Search Sailnet:

 forums  store  


Quick Menu
Forums           
Articles          
Galleries        
Boat Reviews  
Classifieds     
Search SailNet 
Boat Search (new)

Shop the
SailNet Store
Anchor Locker
Boatbuilding & Repair
Charts
Clothing
Electrical
Electronics
Engine
Hatches and Portlights
Interior And Galley
Maintenance
Marine Electronics
Navigation
Other Items
Plumbing and Pumps
Rigging
Safety
Sailing Hardware
Trailer & Watersports
Clearance Items









Go Back   SailNet Community > General Interest Forums > Gear & Maintenance
 Not a Member? 



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Search this Thread
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 01-27-2012
L124C's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 924
Rep Power: 5
L124C is on a distinguished road
Electronic Auto Bilge Switches, yay or nay?

What's been your experience with electronic bilge switches? I had bad luck with Witch Switch, and have a Johnson Ultima that works well so far. However I just read about some Ultima failures with the same symptom I experienced with the Witch Switch - sticking on. I recently needed one of the features of the Witch Switch and thought I would give it another try. My supplier told me he stopped carrying Witch Switch because they had issues, and they wouldn't warranty the product for more than a year. This guy would sell his mother for the right price, so they must have had a lot of "issues"! I'm aware of at least one SN member who has a Witch Switch and likes it. I like the concept (as opposed to float switches), however, I'm getting the idea the technology might not be ready for the marine environment. Thoughts?

Last edited by L124C; 01-27-2012 at 04:29 PM.
Reply With Quote Share with Facebook
  #2 (permalink)  
Old 01-27-2012
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 34
Rep Power: 0
JRA1968 is on a distinguished road
As a marine mechanic for many years I like the (kiss) theory. As one of the most important items on any boat a bilge pump sgould be maintained as every other safety item if not more . Most people dont check there bilge at all let alone keep it clean . I would say 75% of all boats that have sunk have so because debris was lodged in the pump impeller. We have always used the 3rd wire type float pumps so that you can override the float with a manual switch when needed . Cheers and strong winds
Reply With Quote Share with Facebook
  #3 (permalink)  
Old 01-27-2012
sawingknots's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: currently watts bar lake tn
Posts: 929
Rep Power: 8
sawingknots is on a distinguished road
yup bilge debris will eventually bite you on the a** and at the most unopportune time,i've yet to see a float switch that works everytime-all the time,almost every boat i've seen that the autobilge pump kicks on frequently sooner or later sinks,i don't like nor will i have anymore thru hulls than absolutely necessary and inspect those often,i keep my batteries off completely and no external power supply when i'm away,nothing is fool proof,everytime i approach my boat i'm relieved that its still floating
Reply With Quote Share with Facebook
Sponsored Links
  #4 (permalink)  
Old 01-27-2012
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Victoria b.c.
Posts: 555
Rep Power: 1
Capt Len is on a distinguished road
Since float switches are relatively inexpensive I mount two on a pump.at different levels. If the first one don't get you, the second one will.Actually there are three in a row as the top one is alarm. Debris in the pump is another issue but SS wire mesh boxes help with that.
Reply With Quote Share with Facebook
  #5 (permalink)  
Old 01-28-2012
L124C's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 924
Rep Power: 5
L124C is on a distinguished road
Thanks folks! But now....about those electronic bilge switches!
Reply With Quote Share with Facebook
  #6 (permalink)  
Old 01-28-2012
jimrafford's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: ct
Posts: 243
Rep Power: 2
jimrafford is on a distinguished road
I installed one on my power boat a couple years ago. I constantly found the pump stuck on when I checked on the boat. I switched it back to a float after a few months of that.
Jim
__________________
S/V Deja Vu
CS 40
Reply With Quote Share with Facebook
  #7 (permalink)  
Old 01-28-2012
hellosailor's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 7,087
Rep Power: 8
hellosailor will become famous soon enough hellosailor will become famous soon enough
If you mean the electronic switches that are "no moving parts" and rely on water touching two contacts/rods to turn on the switch?

PS tested a batch of them years ago, and found that eventually oil in the bilge would cause them to fail. They don't jam, but contamination apparently causes them to either false or fail making them no better or worse in the long run.

If you need one bilge pump with one float switch, you need two bilge pumps with two float switches, because everything in the bilge eventually fails. Usually at an inconvenient time.
Reply With Quote Share with Facebook
  #8 (permalink)  
Old 01-28-2012
MedSailor's Avatar
"Fairhaven" Formosa 41
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Anacortes PNW
Posts: 810
Rep Power: 5
MedSailor is on a distinguished road
Yay. DEFINATELY Yay.

Trust me, I'm a recovering wooden boat owner. (hands shaking as he types)

This is the one you want.

Whale Pumps Electric Field Sensor Switch WHA-BE9001 - Bilge Pumps And Accessories - JMSOnline.net Marine Supply and Boating Store

Also, do yourself a favor. ONLY buy Rule bilge pumps. They, well, "Rule." I went through several pumps in the 6 years I lived on my wooden boat. The two Rule pumps that came with the boat continued to function without a hitch despite the abuse I heaped on them. One of them was running dry for a week while I was out of town as an example.... This switch is the only one that lasted in my bilge as well.

MedSailor
__________________
"True, your boat will outperform mine to windward, but my boat will always outperform yours at anchor." --MedSailor
Reply With Quote Share with Facebook
  #9 (permalink)  
Old 01-29-2012
tdw's Avatar
tdw tdw is online now
Super Fuzzy Moderator
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Sydney Australia
Posts: 9,814
Rep Power: 8
tdw is a jewel in the rough tdw is a jewel in the rough tdw is a jewel in the rough
We have one on the Womboat , I'm ashamed to admit I forget the brand. I throw a bit of water into the bilge every now and then just to make sure and on one occasion it failed to kick in. Pulled it out and wiped the scum off it. Thats now a routine measure. Its never stuck on. Secondary pump is float. Both have manual overide.
__________________
..
Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others. Julius Henry Marx.
..
Reply With Quote Share with Facebook
  #10 (permalink)  
Old 01-29-2012
PBzeer's Avatar
Wandering Aimlessly
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Cruising
Posts: 14,607
Rep Power: 12
PBzeer has a spectacular aura about PBzeer has a spectacular aura about PBzeer has a spectacular aura about
Like Fuzzy, I have two pumps. A small Rule Auto at the lowest point of the bilge, and a larger, float type, about half way up. It has worked well for me. As was also said, any piece of mechanical equipment is only as good as how well you maintain it.
__________________
John
Ontario 32 - Aria

Free, is the heart, that lives not, in fear.
Full, is the spirit, that thinks not, of falling.
True, is the soul, that hesitates not, to give.
Alive, is the one, that believes, in love.
JCP


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
- Website & Blog

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote Share with Facebook
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Bilge Pump Switches Off danaka Gear & Maintenance 12 04-19-2010 10:01 AM
Manual to Auto bilge pump RocktheBoat Gear & Maintenance 0 06-23-2009 07:44 AM
Bilge Pump Switches Sailormann Gear & Maintenance 10 08-27-2007 12:26 PM
Rule Bilge switches DWrate Gear & Maintenance 6 08-15-2007 12:42 AM
A/C Light switches oz_hole Gear & Maintenance 4 06-15-2005 06:50 PM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:30 AM.

Add to My Yahoo!         
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.6
Copyright ©2000 - 2012, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
SEO by vBSEO 3.6.0 PL2
(c) Marine.com LLC 2000-2012