stuck rule bilge pump blowing fuses?

[vas]

after a great period of dry bilges and following a couple of long weekends going places, the e/r bilge started getting some water in (mainly from the slightly a bit too loose) stuffing boxes.
Don't mind that but I realized that instead of the autobilge pump switch starting the rule pump up, it just blew it's fuse...
After a bit of head scratching, trying a second fuse that was promptly burnt once I turned the pump to auto, I tried to find what's going on.
Wiggling cables, checking them back to front produced nothing.
Unclipped the pump and tried to rotate the tiny plastic spiral thing on the bottom. Wasn't v.easy for the start, then was ok I could easily turn it.
Tried a new fuse, works fine.

So, Q, a slightly stuck pump can just blow it's fuse like that?
I may have used a v.small fuse as there's no way in hell I can see the (sometimes) stamped rating on these glass fuses anymore. I've inherited a box of them from the PO but they are all mixed up.

makes sense? I think yes.

cheers

V.

 

[rafiki_]

Yes, I think it makes sense if the motor is snagged for the fuse to blow.

 

[kashurst]

I had similar last week in shower pump out box. The impeller was wrapped in long hair (yuck). It had wrapped around the shaft under the impeller making it very tight. Sounds like you have either something similar making it stick or possibly water has got into the motor corroding the shaft/bearings. I would keep testing it over a few days/weeks. But if in doubt bin it.

 

[Forty_Two]

And do replace the fuse with a circuit breaker, much easier to reset in an emergency....

 

[vas]

Yes, I think it makes sense if the motor is snagged for the fuse to blow.

thanks P.

I had similar last week in shower pump out box. The impeller was wrapped in long hair (yuck). It had wrapped around the shaft under the impeller making it very tight. Sounds like you have either something similar making it stick or possibly water has got into the motor corroding the shaft/bearings. I would keep testing it over a few days/weeks. But if in doubt bin it.

actually, as soon as I spinned with my fingers, it worked fine. So guess, just crude and muck getting on the shaft and tiny propeller thingy...

And do replace the fuse with a circuit breaker, much easier to reset in an emergency....

could do, but that would damage the looks of the three osculati auto bilge pump controllers in the dash, cannot possibly do that!
on a serious note, if there's an issue I've got a manifold to the three compartments hooked up to a big bugger 1.5inch Rheinstrom diaphragm pump that will pump anything, so backup plan is there and works fine.

cheers

V.

 

[omega2]

First rule if fuse blows, take the pump apart and clear the carp out of the strainer, and free off the impeller, they will pull off the shaft, and then you will find all kinds of fibre's causing the problem, hook them out with a fine screwdriver.

https://www.boats.com/how-to/how-come-my-bilge-pump-is-melted/

 

[David2452]

So, Q, a slightly stuck pump can just blow it's fuse like that?
I may have used a v.small fuse as there's no way in hell I can see the (sometimes) stamped rating on these glass fuses anymore. I've inherited a box of them from the PO but they are all mixed up.

makes sense? I think yes.

cheers

V.

Can and will, that's what its there for, even a blocked outlet can do it with some pumps.