Whale 650 automatic bilge pump electrical issues?

[brianontheroad]

I bought a whale supersub 650 because I liked it's shape, the deepest area of my bilge is a v and the rules and other standard bilge pumps just sit on top of the V and don't get that last little bit of water

I wanted to wire it up to an existing rule "3 way" switch (auto/off/manual) I followed the diagram in the booklet for the whale -- white wired to the pin on the manual side of the switch and the brown to the automatic and the black to my ground bar -- but it seems to just cycle continuosly when the switch is in the automatic position and doesn't do anything in manual

the previous bilge pump had a float switch (which I'll be re-using with the "high water/high output) second bilge pump) -- is there something funny about how that's wired?

troubleshooting tips welcome

Thanks!
Brian

in the yard.....trying to get gone
Chasing the Illusion

[mitiempo]

It sounds like you have the auto and manual wires reversed at the switch. To confirm this put it in manual and make sure it is in water. There is a delay so wait a bit and if it pumps it is wired backwards. If it doesn't it could be a faulty switch. The ground is good or it wouldn't run at all. If it is wired backwards what you describe would occur. Also make sure it is level the long ways as shown in the manual and below.

[brianontheroad]

I've tried flip flopping the manual/auto connections and it does the same thing either way and runs continuously even if it's not in the bilge (like if it's in my hand). I have it oriented like picture 3 in the manual (your pic)

[mitiempo]

Try taking the wires off the switch. Don't worry about the ground because it is ok. With the white wire to 12 volt + it should run. With the brown wire wired to 12 volt + it should run if it senses water. If these 2 tests work then it is the switch.

[mroman33711]

I'm pretty sure it's the float switch, i've gone through bilge problems and i can say that it's the floatswitch.

[mitiempo]

This is a pretty old thread but remember the spades on the back of the switch are reversed from the switch position on the front. In other words if you have the rocker switch version auto position is in at the top for the switch but this powers the lower spade and vice versa. Easy to confirm with a multimeter.