auto bilge

[wp1234]

I already have a manual push button bilge pumping system on board but would like to put a back up automatic bilge pump into my boat for those weeks I can't pop to the boat .Any thoughts on how this should be done ,is there a way of simply adapting my existing system to suit or is it best to have a simple stand alone system .Any recommendations on makes and required size – the boat is an 8.o mt .

thanks

 

[FlorealIII]

Replace the push button with an on/off button and place a floating valve contact between this and the electric pump . The other side of the on/off button goes directly to the battery plus , so that if you cut the power when you leave the boat , the pump stays live . The on/off button stays in the on position , but you can always cut the current for servicing or cleaning valve or dirt restrainer by putting it off .

 

[oakum]

And as someone said recently "you'll stay afloat a little bit longer while the batteries are going flat" - hopefully that won't happen !

 

[narooma]

Slight variation to the above offers. Change the push button to a three way switch, two on and one off. One side of the switch directly to the pump and the other through a float switch to the pump. OR
If you have a spare outlet you could consider fitting a seperate pump with float attached and fit the three-way switch to that, leaving the original in place.

 

[fisherman]

My two penn'orth, same as previously: if you leave the pump and float switch live, there is the possibility that, as the float switch and pump wires are always too short, you will have a connector of some sort in a damp place. Not good. I have also been flamed for suggesting that it is inadvisable to have all the negative circuits in the boat connected to the neg side of the bilge pump and switch, which they will be unless your main switch is dipole.
I suggest: have a dipole switch so only the bilge system is connected to the battery; use a pressure switch which sits up somewhere dry and is fired by pressure in a pipe which extends down to the bilge.

 

[moody1]

We added a small Rule pump with float switch into the bilges and powered it via fused direct cable to battery terminals.
A simple switch was mounted conveniently to over-ride the autofloat capability if necessary.
The output was Y branched into existing overboard with pipe before hull fitting looped up so that water would not flow back if boat was heeled.
HWMBO fitted above quite a few years ago and we have never seen reason to change it as our bilges have stayed dry since then. Simple and effective.