Bilge pump internal short?

[PaulRainbow]

So you disagree with the BoatUS article I linked to which says you should be able to turn the impeller by hand?

View attachment 102295

And with the poster in post #2, who also thought it should be able to be turned by hand?

I asked you a simple question, why do you think the fact that you can turn the impeller by hand means the pump is knackered, and you replied with a 'clever' remark. FYI, I could turn the impeller by hand when the pump was new, and it worked fine for a year.

Strangely, you are right about one thing, it works perfectly without a fuse. if connected directly to 12 volts.


- W

You asked a question and i answered it in post #7

You asked "why" and in post #13 i explained why.

You still want to argue, without even reading post #13, or so it would seem.

I don't disagree that you should be able to turn the pump by hand, read post #13.

Once again, the fuse is blowing because the circuit is being overloaded. Two reasons why it's being overloaded, in the case of something as simple as a bilge pump, it's either jammed /blocked or there is a fault/short in the motor. So, if the pump turns easily by hand (which it should do) there is a fault/short in the motor.

Now you throw in " it works perfectly without a fuse. if connected directly to 12 volts." This throws doubt on whether the pump turns freely by hand If it really does turn freely by hand, it's still a fault/short in the motor. If you want to keep arguing, feel free to leave the pump where it is or bypass the fuse. Don't come here and complain if it fails and you sink. It's a 20 quid pump for heavens sake.

I didn't reply to your OP for an argument, i simply tried to help you. Talk about ungrateful.

 

[Graham376]

deleted, question already asked

 

[webcraft]

If the fuse is in the instrument panel, the fault could be with the wiring. have you tried the pump connected directly on the battery?

Hi Graham,

Yes, the pump works fine connected directly to the battery.

The fuse is in the auto/off/manual switch on the panel.

I believe the fault is probably in the wiring. I have replaced a dodgy looking chocolate block and the pump is running, but I am out of 5A fuses and there is a 15A fuse in there at the moment.

I will get more 5A fuses tomorrow if I can, and see if the pump keeps running. If it keeps blowing fuses I will try replacing the pump with a similar one - the chandler's here has one for less than 30 euros, not a Rule though.

- W

 

[webcraft]

I didn't reply to your OP for an argument, i simply tried to help you. Talk about ungrateful.

There are plenty of helpful, kind replies on here, but yours are not, IMO, among them.

At least two posters have very sensibly prompted me to check the wiring before scrapping the pump.

You have decided the pump is knackered without even enquiring about the wiring, so your advice to scrap the pump is premature.

You are no more infallible than I am.

- W

 

[Graham376]

Hi Graham,
Yes, the pump works fine connected directly to the battery.
The fuse is in the auto/off/manual switch on the panel.
I believe the fault is probably in the wiring. I have replaced a dodgy looking chocolate block and the pump is running, but I am out of 5A fuses and there is a 15A fuse in there at the moment.
I will get more 5A fuses tomorrow if I can, and see if the pump keeps running. If it keeps blowing fuses I will try replacing the pump with a similar one - the chandler's here has one for less than 30 euros, not a Rule though.
- W

Have you checked the wire with your meter to see if there's a short on it? If the pump runs fine directly connected to the battery and isn't getting hot or, feels stiff to turn when stopped after running (bearing overheating /tight) it's unlikely to be faulty.

P.S. Are you sure the 5 amp fuse isn't undersized and that's why it's blowing?

 

[PaulRainbow]

There are plenty of helpful, kind replies on here, but yours are not, IMO, among them.

At least two posters have very sensibly prompted me to check the wiring before scrapping the pump.

You have decided the pump is knackered without even enquiring about the wiring, so your advice to scrap the pump is premature.

You are no more infallible than I am.

- W

You keep drip feeding additional information, you are an ungrateful waste of time.

Be gone.

 

[webcraft]

You keep drip feeding additional information, you are an ungrateful waste of time.

Be gone.

I'm sorry, but I think you need to read the forum rules on civil public discourse and perhaps wind your neck in a bit.

Please don't trouble yourself to reply to any of my posts in future, I have no wish to irritate you further.

Have a nice day

- W

 

[webcraft]

Have you checked the wire with your meter to see if there's a short on it? If the pump runs fine directly connected to the battery and isn't getting hot or, feels stiff to turn when stopped after running (bearing overheating /tight) it's unlikely to be faulty.

P.S. Are you sure the 5 amp fuse isn't undersized and that's why it's blowing?

Pump is fine after running direct on the battery. I think it was a short in a chocblock connector. AFAICR the panel came with a 5A fuse, and my sparky pal says 10A max.

- W

 

[VicS]

Pump is fine after running direct on the battery. I think it was a short in a chocblock connector. AFAICR the panel came with a 5A fuse, and my sparky pal says 10A max.

- W

Check the recommendation for your pump on the Jabscoshop website

Rule Bilge Pumps / Rule Submersible Pumps & Accessories / Pumps / Marine / Xylem JabscoShop - Jabsco & Rule Pumps and more - from the experts

II assume that when you said it is a 500GPH pump it is one of the Rule 500 range of pumps If so IYWF that the recommended fuse size is either 2.5 amps or 4 amps depending on the exact model

(500 gallons is I think 500 US gallons which are only 4/5ths of a proper Imperial UK gallon as result of the "mericans getting the size of a pint all wrong)

 

[webcraft]

OK, a few extra bits of info...

It's a Whale pump, recommended fuse size is 2A

It is connected through an on/off/auto switch via a solid state sensor/float switch

It has just blown a 15A fuse.

Could the sensor be the problem? Surely it would then only blow the fuse on the auto setting? (As I said, it just blew the fuse on the manual setting g not immediately, but after running for 2-3 seconds.

I was going to attach wiring photos, but marina WiFi say no. I am thinking it may in fact be the pump. Will buy the wee Attwood pump and try that and report back.

- W