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Bilge Pump Float Switch

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kenfischer	Bilge Pump Float Switch		Lead	[-]
Posts: 225 10/26/09 15:42:44 Moderator	Tags : None Solaria (#906) came equipped with a SureBail float switch from the factory. It is a traditional float, but contains no mercury and is essentially a sealed system. Late this summer, it appeared to fail. The pump would not come on (as in, hey, that's a lot of water in the bilge!). It would work occasionally if I shook it just right, but couldn't be trusted. So we replaced it with the equivalent from West Marine, a SureBail E2. SureBail While on board last weekend, I noted a humming. The bilge pump was running endlessly. An investigation found that the electronics sealed in the float had burned through the plastic (what a wonderful smell). As we were headed home, and it was late evening, we put the live-aboard neighbor in charge of activating the bilge pump occasionally. The bilge pump is original, and seems to work fine. I'm inclined to take the switch back to WM and request a replacement. Before doing so, I thought I'd query the list of any similar experiences or opinions. Ken Fischer 2005 C42 #906 "Solaria" 3 Cabin Pullman, Fin Keel, Mast Furling Main, 155% Genoa Last Edited By: kenfischer 10/26/09 15:46:24. Edited 1 time.
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peter	same	#1	[url]	[-]
Posts: 313 10/27/09 03:19:45	I use two( redundancy ) rule switches and have never had a problem. Where is all the water coming from too ? For what it is worth the other switches use a big steel ball that rolls into two contacts. The contacts can carbon up or lose connectivity. I tend to like mercury switches as our boats are not aluminum. Last Edited By: peter 10/27/09 03:22:44. Edited 1 time.
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randybc		#2	[url]	[-]
Posts: 60 10/27/09 18:08:36	I had my float switch burn out on me last year (burned through as you described). It was a bit of a blessing because it taught me a valuable lesson. I'm about 1000kms from my boat and I had left it in late August. In early November I flew out to winterize the boat and found about a foot of water in the bilge. The float had shorted and caused the bilge to run continuously until it packed it in. In any event, I promptly hired a local yachtie who looks after absentee owners boats to check the boat on a weekly basis. Lesson learned. It turned out that it doesn't cost much since I save about $60 a month by not having to run the heater all of the time. My custodian turns the heater on only when it is really cold. Randy Pulis 2007 Catalina 42 #982 Knotty Buoy 2 Cabin Pullman
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ajchan		#3	[url]	[-]
Posts: 255 10/28/09 04:43:06	Interesting topic. The Surebail switch on Threepenny Opera burned out about a two years ago, but it had worked flawlessly up until it failed. I replaced it with a Johnson solid state switch because the Surebails were not available at the time. The Johnson worked OK but last spring it too quit working which surprised me since the old fashioned surebail went for almost 10 years. I replaced the Johnson with a Rule mechanical float switch, but I find that they tend to short cycle. I notice when the bilge comes on, it will turn on and off at least 6 times, and often more, before remaining off. I have tried moving the switches to different positions in the bilge, I've tried adding little shims to change the angle of the switch, but to no avail. I'm convinced that the short cycling burned out my original equipment Jabsco 1750 bilge pump, during the 6 weeks I left the boat unattended this summer. I scoured the internet looking for a solution, and I have settled on a Water Witch solid state switch that I bought from Defender for $40.99. Since I have just received it, the installation is still on my to do list but I'll report back on how well it works in the next few days. Addison Threepenny Opera 1999 C-42 MK II, 2CP Wing #640 http://the-voyages-of-threepenny-opera.blogspot.com/
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Capt Freddie	Bilge Pump Float Switch	#4	[url]	[-]
Posts: 20 11/09/09 16:45:52	My SureBail float failed also after only two seasons of use, for a reason I have yet to figure out. I replaced it with the same. My rule is two chances only for any failed piece of equipment to redeem itself before I make a change to something else. Next time it goes in the junk pile . . and I'll replace the entire set up with a Lovett Automatic Pump . .Lovett pumps are good enough for the Coast Guard so they're good enough for me. Capt Freddie Millipede #960
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