c-dory

russ shaffer

New member
My outside bilge pump which is fully automatic will not start without turning on the switch. The cabin bilge pump which is the same type of pump and is wired the same cames on when there is water present.
 
Sounds as if your rear pump is wired only to the switch. As were your other pump is wired to the switch AND to the battery. This allows the pump to run as auto or as a manual. There should be a third wire coming off the pump that needs to go to the positve side of a battery. Go on line to the maker of the pump and see if they have a wiring diagram. Hope that helps.
 
Check inline fuses . Sometimes there is a separate fuse for the automatic side of the pump. Look on the + side of the batteries for "inline" fuse holders and check them . If you can follow the wire from the bilge pump to the battery thats where it should be .
The auto circuit on the pump can go out as well, but the pump can still function in manual mode .
Hope that helps .
Marc
 
Wefings":3iln30ow said:
Check inline fuses . Sometimes there is a separate fuse for the automatic side of the pump. Look on the + side of the batteries for "inline" fuse holders and check them . If you can follow the wire from the bilge pump to the battery thats where it should be .
The auto circuit on the pump can go out as well, but the pump can still function in manual mode .
Hope that helps .
Marc

Marc - just out of interest, is there any reason why something that terminates at a fuse on the fuse block should also have an inline fuse? I get the sense that some equipment came with an inline fuse so the installer just left it there even when he wired it to a panel that contains another fuse. On my boat, I found a number of inline fuses in a variety of "hidden" locations that seem to be redundant with other fuses. This can be a real PITA when something goes wrong on the water. Next boat I wire myself so I know where everything is and so I get a good diagram at the end.
 
came with an inline fuse so the installer just left it there even when he wired it to a panel that contains another fuse.

Roger, you have broken the code. Some folks think more fuses are better. To my way of thinking one is just right, given that it's the right size and you can find it! :roll:

On installation, that wire can be cut on either side of that fuse! :thup

Charlie
 
Many folks don't realize there can be two separate circuits here . The auto and manual each have separate positive supply . They are often separately fused as the auto circuit may be "hotwired" to the battery to avoid having no pump available with battery switch in off position .
I sell some very good products and 2 boats from the same manufacturer in the same model year can be wired differently .No love and no rules in the boat industry.Its a good to physically follow wires on your boat as an owner to see whats there .
Marc
 
Wefings":1n077ymc said:
Many folks don't realize there can be two separate circuits here . The auto and manual each have separate positive supply . They are often separately fused as the auto circuit may be "hotwired" to the battery to avoid having no pump available with battery switch in off position .
I sell some very good products and 2 boats from the same manufacturer in the same model year can be wired differently .No love and no rules in the boat industry.Its a good to physically follow wires on your boat as an owner to see whats there .
Marc

Right on Marc.
My Tomcat did not have fuses (in the wired fuse holders) for the auto portion of the bilge pumps. I soon learned why...starboard bilge pump had a stuck internal float. As soon as I would put in the fuse it would run and not stop. I replaced the bilge pump/internal float and it has worked perfectly.

I think you either have a missing fuse or a bad float.
 
Russ the wire should be a brown wire with a white tracer from the pump to a fuse about 6 " from the battery. I periodicly have to take my bilge pump apart and clean out the chamber the float is in and clean the float. There are two small phillips head screws on the bottom that allow the bottom to come off and the float to be removed to clean. The pump is removed from the base by squeezing two clips on either side of the pump.
 
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