Bilge pump service help needed

[Coastiejoe]

So you are saying if the ski is on the trailer for a week, the pump will still search for water and wear down the battery.

Many pumps are designed to by cycling pumps. So are wired to operate ONLY when the motor is running and other run 100% of the time. Thus, the direct wired will cycle at whatever rate they are programed to cycle. So yes, they will kill the battery over time.

Conflicting concerns. If you wire it to have power when the motor is running, the it is not safe at the dock while not running... The other option, come back to a dead battery.

I would suggest wiring them to a float switch. This way they will not operate if there is no water. Therefore not kill the battery. If there is water, the pump will cycle...

 

[LouDoo]

That's why you have the on/off switch, but yes if you forget to turn the bilge switch to off and leave it on the trailer for a week, then you will most likely have a dead battery.

Lou

 

[Seadoobuddy]

Thanks guys,
I knew my old pump would only cycle on when the engine is running...same pump as I have now Rule500.
Some of the comments here and what Brad said to me was confusing, but i got it under control now

Although what Brad said that the pump is running as soon as you connected the harness didn't make sense, I assume he wired it right to "Hot" and bypassing the "pump on at the motor running only mode" .

but I'll install the switch and be careful about turning it on/off.