Bilge pump switches
 

Any suggestions for a bilge pump switch that will activate at about 1.5"
water level and shut of at less than 3/4"? Of course reliability counts.
I remember that everyone is unhappy with the Rule products.

thoughts, suggestions and experience appreciated

thanks
B

Bilge pump switches
 

Just get a switch and play with the height on a block of wood to achieve
the water depth you want. Then epoxy and install permanent with the wood
block epoxied in the bilge and the switch screwed to the block. Keeps it
from knocking around and works great for me. A 3/4" block of wood achieved
the results I wanted for my primary 750 gph which pumps out the cooling drip
from my shaft packing. Rule has good switch with panel which flashes a light
when pumping so you can have an idea of how often and long your pump is
running and warn you of a potential problem.


"Dazed and Confuzed" wrote in message
...
Any suggestions for a bilge pump switch that will activate at about 1.5"
water level and shut of at less than 3/4"? Of course reliability counts.
I remember that everyone is unhappy with the Rule products.

thoughts, suggestions and experience appreciated

thanks
B

Bilge pump switches
 

Brian wrote:

Just get a switch and play with the height on a block of wood to achieve
the water depth you want. Then epoxy and install permanent with the wood
block epoxied in the bilge and the switch screwed to the block. Keeps it
from knocking around and works great for me. A 3/4" block of wood achieved
the results I wanted for my primary 750 gph which pumps out the cooling drip
from my shaft packing. Rule has good switch with panel which flashes a light
when pumping so you can have an idea of how often and long your pump is
running and warn you of a potential problem.

"Dazed and Confuzed" wrote in message
...
Any suggestions for a bilge pump switch that will activate at about 1.5"
water level and shut of at less than 3/4"? Of course reliability counts.
I remember that everyone is unhappy with the Rule products.

thoughts, suggestions and experience appreciated

thanks
B



I guess I wasn't too clear in my request.

My problem is not the height, but rather lack of height. Due to the hull design,
I have no real "bilge" but rather only about 3" of collection area. I need a
switch which activates at about 1.5" from the bottom of the "bilge" and shuts
off at, ideally, zero. I can mount it to within about 1/4" of the bottom. I have
not found a switch that activate that low.

Not sure how to ask the question.


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Bilge pump switches
 

What size and type of vessel do you have? What size pump are you using? It
sounds like a small one is needed to achieve automatic pumping at such a low
water level. Maybe a float switch is not small enough for you.

By the way you can get a cheap automatic pump with the switch incorperated
into the pump at wal-mart or k-mart. I think that type of pump may better
suit your needs. I hope this helps.




"Dazed and Confuzed" wrote in message
...
Brian wrote:

Just get a switch and play with the height on a block of wood to
achieve
the water depth you want. Then epoxy and install permanent with the wood
block epoxied in the bilge and the switch screwed to the block. Keeps it
from knocking around and works great for me. A 3/4" block of wood
achieved
the results I wanted for my primary 750 gph which pumps out the cooling
drip
from my shaft packing. Rule has good switch with panel which flashes a
light
when pumping so you can have an idea of how often and long your pump is
running and warn you of a potential problem.

"Dazed and Confuzed" wrote in message
...
Any suggestions for a bilge pump switch that will activate at about
1.5"
water level and shut of at less than 3/4"? Of course reliability
counts.
I remember that everyone is unhappy with the Rule products.

thoughts, suggestions and experience appreciated

thanks
B



I guess I wasn't too clear in my request.

My problem is not the height, but rather lack of height. Due to the hull
design,
I have no real "bilge" but rather only about 3" of collection area. I need
a
switch which activates at about 1.5" from the bottom of the "bilge" and
shuts
off at, ideally, zero. I can mount it to within about 1/4" of the bottom.
I have
not found a switch that activate that low.

Not sure how to ask the question.


--

Don't like the looks of nudists? Complain to the manufacturer.

Bilge pump switches
 

On Sun, 25 Jan 2004 12:07:50 -0600, Dazed and Confuzed
wrote:

I guess I wasn't too clear in my request.

My problem is not the height, but rather lack of height. Due to the hull design,
I have no real "bilge" but rather only about 3" of collection area. I need a
switch which activates at about 1.5" from the bottom of the "bilge" and shuts
off at, ideally, zero. I can mount it to within about 1/4" of the bottom. I have
not found a switch that activate that low.

Not sure that you will find one. Most bilge pumps, certainly the Rule
line does not pump lower than 3/4 of an inch.Lower than that, they
suck air and lose suction. It is a problem especially for boats like
yours that evidently have have flat bilges.

Bilge pump switches
 

Brian wrote:

What size and type of vessel do you have? What size pump are you using? It
sounds like a small one is needed to achieve automatic pumping at such a low
water level. Maybe a float switch is not small enough for you.

By the way you can get a cheap automatic pump with the switch incorperated
into the pump at wal-mart or k-mart. I think that type of pump may better
suit your needs. I hope this helps.

"Dazed and Confuzed" wrote in message
...
Brian wrote:

Just get a switch and play with the height on a block of wood to
achieve
the water depth you want. Then epoxy and install permanent with the wood
block epoxied in the bilge and the switch screwed to the block. Keeps it
from knocking around and works great for me. A 3/4" block of wood
achieved
the results I wanted for my primary 750 gph which pumps out the cooling
drip
from my shaft packing. Rule has good switch with panel which flashes a
light
when pumping so you can have an idea of how often and long your pump is
running and warn you of a potential problem.

"Dazed and Confuzed" wrote in message
...
Any suggestions for a bilge pump switch that will activate at about
1.5"
water level and shut of at less than 3/4"? Of course reliability
counts.
I remember that everyone is unhappy with the Rule products.

thoughts, suggestions and experience appreciated

thanks
B



I guess I wasn't too clear in my request.

My problem is not the height, but rather lack of height. Due to the hull
design,
I have no real "bilge" but rather only about 3" of collection area. I need
a
switch which activates at about 1.5" from the bottom of the "bilge" and
shuts
off at, ideally, zero. I can mount it to within about 1/4" of the bottom.
I have
not found a switch that activate that low.

Not sure how to ask the question.


--

Don't like the looks of nudists? Complain to the manufacturer.



Thanks! I'll look at them there.




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Bilge pump switches
 

"P.C. Ford" wrote:

On Sun, 25 Jan 2004 12:07:50 -0600, Dazed and Confuzed
wrote:

I guess I wasn't too clear in my request.

My problem is not the height, but rather lack of height. Due to the hull design,
I have no real "bilge" but rather only about 3" of collection area. I need a
switch which activates at about 1.5" from the bottom of the "bilge" and shuts
off at, ideally, zero. I can mount it to within about 1/4" of the bottom. I have
not found a switch that activate that low.

Not sure that you will find one. Most bilge pumps, certainly the Rule
line does not pump lower than 3/4 of an inch.Lower than that, they
suck air and lose suction. It is a problem especially for boats like
yours that evidently have have flat bilges.

so I am finding out.

thanks


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Don't like the looks of nudists? Complain to the manufacturer.

Bilge pump switches
 

If I read you right, you also have a very small "bilge" volume. Another
issue you might need to consider is the volume of the hose from the bilge
pump. If there is no non-return valve ( and I'd not recommend one for
conventional impellor type pump if your bilges get the same assortment of
stuff as mine do ) then when the pump turns off the hose contents runs back.
So the minimum volume of bilge which will work with a centrifugal pump, hose
and float switch is starting to be more than just a few cups-full!

Again not knowing the application, you might be better off with a float
switch for an alarm and a manual pump - most of them incorporate valves.

David

"Dazed and Confuzed" wrote in message
...
"P.C. Ford" wrote:

On Sun, 25 Jan 2004 12:07:50 -0600, Dazed and Confuzed
wrote:

I guess I wasn't too clear in my request.

My problem is not the height, but rather lack of height. Due to the
hull design,
I have no real "bilge" but rather only about 3" of collection area. I
need a
switch which activates at about 1.5" from the bottom of the "bilge" and
shuts
off at, ideally, zero. I can mount it to within about 1/4" of the
bottom. I have
not found a switch that activate that low.

Not sure that you will find one. Most bilge pumps, certainly the Rule
line does not pump lower than 3/4 of an inch.Lower than that, they
suck air and lose suction. It is a problem especially for boats like
yours that evidently have have flat bilges.

so I am finding out.

thanks


--

Don't like the looks of nudists? Complain to the manufacturer.

Bilge pump switches
 

I use a groco air switch. A tube runs down into the bilge and the switch is
mounte 3' away. You can adjust the switch sensitivity to get it to do
whatever you want. It's basically a big diapharam switch like a washer uses
to sense when the tub is full.

--


Keith
__
Adult, n.: One old enough to know better.
"Dazed and Confuzed" wrote in message
...
Any suggestions for a bilge pump switch that will activate at about 1.5"
water level and shut of at less than 3/4"? Of course reliability counts.
I remember that everyone is unhappy with the Rule products.

thoughts, suggestions and experience appreciated

thanks
B

Bilge pump switches
 

Keith wrote:

I use a groco air switch. A tube runs down into the bilge and the switch is
mounte 3' away. You can adjust the switch sensitivity to get it to do
whatever you want. It's basically a big diapharam switch like a washer uses
to sense when the tub is full.

--

Keith
__
Adult, n.: One old enough to know better.
"Dazed and Confuzed" wrote in message
...
Any suggestions for a bilge pump switch that will activate at about 1.5"
water level and shut of at less than 3/4"? Of course reliability counts.
I remember that everyone is unhappy with the Rule products.

thoughts, suggestions and experience appreciated

thanks
B



cool. I'll look for them and see if I cam make them work for me...


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Don't like the looks of nudists? Complain to the manufacturer.