bilge pump light setup?

[boatman37]

thinking it would be a good idea to install a warning light on the dash to let me know when the bilge pump kicks on. simple as locating the wire from the switch to the pump that goes hot when the float kicks on and then running a wire from that to a bulb on the dash? just think it would be a good idea to have as much warning as possible if my pump would kick on. i don't think it kicked on at all the whole year last year and hasn't yet this year but trying to be proactive

 

[kmarine]

My dad has a 1978 bayliner without an automatic bilge pump and has been lucky enough to have never needing one. mu bilge runs about every other day. adding a led light may indicate when it kicks in. on my boat one came from the factory in the switches. all you have to do is install the light on the back of the switch and to a ground, when the float switch activates and energizes the motor the switch leg will also. does your boat have rocker switches that can be swapped out for lit ones? I myself know the pump is rubbing because I can hear the water pumping. I am most concerned when it is not working.

 

[MH Hawker]

you need to find and fix the leak

 

[kmarine]

Mostly rain water and water thrown even with new pss dripless shaft seals are spinning. I have three bilge pumps in engine room for insurance. Spent years replacing every possible way for water entry including new barrier coat and paint. I have a special pump which kicks in when water is 1 1/2 inch deep to keep moisture out of engine room to control moisture.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

Not a bad idea. I always check the auto bilge before putting in or before leaving at the slip. I killed my battery when for some reason I flipped the manual bilge switch and found out the battery was dead after I went to flip the switch before launching only to realize she was already on for a week. A light may have helped maybe, maybe not. It has taught me to check my voltage before towing.

 

[tpenfield]

thinking it would be a good idea to install a warning light on the dash to let me know when the bilge pump kicks on. simple as locating the wire from the switch to the pump that goes hot when the float kicks on and then running a wire from that to a bulb on the dash? just think it would be a good idea to have as much warning as possible if my pump would kick on. i don't think it kicked on at all the whole year last year and hasn't yet this year but trying to be proactive

Unknown to me until I had bilge pump issues, but my boat is wired exactly that way, except the light is actually on the toggle switch. It is pretty hard to see in the daylight, and I did not notice it until I had problems with the pump and was checking things out. I have a thread here on iBoats (somewhere) that shows the wiring, once I finally figured things out.

 

[bruceb58]

If you have a switch that is available in a lighted version, you can install it and it will light up when the float switch turns the pump on.

 

[boatman37]

mine sounds similar to Teds. it is a small toggle switch with a green lighted tip but very small and nearly impossible to notice during the day. i am more concerned if i am on plane and say maybe a hose pops or something. i'm not going to be able to hear that pump running but would like to know as early as possible that there is an issue

 

[Bondo]

thinking it would be a good idea to install a warning light on the dash to let me know when the bilge pump kicks on. simple as locating the wire from the switch to the pump that goes hot when the float kicks on and then running a wire from that to a bulb on the dash?

Ayuh,.... That's exactly how it's done,.... You could use a spot light if ya really wanta "Notice" it, or an alarm,....

 

[gm280]

Those all sound like good ideas. Just remember that the light, whatever type you select to use, will also use up battery capability. So if you go that route, just be sure you are available to actually see the light if it turns on when you are not on the boat. Otherwise you are just draining the battery more. JMHO

 

[boatman37]

An audible alarm is also a possibility here. But as far as the battery goes, if we are not on it then it is plugged into shore power and on the charger. The only time it might be an issue would be if we were out on the water and it kicked on but I would hope that with 2 batteries we would be ok until we got help?

 

[bruceb58]

The amount of current the light is going to take compared to what the bilge pump is already drawing is a fraction

 

[tpenfield]

An audible alarm is also a possibility here. But as far as the battery goes, if we are not on it then it is plugged into shore power and on the charger. The only time it might be an issue would be if we were out on the water and it kicked on but I would hope that with 2 batteries we would be ok until we got help?

The bilge pump should be able to run on the batteries for at least as long as it takes to inflate the life raft