logo
Welcome Guest! To enable all features please Login or Register.

Notification

Icon
Error
Bilge pump helm switches
Options View
Previous Topic Next Topic
jhemp3
#1 Posted : Wednesday, June 01, 2011 5:00:15 PM(UTC)
jhemp3

Rank: Top Rank Aluminum Star

Groups: Member
Joined: 2/7/2008(UTC)
Posts: 238
Points: -147

Was thanked: 3 time(s) in 2 post(s)
My boat has overhead lower helm bilge pump switches and three way auto, off, manual switches on the helm dash. The overhead switches must be in the on position for the auto function to operate the pump when the float switch is activated. (they don't work at all with the overheads on until the three-way is set to auto or manual) It seems that the auto function should be wired to work with the overhead switches in the off position also. Would like to know how other's boats are set up; what's the correct way.
Thanks in advance,
Jim
Jim Hemphill
Detour
'87 32' FBS, USCG Certification #1057921
Berthed MM 207 Tennessee River, Picwick State Park Marina
Back to top
Sponsor
Please Register : To weed out spammers, new members may not post until approved. An email is usually sent after approval. This forum is for Marinette Owners and other aluminum boat boaters who wish to share boating information. Aluminum Roamer owners are also welcome. (Do not post content you do not have the right to post and mass (robots) posters are unwelcome. We also have a marine electronics page and lots of Chrysler Engine info. State by what permission you copy content and give credit properly.) The site is now fixed with some more Chrysler information. We have space for pictures on the new location. Use shinkpic to autochange size http://www.onthegosoft.com/sp_download.htm

Great Sites - http://www.marinette.com Marinette Company

http://web.me.com/dougmrose/Doug_Roses_Website/Welcome.html

http://fastjeff.tripod.com/ Repair Tricks and Techniques for Marinettes

http://www.greatlakesmarinetteclub.com/

PLEASE post in the appropriate folder. Please, do not post your actual email address in publicly readable websites. The first rule is be a class act.
Back to top  
Docsnow
#2 Posted : Wednesday, June 01, 2011 5:55:43 PM(UTC)
Docsnow

Rank: Marinette Royal Aluminum Poster (300+) posts

Groups: Admin, Administration
Joined: 12/4/2007(UTC)
Posts: 1,871
Points: 4,247

Thanks: 2 times
Was thanked: 28 time(s) in 28 post(s)
Jim,

I think that there has to be a way to shut the power off to the bilge pump some way like for
changing the pump so there is no live wires or if float malfunctions as not to burn up pump
running dry etc. I'm sure that the pump is always hot even with 3 way switch in the off postion Think If I’m not mistaking I believe that’s how mine was set up also. Not sure if that’s the right way but sound logical Think

Norm,

BigBigMs Live On Dancing
http://www.picturetrail.com/gid23690601 Try it now there's music to listen to while U view the Big M's

http://www.PictureTrail..../index.php?clubID=20726 this one for the Pix club


 You'll have bad times, but they'll just wake you up to the good times you weren't paying attention to

Some people try to turn back their odometers.Not me, I want people to know "why" I look this way.I've traveled a long way and some of the roads weren't paved.
Back to top
jhemp3
#3 Posted : Thursday, June 02, 2011 7:12:03 AM(UTC)
jhemp3

Rank: Top Rank Aluminum Star

Groups: Member
Joined: 2/7/2008(UTC)
Posts: 238
Points: -147

Was thanked: 3 time(s) in 2 post(s)
Thanks, Norm, I believe my pump wiring to be flawed. Hopefully, I can come up with a good schematic to guide me through the re-working. I think the problem may be located at the pump and not the helm. The pumps aren't original and I would bet the new pumps were installed incorrectly... I wonder how I know that!
Jim
Jim Hemphill
Detour
'87 32' FBS, USCG Certification #1057921
Berthed MM 207 Tennessee River, Picwick State Park Marina
Back to top
Barkleydave
#4 Posted : Thursday, June 02, 2011 8:02:17 AM(UTC)
Barkleydave

Rank: Marinette Royal Aluminum Poster (300+) posts

Groups: Member
Joined: 12/4/2007(UTC)
Posts: 460
Points: -618

Thanks: 3 times
Was thanked: 7 time(s) in 6 post(s)
From you explanation your bilge pump circuit is wired "Factory Correct"

Your main bilg pump circuit on the overhead provides additional breaker protection. (APAX breaker toggles)


Your bilge pump toggles on the bridge normally are ONLY ON-OFF toggles.
Lower bilge was on most boats the Rule three positon toggle.


safe boating,

dave
None
Back to top
yooper
#5 Posted : Thursday, June 02, 2011 9:36:55 AM(UTC)
Rank: Marinette Royal Aluminum Poster (300+) posts

Groups: Member
Joined: 12/9/2007(UTC)
Posts: 378
Points: 785

Thanks: 1 times
Was thanked: 16 time(s) in 16 post(s)
Dave is right. The overheads are all your breaker switches. They protect the circuts. The helm has your pump function switches. When you leave your boat at the dock hooked to a battery charger or when you are underway you can leave the breaker on and the helm set to Auto. I tried this when I left the boat anchored out. My cockpit scuppers were plugged. Big rain storms filled the bilge and the pump ran the batterys all the way down. I had to hump my batterys back to shore in a little rowboat. When anchored out, make sure your scuppers are clear and throw a rubber rug over your cockpit hatch. You can leave Auto on but you should drive by now and then to see if your boat is on the water or under it.
Back to top
dougrose
#6 Posted : Thursday, June 02, 2011 10:10:14 AM(UTC)
dougrose

Rank: Marinette Royal Aluminum Poster (300+) posts

Groups: Member, Administration, Admin
Joined: 12/7/2007(UTC)
Posts: 1,332
Points: 1,746

Was thanked: 25 time(s) in 21 post(s)
"the pump ran the batterys all the way down"

Far better to hump a battery ashore than to have to visit the boat wearing mask, snorkel, and fins!

This happened to me once and I took the battery from the car to the boat, because it was much smaller, and already charged. Had to take it back to the car to get home, of course.

I have an 85-watt solar panel mounted above the cockpit bimini to keep the batteries up while on the hook. I have a circuit that distributes charge to all four batteries while still keeping them isolated. These panels cost at least $2/watt on ebay but I think that anyone anchored out should have one.



1975 32' Flybridge Sedan, twin Perkins 6-354 diesels, 1:1.53 velvetdrives, 16 X 19 props. Merritt Island, Florida
Back to top
jhemp3
#7 Posted : Thursday, June 02, 2011 11:31:42 AM(UTC)
jhemp3

Rank: Top Rank Aluminum Star

Groups: Member
Joined: 2/7/2008(UTC)
Posts: 238
Points: -147

Was thanked: 3 time(s) in 2 post(s)
I think I'm hearing you guys say that the breaker switches should remain in the on position all the time to ensure overload protection. Which is what I do. Yoop, my boat is under cover so the rain issue is, hopefully, taken care of. I also leave the 3 way in the auto position. My only concern is that the auto position doesn't turn on the pumps with the breakers in the off position, which may be the way it should work? At least, I'm feeling like leaving the overhead (breaker) switches on at all times is ok. BTW, the upper helm switches seem to work as they should.
Jim
Jim Hemphill
Detour
'87 32' FBS, USCG Certification #1057921
Berthed MM 207 Tennessee River, Picwick State Park Marina
Back to top
jralbert
#8 Posted : Thursday, June 02, 2011 12:36:39 PM(UTC)
Rank: Administration

Groups: Admin, Administration
Joined: 12/4/2007(UTC)
Posts: 1,117
Points: 665

Was thanked: 12 time(s) in 12 post(s)
On my '88 boat, there is a lower panel that provide "master" controls for the bilge pumps. The panel is in the same box as the master battery switches. Located almost at the floor, right side of the helm. It also contains master power for the fridge in my boat). One half of the switches go to the right battery bank, the other half to the left bank. You (or rather, I) can shut off bilge pump power from here.

UPDATE: Here is the scenario I think you wish to achieve....

Lower/master switches off = no power to bilge pumps fwd or aft

Lower Master switches on/Overhead panel switches on: Power is available to pumps but the three way switches at the helm station are the last point of control. They are set to either Auto, off, or manual. If in auto, pump will come on when its float switch indicates too much water in bilge. The other two positions should be self-explanatory.

I can't remember exactly now but I think overhead switch in can be off and pump will still operate. If that's wrong, I will drop this paragraph.
Joel Albert, Potomac MD
"Charlie B" - 1988 32' FBS
Twin 318's/FWC/16x15 nibral props
docked Deale, MD
Back to top
 |  Edit by user
jhemp3
#9 Posted : Thursday, June 02, 2011 3:59:40 PM(UTC)
jhemp3

Rank: Top Rank Aluminum Star

Groups: Member
Joined: 2/7/2008(UTC)
Posts: 238
Points: -147

Was thanked: 3 time(s) in 2 post(s)
I didn't think of it before your post, Joel, but my set up exactly.
Jim
Jim Hemphill
Detour
'87 32' FBS, USCG Certification #1057921
Berthed MM 207 Tennessee River, Picwick State Park Marina
Back to top
Users browsing this topic
guest
Forum Jump  
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.

Powered by YAF 1.9.5.5 | YAF © 2003-2011, Yet Another Forum.NET
This page was generated in 0.133 seconds.