Our 331 bilge pump seems to work only when we flip the switch on the panel. The float will not make it work at all. Checked the fuses yesterday, both were good. What do we look for now?
Bilge pump not working on auto
- Thread starter Chesapeake 331
- Start date
Bad float switch. Can you bypass it and see if the pump comes on?
You can jump (connect) the two wires leading to the switch.
Not to be a smart guy, but since you've already been able to turn the bilge pump on successfully from the panel, you've already done the "jump the two wires leading to the switch". Its a bad float switch, as other posters have already said. Had the same issue myself this year and just replaced the float switch. All good now. Took me longer to go to the store to buy the switch than to replace it.
Jumpering the float switch leads would make sure it's not the wiring to the switch, but it's probably bad.
Here is a PDF of the Rule Bildge Pump Wiring on my H240. It should be similar. It sounds like the float switch is bad. It is hard to trouble shoot because of all the water proof connections. You hate to cut the wires in order to use a volt meter.
Since I can't see what's there I'll make some assumptions. Most Beneteau's do not come with a float switch since the bilge is so small. Most people add a switch later. Originally mine only turned on when the switch at the panel was on. Since then I've added an electronic switch but the panel switch must be on to supply power.
The question is , Are you sure you have a bilge switch?
Yes, its installed in the main center bilge section. Was there when we bought the boat. The only other time it didn't work was when one of the 10amp fuses blew - that we didn't know existed until then - and this forum pointed us to it.Since I can't see what's there I'll make some assumptions. Most Beneteau's do not come with a float switch since the bilge is so small. Most people add a switch later. Originally mine only turned on when the switch at the panel was on. Since then I've added an electronic switch but the panel switch must be on to supply power.
The question is , Are you sure you have a bilge switch?
Thank you! My husband did some disconnecting and troubleshooting yesterday with a multimeter and all metered out fine except the run from the manual switch to the junction box which is under the bathroom sink - I think thats what he explained to me. So thats where he's going to start.
Factory mounted bilge pumps in older boats (late 80s) did not have float switches, they were turned On and OFF at the breaker switch in the panel. Many float switches were latter installed by the owners and also some abandoned because they did not work properly (as in a very shallow bilge) or failed and were by-passed and never replaced. Cut the wires to the float switch and connect to each other to see if the pump turns on. If it does not, the circuit may be dead and abandoned. If it does then you may want to replace the float switch. Before you do check and see if the arm of the float switch has adequate clearance to swing under the floor board and enough depth in the water to switch On. These float switches are quite problematic and there are now bilge pumps that incorporate electronic smart switches which work very well and reliably even ins shallow or constrained bilges. You will also have the option of continuing to use it manually at the panel. For many years I did just that, every time I stepped on the boat I would turn the pump on until it was sucking air and then periodically during the day I would cycle it On and Off. Boat designers of the day understood that the bilge pump was a mere convenience item that had no real purpose to be running when there was no one aboard. If the boat had a leak, it had to be promptly fixed rather than rely on the automatic function to mask it and keep the bilge level low. It is a mistake to consider these pumps as a safety item, any significant influx of water will easily overwhelm them. For safety check periodically all thru-hulls, valves, hoses and clamps. What does the float switch add? Merely the convenience of not having to manually turn the switch On and OFF a couple of times during an outing and in some cases may prevent the water from overflowing into the floorboards in those cases where there might be leaks.