Well, I've decided to go even higher tech. For just ten bucks more
than the SansSwithc that West Marine had, I've ordered their See Water
switch. This is a capacitive switch that is height adjustable so you
can fine tune the cut off level. The thing that sold me about it
though is that it doesn't sense oil or fuel. That way, if the fuel
tank springs a leak or a fuel line breaks, the bilge system won't pump
the whole mess overboard. Even if you have a lot of fuel oil floating
on top of the water, it will pump out the water and stop when it hits
the oil. Having seen the havoc of automatic bilge pumps emptying fuel
tanks into the harbor, I think this ten bucks is good insurance.

That's the theory anyway. I'll let you know how it actually works out

I'm really pondering Larry's suggestion to not have bilge pump cut
off switches and it seems to make sense. Turning off the bilge pumps
would be so rare that pulling the fuse wouldn't be a big deal and you
don't have to worry about someone turning everything off. I am going
with the two bilge pump system BTW. I'll probably wire one off of each
battery at the selector switch input through a fuse block with lights
as he suggest. That will also free up a switch in my limited panel for
something else.

The lights across the fuses is a great idea.

--

Roger Long