How do I find the bilge alarm switch

[RussNorman]

I have an 83 Hunter 30. I got on board today and was practically deafened by the bilge alarm. I didn't even know I had one. My mooring neighbor told me it was the bilge alarm. How do I shut it off. I lifted the float lever and the pump worked fine. I flipped on the bilge breaker and it pumped fine. I don't get it. The bilge is wired directly to the main switch or battery so it can never be shut off. My batteries were very low when I left it two days ago and they were dead when I got on board today. The alarm however was whaling away. How is this possible if the batteries are dead. I jump started my motor and moved to another mooring so that the noise would not bother people. I just need to find the switch to turn it off. I have no idea what set it off either.

any help would be appreciated

 

[Benny17441]

There are two types of bilge alarms, one that that is triggered by a float switch to indicate high water and the other measures the time the bilge pump is engaged to indicate excesive pumping. Both use a buzzer to warn of either condition. Since you have inspected the bilge and ascertained that the pump is working I would think you may have a stuck float switch, an electrical short or malfunctioning monitor. The high water alarm may be hard wired to the pump and may have no other switch but the float to break the circuit. The monitors are usually wired to the 12V panel. To stop the noise locate the buzzer and cut a wire. A bilge alarm is not a factory item so there is no way of telling how the PO may have wired it without looking at the installation. Check all other buzzers you may have in the boat just to eleiminate the possibility that it is not the bilge alarm creating the racket.

 

[RussNorman]

I have no idea where to begin. I am still baffled that it is going off with dead batteries

 

[Benny17441]

Impossible, either the batteries are not dead or the source of power for that buzzer is coming from somewhere else. Disconnect all leads from the batteries and charge them up. Have not seen a bilge pump monitor with a low power alarm but nothing is beyond what one may find. The buzzer should have stopped but if it is still sounding check for something like a 9V or AA battery pack. Locate the offending buzzer and foloow the wiring to either a switch or battery pack. If does nothing but annoy the neighbors go ahead and cut a wire to the buzzer. It can always be reconnected once you figure everything out.