automatic bilge pump switch
#1
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My "rule-a-matic plus" float switches suddenly stopped functioning. The bilge pumps will turn on manually with the switch at the dash. However, manually moving the floats in either switch will not turn on the pumps.
Are there fuses between the switches and the battery that may be bad? It seems unusual that both switches would fail at the same time.
After several days of particularly heavy rain, I was greeted by the sound of the high-water alarm....first time I heard that, and quite startling, I must say!
Any other suggestions?
Thanks as always,
Jeff
Are there fuses between the switches and the battery that may be bad? It seems unusual that both switches would fail at the same time.
After several days of particularly heavy rain, I was greeted by the sound of the high-water alarm....first time I heard that, and quite startling, I must say!
Any other suggestions?
Thanks as always,
Jeff
#3
My "rule-a-matic plus" float switches suddenly stopped functioning. The bilge pumps will turn on manually with the switch at the dash. However, manually moving the floats in either switch will not turn on the pumps.
Are there fuses between the switches and the battery that may be bad? It seems unusual that both switches would fail at the same time.
After several days of particularly heavy rain, I was greeted by the sound of the high-water alarm....first time I heard that, and quite startling, I must say!
Any other suggestions?
Thanks as always,
Jeff
Are there fuses between the switches and the battery that may be bad? It seems unusual that both switches would fail at the same time.
After several days of particularly heavy rain, I was greeted by the sound of the high-water alarm....first time I heard that, and quite startling, I must say!
Any other suggestions?
Thanks as always,
Jeff
the float switch is fed straight from the battery thru the aft breaker panel ...should be red/brn wire .. make sure this breaker is not tripped .....
The manual dash switch is fed from the dash breaker panel .... brn wire to the pumps .... the battery switch has to be on to use the dash switch ....m
Last edited by offthefront; 07-08-2008 at 06:06 PM.
#4
Yep - 2 distinct power sources. Check for debris in the switch housings as well. There are quite a few drains that run into the bilge, carrying hair, dead bugs, and general crud that can cause them to stick ("on" or "off"!!).
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Retired! Boating full-time now.
Retired! Boating full-time now.
#5
just replaced my 2nd bilge pump last week, pain in the ass to get at. Fuseholder was f'ed up and ordered two from mercury, west marine had no similar fuseholder. Cleaned the ruleamatic while i had iut disassembled. Coulda used a midget.
#6
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what model boat ?
the float switch is fed straight from the battery thru the aft breaker panel ...should be red/brn wire .. make sure this breaker is not tripped .....
The manual dash switch is fed from the dash breaker panel .... brn wire to the pumps .... the battery switch has to be on to use the dash switch ....m
the float switch is fed straight from the battery thru the aft breaker panel ...should be red/brn wire .. make sure this breaker is not tripped .....
The manual dash switch is fed from the dash breaker panel .... brn wire to the pumps .... the battery switch has to be on to use the dash switch ....m
The aft breaker panel has separate breakers for the bilge pump and high water alarm. Does the float switch operate off the same circuit as the high water alarm? Now that I think of it, I'm guessing it does.
Thanks,
Jeff
#10
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