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Subject: TWL: bilge pump switch failures/ bilge alarms
From: Charles Culotta (cculotta@XXX.XXX)
Date: Fri Jan 03 2003 - 21:58:58 EST
. Is
> it important to have a high water alarm. If not, why?
> If important what becomes the critical criteria. Does it matter at what
> height the high alarm is mounted.
> How do you determine such a significant height; if there is one?
Arild,
This is the way I solved your query:
First, I have used the " inexpensive" Rule switches for over 25 yrs and have
had 2 fail in that time. Most of those years I have had more than one or
two in service at a time.
Two, a high water alarm is , in my opinion, a necessity on a boat that I
am going to sleep on!
Wiring it is very simple. Even with a lamp and a bell. You don't have to
purchase a kit all of the parts are off the shelf.
Three: I mounted a large Rule plastic pump, I think 3200 gph , along with
its float switch , just above the top of the working bilge pump as it ( the
working pump) sits in a well that holds abt 5 gallons .
This keeps the emergency pump just out of normal bilge water .
It came on one time only in Hurricane Andrew.
This pump requires a 20 amp fuse and has an 1.5 inch discharge.
I DO NOT have an on/off switch on the pump, so that it is worm
proof!!!!
I do have a switch on the BELL . If I am not there it need not ring
continuously running down the battery. My boat was not in a marina for the
first 15 yrs that I have had it so there was no one around to hear a bell.
It is now at my home. But-- even it it rings I doubt that we would hear it.
I would see water being pumped--- If we are at home.
By the way use a buzzer and not a bell as a bell will overheat and blow the
fuse. Don't ask just how I know this. Even with a buzzer it might be better
to have a low amp fuse to it so that after a few minutes that fuse burns and
cuts off ONLY the buzzer. I do have a separate low amp fuse on my bell
that burns in abt 30 seconds and silences the alarm
For what it is worth this is my experience.
CCC
M/V CC RIDER
CHARLES and PAT CULOTTA
Patterson, La.
http://www.geocities.com/charlesculotta/
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