Electronic (field sensor) auto bilge pump switches

[webcraft]

I've had 2 Whale field sensor witches fail in short order.

Are water witches any more reliable?

- W

 

[halcyon]

I've had 2 Whale field sensor witches fail in short order.

Are water witches any more reliable?

- W

Why not a air pressure switch, this can be mounted well above water level ?

Brian

 

[Martin_J]

Not Water Witch but my Johnson Ultima electronic switches have outlasted a number of bilge pumps... Touch wood I've not had one go wrong yet and they're easy to test with a couple of fingers across the marked circles.

The other good thing is that they're also good for 20 amps and have the delay circuitry built-in to save cycling.

 

[vas]

I've killed a whale field sensor thing and 2 water witches, on a 24V system.

I *think* I've stressed them too much when equalising my 6V trojans at around 31V (don't remember exactly, whatever trojan themselves recommend)
Disabled auto equalise for the last year, both work fine (touch wood)
Is there a chance that you managed to get them more volts than they are happy with?
Don't know to what extend that would apply to a 12V system afaik many components (capacitors etc) limit up at 30V.

 

[webcraft]

I've ordered a Water Witch. Batteries show 13.8v on shore power charge or solar at anchor, which shouldn't kill anything??

The last Whale sensor turned the pump for a while, but not fast enough to actually shift any water. Now kaput.

- W