Johnson Ultima auto bilge pump switch failure (again)

[stuhaynes]

Hi everyone

2 years ago, because my original float switch was silting up, I bought the solid state Ultima. Less than a year later it packed up, showing internal overheating blistering. The marina changed it FOC. This week, less than a year later it's packed up again. It switches on but doesn't auto-stop. When I disconnect a wire it stops, and when I reconnect the wire it has reset itself and it's fine until it kicks in next time and the problem repeats itself.

We're onboard most of the time so we're always aware when this problem occurs. Has anyone else had a similar problem or should I be looking for a problem elsewhere?

The bilge pump was bought new 7 years ago. It's 24 volt and pushes about 1500 litres an hour and draws about 10 amps max. Any thoughts.

Thanks. Stu

 

[The engineer]

has any one else experienced this and found a solution? I have just fitted 2 pumps and they are both displaying identical symptoms to Stu's.

 

[sailorman]

has any one else experienced this and found a solution? I have just fitted 2 pumps and they are both displaying identical symptoms to Stu's.

buy one of Salty Johns solid state switches & a remote diaphram pump.
my jabsco pump is 14 seasons old the switch 3 seasons

 

[The engineer]

Unfortunately the pumps are customer supplied and fitted

 

[prv]

buy one of Salty Johns solid state switches & a remote diaphram pump.

This is what I have, and it works well.

Unfortunately the pumps are customer supplied and fitted

So what's your role in the whole thing?

If they're paying you to replace their pumps (especially if they insist on ones that regularly fail) why complain at the extra work?

Pete

 

[Martin_J]

Not the answer you want to hear.. but I fitted the Ultima switch when I installed a Johnson L4000 pump about two years ago.

The pump is 12v and draws up to 20A. It has been powered up the whole time and I test it with fingers across the switch face about once a fortnight.

It is wired as per the diagram supplied (IIRC). I am pretty sure the panel switch I used is the Johnson panel switch since that was the only one that would accept the 25A fuse.

 

[The engineer]

I am doing the job for a boat yard who supplied the pumps and I have fitted them. One of the pumps even came pre wired with an Ultima switch.