"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 20 Dec 2006 20:54:11 -0800, "Bill Andersen"
wrote:

How can I test the automatic function of my bilge pump/switch?
I installed a 750 GPM West Marine bilge pump conrolled by an
Automatic/Off/Manual switch.
The pump works in the Manual position. How can I check it in the Automatic
position?
I didn't wire the Automatic function correctly the first time: I flooded
the
bilge at the wash rack (trailered boat) and the pump didn't work, even
though the switch was in Automatic. I selected Manual and it drained the
bilge quickly.
I really don't want to have to trailer it to the wash rack and flood the
bilge again if I don't have to.

Ok, couple of things.

The float switch may be separate from the pump it 'self - it should
look like a little box kind of thing sitting at the bottom of the
bilge. On my Contender and the Ranger, that's the float switches were
set up. there are bilge pumps that have internal float switches.

As I'm sure you know, the float switch is basically a relay which has
one side powered with a switch making/breaking contact to start the
bilge pump motor.

The way I've tested it is to put the float switch in to a small
container (like a plastic butter container or a small bread pan - you
could use a pan of water) and see if the auto bilge motor turned on.
You don't want to let it run for long without water by the way. If
you don't have an external float switch, but an integral one, just put
the pump into a pan of water.

If it doesn't work then, you have a wiring problem.

Or just gently lift the float or float arm of the switch upward. The bilge
pump should turn on, then turn off when you lower the arm (or float). Some
types have a little knob on side that you can turn to test.