Float switch reversed???

[Cutty Sark]

Hey Brats,

Need a little help here. I went out to my boat today, to prepare for fishing the sound tomorrow. When I jumped up into it, I noticed the bilge pump was running, I checked the switch and it was off, next I went and removed the fishbox to see how much water was in the bilge. It was almost dry, with not enough water to set off the built in float. I shut the power off at the battery switch, andpulled the bilge pump out of its base, I toggled the float to make sure it wasn't stuck.... Nothing, It sould shut off in the full down position but doesn't. I mess with it a bit more and turn on and off the power a couple of times to see if it starts functioning properly, then it starts to shut off. But the thing is it shuts off when the float is all the way up!! So as the float goes up the bilge shuts off. only when the float is all the way down will it turn on. Totally backwards and I can't figure out what I might have done, I basically just checked the wires and toggled the float a couple times. Anyone have any ideas?


Sark

[rogerbum]

Whose float switch do you have? The std. "Rule"? The float switch is just and open/close device and it would be hard (almost impossible?) to mis-wire it. Some of the newer pumps are designed so that they don't come on unless the switch is up for at least a couple of seconds and don't go off for about 30 seconds after the switch goes down. The latter is to help the pump empty out the last little bit at the bottom of the bilge. The former (e.g. a delay for a few seconds before coming on) is designed to keep the pump from coming on if the float switch is momentarily engaged during a bumpy ride. Sometimes these delays can be a bit confusing when doing trouble shooting.

Roger on the SeaDNA

[Mr. Fisherman]

Take apart the on off auto switch. I bet you find corrosion.

[starcrafttom]

That boat has a death wish. first a self bailing deck that floods and now a pump that shuts off when there is water in the bulge?? I think the dam thing is trying to drown its self!! You should name it christine like the car.