Folks:

After scanning so many treatments on the float switch issue, I think I didn't see any that
mentioned my setup. If I did, please disregard and accept my apology. I bought a
small bilge pump at West Marine, I think. I honestly cannot remember even the brand
name for sure, yet believe it actually is a WM model. It has no float switch--but an
electronic timer that cycles it on every two minutes, and some sensor that knows by the
load change if the vanes are being resisted by water. I hear the damned thing cycle for
about a second every two minutes, and shut off immediately if it encounters no
water...it's not loud or even obstrusive but I find myself already trained to notice it....

It's been there a year, hasn't failed yet, and regularly pumps the bilge sump dry after a
shower or bilge rinse.

I'll verify the make/model asap and report it here soonest

Cheers-

Boyd
32 ft Motorsailor, Baltimore


alternative could be:

http://www.penguineng.com/wwitch/wwitch.htm



Oliver Fleming wrote:
Hi,
I am sure this has been covered before but I cannot find it
on google.

However I am sick of replacing bilge pump switches. ( I have a
shed full of floats!)

I thought to seal a mercury switch and put it on the float when
the float goes up the pump comes on (through a good relay)

However the switch comes on the pump runs for a very short time
and just clicks on and off driving the relay crazy.
I need to have a delay that will keep the relay pulled in say
5 to 10 seconds before dropping out and resetting.
Anyone have an idea or circuit that will do this for me.
Thanks
Oliver Fleming