Jim Mobley
Member II
Just went to the boat last night and found the bilge pump had been running continuously due to a faulty float switch. Didn't have time to fix it, so I just left it off.
So here's the question, who makes a reliable bilge pump switch? The bilge is relatively clean, the pump--a Rule 1500--runs smoothly and pulls a normal amount of current and the wiring is of sufficient size. And the pump only runs 2-3 times a week. In spite of that, this will be the fourth switch since I bought the boat a year ago!
Switch one was a Rule-A-Matic mercury switch that was on the boat when we bought it, it was either working intermittently or failed the first weekend we had the boat. Okay, 30 year old boat, stuff wears out.
Replaced with switch two, another Rule-A-Matic mercury (or West's OEM version of the same thing, I forget). This one lasted about 10 months. Mutter, mutter, must have got a lemon ...
Replaced with switch three, fed up with mercury switches, put in WM rolling ball switch. That was three months ago. Ball still rolls around, I can hear it. And the ball's position is correct with the switch at rest. Pump runs regardless of float switch position.
I really can't imagine a failure mode that would cause the switch to remain closed. All of the previous switches failed open.
I still need to do some trouble shooting, I suppose there's a possibility the Auto-Off-Manual switch is somehow energizing both the switched and un-switched conductors. But, if anyone has found a reliable bilge pump switch, let me know.
So here's the question, who makes a reliable bilge pump switch? The bilge is relatively clean, the pump--a Rule 1500--runs smoothly and pulls a normal amount of current and the wiring is of sufficient size. And the pump only runs 2-3 times a week. In spite of that, this will be the fourth switch since I bought the boat a year ago!
Switch one was a Rule-A-Matic mercury switch that was on the boat when we bought it, it was either working intermittently or failed the first weekend we had the boat. Okay, 30 year old boat, stuff wears out.
Replaced with switch two, another Rule-A-Matic mercury (or West's OEM version of the same thing, I forget). This one lasted about 10 months. Mutter, mutter, must have got a lemon ...
Replaced with switch three, fed up with mercury switches, put in WM rolling ball switch. That was three months ago. Ball still rolls around, I can hear it. And the ball's position is correct with the switch at rest. Pump runs regardless of float switch position.
I really can't imagine a failure mode that would cause the switch to remain closed. All of the previous switches failed open.
I still need to do some trouble shooting, I suppose there's a possibility the Auto-Off-Manual switch is somehow energizing both the switched and un-switched conductors. But, if anyone has found a reliable bilge pump switch, let me know.