Bilge Wiring

[Oceanis 440 NY]

Good Day Mates,

Over the season my bilge pump on the '95 OC440 (a diaphragm pump with a separate float switch, panel switch and separate Manual/Auto switch - see digram) stopped working. I could not figure out why. Was it the pump, the wiring, the float, the battery? Well we checked the pos/neg/grounds from the battery to the panel, from the panel to the relay and from the auto/manual switch (tested volts when switch was in both positions) and all read good voltage. We than got the bilge to work from the panel switch and when in manual mode, auto mode stayed on without float engaged.
Has anyone else experienced this? Very frustrating. Last stop is to try a new new float switch, it doesn't make sense... Thanks for reading and your input. Hope you have a great sailing season.

 

[LeslieTroyer]

That drawing is horrid
1) I don’t know what you checked on the relay but there is no relay on that drawing, and usually isn’t on most installs

2) the switch can fail on. I would make sure the switch is not hung up on something before replacing it.

Do you really have 24V on your boat??

 

[jssailem]

Do you really have 24V on your boat??

I don’t think it is 24 volts, just the French way of labeling the diagram. +12 and - 12.

Suspected typical failure points.

1. Ground connections
2. Float switch and wiring
3. Switch and connections
4. Pump short, wiring, connections not water tight.

 

[Davidasailor26]

A couple of clarifying questions - first, I presume that "constant -12V" on the diagram is really ground? Also, you said -

We than got the bilge to work from the panel switch and when in manual mode, auto mode stayed on without float engaged.

But I don't really understand what you mean by that. Did the pump run in manual mode? What do you mean by auto mode staying on?

 

[Mechone]

More than likely the float switch, I had the red manual led light even thou it was in auto ..water inside switch. In my boat the bilge goes about 3 inches deeper into the keel where the pump pickup sits. My float switch sits higher and would need almost the bilge filled before activating .I bought this sealed switch which I will install in the lower bilge in parallel with existing giving two float switches and activating much sooner

 

[Gunni]

Float switch is bad. Always suspect the damn float switch.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Fuses on both + & -???

The diagram is wonky, wire colors are mixed it appears to me.

Get a Rule bilge pump switch wiring diagram. They'll show you how to do it properly.

https://newwiremarine.com/how-to/wire-bilge-pump-switch/

 

[Oceanis 440 NY]

Thank you all for your responses. The issue was resolved. I swapped out a new float switch for the one I bought yesterday, different model. Unreal that a new float switch was the issue. We traced all lines, tested them, made new connections and were dumbfounded when it would not work correctly. Anywho, really appreciate your help. Happy sailing!

 

[jssailem]

The float switch is a common problem.

 

[Bob S]

Mechone
I tried that same switch on my C30. I'd didn't work well because the throw was too short so it kept going on and off.

 

[Mechone]

Mechone
I tried that same switch on my C30. I'd didn't work well because the throw was too short so it kept going on and off.

Thanks , I usually don't get any water in bilge ,but the couple of times I did it was really full (high) hose on A/c was leaking for condenser and had A/c condensate suck line plug a couple of times over flowing pan into bilge.
I might have to come up with a 12v delay on timer