I used a solid state switch for years. It worked well. Wasn't a Johnson
though, I beleive it was called a Water Witch" or something like that. It
was powered by the battery that powers the pump.

Doug

"Roger Long" wrote in message
news
Does anyone have any experience to report with the new solid state bilge
pump water sensors such as the Johnson Ultima? Sounds like a good, no
jamb, no cog, idea to me.

The Johnson switch appears to have only two wires and go in series in the
circuit. I'm durned if I can see then how it gets the power to run its
little brain when the pump isn't running unless it has a little
rechargeable battery in it some place. If your boat was really tight and
sat for a long time with dry bilges, could the switch then go to sleep and
not turn on if water got in?

I like the time delay feature. We have a wide bilge sump and, with run
back from the hoses, could end up with short cycling when the boat rolls.

--

Roger Long