Bilge pump wiring?

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Tally Ho

Tally Ho

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Jan 7, 2011
5,661
Oday 322 East Chicago, IN
In reviewing the electrical diagrams for my 1996 Hunter 280, I made a surprising discovery....it appears that the bilge pump ONLY draws power from battery #1 on the Perko switch. I assumed that the bilge would be wired to the common terminal on the switch so it would draw power from both batteries.

Is this the normal set up?

I have 2 batteries....a starter battery and a deep cycle house battery....I did not think it mattered which battery was on which switch...but now I am not so sure....

Should the house battery or the starter battery be wired to the #1 switch position (which also powers the bilge pump)?

Also, my DC panel has a breaker marked "LP GAS". I don't have LP gas...but does anyone know if Hunter would have run wires and where they would terminate? I am looking for an easy way to add a 12 volt power plug in the cabin, and it would seem like an easy solution if the wires from this breaker are already run to the port or starboard side of the cabin.

Greg
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,055
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Tanqueray said:
I...a surprising discovery....it appears that the bilge pump ONLY draws power from battery #1 on the Perko switch. I assumed that the bilge would be wired to the common terminal on the switch so it would draw power from both batteries.

Is this the normal set up?
Click to expand
Greg, no surprising at all. If it was wired to the C post the switch would have to be ON for the pump to work. Most folks have them wired to the house bank. Yes, it's normal.
 
Claude L.-Auger

Claude L.-Auger

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Dec 14, 2003
1,434
Hunter 34 Lake of Two Mountains, QC, Can
Ditto what Stu said about the bilge pump wiring. As for the LP Gas breaker, if you don't have LP my bet is it is free of wires. Remove the panel and take a look. And yes you can use it for a 12V power plug, but do check that the Amps capacity of the breaker is capable of handly what you want to power through the new outlet.
 
Tally Ho

Tally Ho

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Jan 7, 2011
5,661
Oday 322 East Chicago, IN
Thanks Stu and Claude.

My father-in-law is an electrical engineer...he and I are studying the drawings that came with the Hunter Manual.....he is not too impressed with the info...keeps looking for a real schematic.

Greg
 
C

Crazy Dave Condon

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Jun 8, 2004
10,456
-na -NA Anywhere USA
Leaks allowing water into the bilge generally can be detected and taken care of. The purpose of only one battery is in the event that you had to start the engine and with both batteries down, you could'nt. That is why the industry went that way and I believe it is a code related as well.
 
Tally Ho

Tally Ho

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Jan 7, 2011
5,661
Oday 322 East Chicago, IN
Crazy Dave Condon said:
Leaks allowing water into the bilge generally can be detected and taken care of. The purpose of only one battery is in the event that you had to start the engine and with both batteries down, you could'nt. That is why the industry went that way and I believe it is a code related as well.
Click to expand
Thanks Dave....as always, you have good info and history to share.

I learn a lot perusing your posts.

Greg
 
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