Bilge pump - automatic?

[Mike]

Recently I discovered they bilge on my H260 was full of water. The manual swithch pumped it out. Isn't this supposed to be automatic?

 

[B.Smith]

check wiring

You should make sure that the bilge pump is wired directly to the battery, so that it will work automatically.

 

[Ron Mehringer]

Float switch

On my '97 H26 the float switch doesn't activate the bilge pump until there is a pretty good amount of water in the bilge. But if I manually activate the pump, it is capable of lowering the water level below that level.Run some fresh water into your bilge with a hose and see when, or if, the pump goes on.Ron Mehringers/v Hydro-Therapy

 

[crazy dave]

Check the float switch

You shold have a float style device in the bottom of the bilge pump. Take it aparrt and push up on the float to see if it activates the bilge pump. If not, check the wiring and connections. Do make sure you have current coming. Sometimes the float switch can become clogged which requries cleaning.Crazy Dave Condon

 

[Mike]

Thanks to all of you!!! Great ideas

Thanks everyone. I'll check what you suggested.

 

[Rick Webb]

If I Remember Correctly

Mine will not work unless the power for the whole boat is turned on. Seems like it should be wired right to the battery but it is not. Another project on my list but it is pretty far down.

 

[Mark]

Check that pump

Move the float up by hand to check to see if it works. It does need quite a bit of water in there to activate the switch.The main battery switch needs to be on for the pump to work so if ou leave her in the water for any length of time ensure that the main switch is on.

 

[Bob La Salle]

Check the fuse

On my Hunter 31, there is a hard wired circuit, direct to the batteries, for the auto bilge pump. It has a screw-in spot on the breaker panel with a fuse in it. If you manually lift the float switch and the pump does not turn on, check that fuse first. My battery switch does not have to be turned on for the auto bilge pump to work. Yours shouldn't either. This defeats the purpose of the automatic feature. You should not have to leave your battery switch turned on to achieve the safety of the auto bilge pump.