Should I only run my bilge pump when the engine is off...or can it run
safely when the boat is under power and running?

So far, I am using it only when the engine is not running but of
course it is probably draining my battery when I do so....

Andre

Should I only run my bilge pump when the engine is off...or can it run
safely when the boat is under power and running?


Your bilge pump should be capable of coming on at any time it is needed.
Running it underway is no different than running any other accessory.

Consider a float swtich to turn your pump on and off when needed, and wiring
the pump directly to the terminals of your house battery. If everything else is
swtiched "off" and you begin taking on water, the bilge pump will try to keep
up with the flooding until it runs out of juice.
Hopefully, someoby will notice the problem before it's too late.

On Fri, 15 Oct 2004 04:17:42 GMT, Ockmel
wrote:

Should I only run my bilge pump when the engine is off...or can it run
safely when the boat is under power and running?

So far, I am using it only when the engine is not running but of
course it is probably draining my battery when I do so....

Your bilge pump should work anytime it's needed. Battery run down is
a problem over long periods of time, but that can be eliminated by
using an onboard battery charger.

Take care.

Tom

"The beatings will stop when morale improves."
E. Teach, 1717

Also Sprach Ockmel :
Should I only run my bilge pump when the engine is off...or can it run
safely when the boat is under power and running?

It's OK either way. If you store your boat in the water, and you have an
automatic float switch, it's not a bad idea to install a cycle
counter. It counts each time your pump runs, so if you develop a small
leak at a fitting, you will see a large increase in the number of cycles
on the counter.

Dan

--
edv('Gravy!')

Questions:

What size boat do you have?

Do you trailer it or leave it in the water?

Is the pump running often? If so why? Usually only water from spray,
rain, or maybe a slow drip leak (as arround my drive shaft packing)
should be letting water into the boat.


Notes:

o Bilge pumps can & should be run whenever needed, whether underway, engine
on, or engine off.

o If you trailer the boat or otherwise take if out of the water when it's
not in use, a simple pump
with an On/Off switch that you manually control is sufficient.

o If the boat stays in the water unattended it's better to have a system
that can come on by itself.
The two ways most common to do that is a float switch that turns the pump
on or one of the
"computer" controlled pumps that come on every 20 seconds or so and then
stay on if they sense
they are pumping water.

o Either way, if you have a pump like the above, wire it direct to the
batter with an in-line fuse. In
other words, by-pass any main ON/OFF or A/B/ALL switch you have. This way
even if you
shut off the main switch the pump still works.

o Don't forget the in-line fuse if you wire direct to the battery.

o I also like to use di-electric grease when wiring to prevent corrosion.



They should be wired "direct" to the battery, with an in-line fuse.
o

"Ockmel" wrote in message
...

Should I only run my bilge pump when the engine is off...or can it run
safely when the boat is under power and running?


Bilge pumps can be run safely when the engine is running
and when the boat is moving. I don't know what you
think the problem might be with this. The electricity draw
is not a problem and the pumps are manufactured not
to create any electrical spark - if you're worried about
fumes in the bilge.


So far, I am using it only when the engine is not running but of
course it is probably draining my battery when I do so....





Andre

Should I only run my bilge pump when the engine is off...or can it run
safely when the boat is under power and running?


Your bilge pump should be able to run any time, underway, anchored,
docked, etc etc.

Marshall Banana wrote:
It's OK either way. If you store your boat in the water, and you have an
automatic float switch, it's not a bad idea to install a cycle
counter. It counts each time your pump runs, so if you develop a small
leak at a fitting, you will see a large increase in the number of cycles
on the counter.

A cycle counter is a good idea... so is an hour meter. A little red
light on the dashboard, or the electrical panel, or somewhere else where
you will see it & notice, is also a very good idea.

Some people hook up alarms to their bilge pumps, but I think this is
going a bit too far IMHO.

Fair Skies
Doug King

ockmel and his bilges:


-o Bilge pumps can & should be run whenever needed, whether underway, engine
on, or engine off.
o If you trailer the boat or otherwise take if out of the water when it's not
in use, a simple pump with an On/Off switch that you manually control is
sufficient.
o If the boat stays in the water unattended it's better to have a system that
can come on by itself. The two ways most common to do that is a float switch
that turns the pump on or one of the "computer" controlled pumps that come on
every 20 seconds or so and then stay on if they sense they are pumping water.
o Either way, if you have a pump like the above, wire it direct to the batter
with an in-line fuse. In other words, by-pass any main ON/OFF or A/B/ALL switch
you have. This way even if you shut off the main switch the pump still works.
o Don't forget the in-line fuse if you wire direct to the battery.
o I also like to use di-electric grease when wiring to prevent corrosion.
They should be wired "direct" to the battery, with an in-line fuse-jabadoodle


Bilge-All good advice above, to which I'd add that if you store your boat
"wet", it'd behoove you to also install an audio-visual alarm on a timer...you
want to attract attention to your unattended boat if your bilge pump runs too
long...it's sinking, y'know?

Hopefully, your marina will have an electric or even air powered submersible
pump or eductor.

Regards;
Mutiny is a Management Tool
Select Your Tattoo while Sober

Gary Warner wrote:

Questions:

What size boat do you have?

Do you trailer it or leave it in the water?

Is the pump running often? If so why? Usually only water from spray,
rain, or maybe a slow drip leak (as arround my drive shaft packing)
should be letting water into the boat.


Notes:

o Bilge pumps can & should be run whenever needed, whether underway, engine
on, or engine off.

o If you trailer the boat or otherwise take if out of the water when it's
not in use, a simple pump
with an On/Off switch that you manually control is sufficient.

o If the boat stays in the water unattended it's better to have a system
that can come on by itself.
The two ways most common to do that is a float switch that turns the pump
on or one of the
"computer" controlled pumps that come on every 20 seconds or so and then
stay on if they sense
they are pumping water.

o Either way, if you have a pump like the above, wire it direct to the
batter with an in-line fuse. In

Last weekend I purchased and installed an automatic bilge pump for our
recently acquired, but ancient, Starcraft "Holiday".

The pump has an internal float switch, and the packaging says "requires
a 3-way panel switch". That's because there are 3 wires emerging from
the pump - ground, 12v via float switch, and 12v direct to pump.

Since I had a 3-way panel switch (with integrated fuse holder) in my
junk box, I decided to install it as per manufacturers instructions.

I can see this coming in handy. The switch will normally be left in the
middle position (i.e. pump controlled by float). If the float ever
sticks in the on position, the pump can be turned off easily. If it
sticks in the off position, I can turn the pump on and drain the bilge
before retrieving the pump to clear the float switch.

Sunny

other words, by-pass any main ON/OFF or A/B/ALL switch you have. This way
even if you
shut off the main switch the pump still works.

o Don't forget the in-line fuse if you wire direct to the battery.

o I also like to use di-electric grease when wiring to prevent corrosion.



They should be wired "direct" to the battery, with an in-line fuse.
o

"Ockmel" wrote in message
...


Should I only run my bilge pump when the engine is off...or can it run
safely when the boat is under power and running?



Bilge pumps can be run safely when the engine is running
and when the boat is moving. I don't know what you
think the problem might be with this. The electricity draw
is not a problem and the pumps are manufactured not
to create any electrical spark - if you're worried about
fumes in the bilge.



So far, I am using it only when the engine is not running but of
course it is probably draining my battery when I do so....






Andre