Auto bilge pump - on or off??

[Dave_Snelson]

How much power does an auto bilge pump consume? When on my boat, it seems to have a little gurgle every two minutes or so (not that the boat is filling, you understand) and I was wondering how long it would take to drain one of my batteries. The pump in question is a relatively small 1000gph pump.

Any ideas? Any experience to hand? One more thing - does having an active battery induce more electrical activity and hence galvanic corrosion?

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[mainshiptom]

A solar panel can make up for this ! If the boat is not connected to shore power ?

My bilge pump kicks in every hour ! I know because when on holiday I used to switch it off overnight for the noise ! Every morning I would switch it back on, even before having toast !

Tom

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[tcm]

um, every two minutes? Why so frequent? there's a leak or fault somewhhere i fink.

anyway the number of amphours determines how long a batery wil last. Look at the power needed for the pump, divide by 12volts, that's how many amps it takes. With startingand stopping tho , more power than this wil be used mebbe 2-3times more. It should not be switching on and off at all.


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[hlb]

Yep sumuts up. Or sinking!! Ger it fixed. Then leave auto bilge pump on errr! auto.../forums/images/icons/smile.gif

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Haydn

 

[andyball]

You've either got a leak......or one of the more modern bilge pumps w/o a float switch that switch on every now & then to check if water present -electronics inside can tell from pump speed/current drawn whether or not there's anything to pump- & it continues 'til no more water- then reverts to switching on every x mins again. Advantage= no float switch to stick on or off, pump body is smaller compared to internal switch types.... but uses a bit more power.

more power is not much more, since pump will draw very little when there's no water present

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[Dave_Snelson]

Its mainly the water in the pipe

Its mainly the water in the pipe. The pump pumps until it switches off, then whats left in the pipe drains back down into the bilge. Its sits there for a while then pumps until the water starts to exit the skin fitting, which is just about enough water to activate the stop switch - and the water drains back into the bilge. If I leave the boat a couple of weeks, there is a couple of gallons to pump out, and it does so.

Its mainly frsh water, I have tasted it - yuk!! And I have ordered a new canvass from the canvass man (well at least he's coming to measure up).

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[Trevethan]

We have a pump like this -- a little Rule that does a test spin every so often -- if it encounters resistance -- i.e. water in keeps on going til its gone.

It goes off every minute or three and to be honest its very reassuring -- few nights ago it got jammed -- sliver of wood make it into the bilge while we were rebuilding pilot house seating and its amazing how quickly you notice the absent of the little whir

It doesn't use much energy -- I left mine fitted to a tired old 90 amp hour battery when I first fitted it soon after we got the boat while I was away for three weeks -- the battery read 12.5 volts when I left and 12.3 when I got back.

If you're worried fit one of those little 5 watt solar cells that you can pick up at Halfords for a £25 or so to keep it topped up.



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[longjohnsilver]

Re: Its mainly the water in the pipe

Well why not get yourself a non return valve to stop this water draining back into the bilge?

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[hlb]

Re: Thats It.

It's pumping till bilge empties. Then the water comes back down pipe. So it pumps. Then water comes down pipe.........................................................................................................!! Lift the float switch up a bit to allow for bit in pipe. Problem solved............................../forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

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Haydn

 

[BarryH]

Obvious answer.........its automatic init so will turn itself on and off........hint, the clues in the name of it!

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[Dave_Snelson]

Re: Thats It.

Aha!! Thankyou Haydn.

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[Dave_Snelson]

Re: Its mainly the water in the pipe

Another good idea! Thanks LongJohn

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[Dave_Snelson]

Yet another good idea - thanks.

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[PhilF]

will it charge in this weather?
PhilF

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[Trevethan]

you'd be surprised how little light can generate a bit of a charge. We have one of those little solar vents and it runs during the day no matter howcrap it is outside...

A panel might not put all the energy back on a lousy day, but it will help and those little pumps draw next to nothing.

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[jfm]

No, dont lift the float switch!

Haydn that's total bolx Moving the float switch up a bit makes no difference. Think about it.......

What you need is a non return valve as someone said, or a bigger negative overlap on the floatswitch mechanics but that's hard to organise

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[andyball]

Re: No, dont lift the float switch!

wd think that unless the bilge is flat as a pancake, raising the float switch a bit will mean that identical volume of water will drop back down the pipe, but will have rather less effect on the level due to water covering a greater area ? so may help after all, tho more water in bottom of boat.

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[hlb]

Re: No, dont lift the float switch!

Thank you kind sir. Some one inteligent at last. Never thought much of that JFM bloke anyway. Think he's a bit of a wuss!! /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

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Haydn