IIIRC, it goes up under the ckt breaker panel, but maybe to the pump area behind the stbd seat? There is a similar conduit that the thru-hull's wires go into.
I originally laid in a wire back to the battery from the bilge, as most would suggest, which would be okay with the common on/auto/off pump control swtich. If you did that, you could remove the wire off the circuit breaker. But I had second thoughts about it being removed from the breaker, but still needing a fuse somewhere. My present thinking is to take a wire off the hot side of that breaker, with a fuse on it near the breaker, then run that wire to the switch and back to the pump connection box.
My 2006 B323 has that black thingy also, but it is a conduit, not a hose. If you look closely, I believe you will find a white messenger string, probably tied back on the conduit itself. IIIRC, it goes up under the ckt breaker panel, but maybe to the pump area behind the stbd seat? There is a similar conduit that the thru-hull's wires go into.
Sorry, did not know there was a Beneteau keelboat without an auto bilge switch. :cry:
FYI, my WAGO wiring buss (behind the breaker panel) includes a direct battery pos circuit block that is used to power the auto bilge switch. It has 3 additional ports available for Alway-On battery direct circuits. Not sure if the 323 has that setup, but if it does you could bring power to the bilge pump from either the manual switch or the float switch - right off the panel wiring buss.
I'll butt out now
FYI, my WAGO wiring buss (behind the breaker panel) includes a direct battery pos circuit block that is used to power the auto bilge switch. It has 3 additional ports available for Alway-On battery direct circuits. Not sure if the 323 has that setup, but if it does you could bring power to the bilge pump from either the manual switch or the float switch - right off the panel wiring buss.
I'll butt out now