Bilge float switch wiring question

shadowrider

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Feb 19, 2009
Messages
195
I just purchased a pontoon boat with a mercruiser 3.0 . There is a waterline inside the motor pod, up to the alternator. I know this is not good. I decided to investigate the bilge float switch. To my dismay, it was bypassed and totally disconnected, bilge works off switch on dash. I found float to be defective so I am going to replace it. Can it be wired so that I can manually run it and have the float switch come automatically also ?
I still have to take the boat to water and observe how much water comes in and if bilge can keep up or if I need to spend some bucks to reseal. Thanks for your thoughts.
 

Silvertip

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 22, 2003
Messages
28,758
Re: Bilge float switch wiring question

Yes -- the float switch can be wired to an On-OFF-On switch to provide Manual, OFF, or AUTO function. Or you can simply keep the switch you have and have Manual and Auto functions. This requires that the float switch be wired directly to the battery rather than the AUTO position on a three position switch. There should be instructions with the switch that outlines either method.
 
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