Johnson Float Switches

[Bob J.]

Anyone have any experience or good words for these float switches?
From what I understand they have a ball bearing to open & close the switch instead of a mercury switch. They're half the price of Rule, I need to purchase two but I don't want something that'll short cycle with each roll of the boat .

Thanks,
Bob

 

[texasprinter]

Anyone have any experience or good words for these float switches?
From what I understand they have a ball bearing to open & close the switch instead of a mercury switch. They're half the price of Rule, I need to purchase two but I don't want something that'll short cycle with each roll of the boat .

Thanks,
Bob

Bob,
My S2 has limited bilge access and my float keeps sticking. I am going with an external electric switch and removing the float swiitch. I am also installing a bilge alarm.

 

[Tally Ho]

Anyone have any experience or good words for these float switches?
From what I understand they have a ball bearing to open & close the switch instead of a mercury switch. They're half the price of Rule, I need to purchase two but I don't want something that'll short cycle with each roll of the boat .

Thanks,
Bob

I just bought a new Johnson pump, and the external switch (not the solid state kind). The design of the float seems to require the float to rise high enough for the ball bearing to get over a "hump" in the float before it turns on the pump....and it holds the ball in the "on position" longer until the float drops enough for the ball to make it back over the hump....all speculation on my part as I have not taken it apart, but that's seems to be the way it works.

In any event, mine does not short cycle, even without the check valve in the discharge line.

Greg

 

[GeorgiaBII]

Mount the switch in line with the keel of the boat, Then rolls and leans won't affect it at all.

 

[LloydB]

I don't see why a switch to turn on an alarm is going to be different(better) than a switch to turn on a pump.
oops I misread texasprinters' response thought it meant replace the pump with an alarm and the (auto)float switch with a manual one.

 

[Bob J.]

I just bought a new Johnson pump, and the external switch (not the solid state kind). In any event, mine does not short cycle, even without the check valve in the discharge line.

Greg

Thanks Greg!