Bilge pump wiring backwards?

[crazy charlie]

I should know this. Bilge pump failed and I grabbed what I had in garage just to empty shower water from bilge.Grabbed an attwood automatic .Did a quick connect till I get a. New pump.It won't prime.Will a pump run in reverse if I crossed pos and neg wires?

 

[cyclops222]

Is it 12 vdc ? Is your water deep enough ?

 

[crazy charlie]

Yes and barely enough

 

[matt167]

Brown is positive. It’s a simple electric motor so it’ll run backwards reversed

 

[crazy charlie]

Brown is positive. It’s a simple electric motor so it’ll run backwards reversed

Yep ,Im thinking that is what I did.Will take a look, thanks

 

[ratdude747]

Brown is positive. It’s a simple electric motor so it’ll run backwards reversed

Unless it's something really old like my 1976 Starcraft where brown is negative and "color" or white is positive. Already ran into this when splicing in a new fuel tank sending unit with the "industry standard" brown positive blue negative wire colors- not a problem for me, but perhaps for someone else, so I was sure to swap genders on the spade crimps so one isn't as tempted to get it backwards (correct is brown to blue, red to brown).

 

[matt167]

Unless it's something really old like my 1976 Starcraft where brown is negative and "color" or white is positive. Already ran into this when splicing in a new fuel tank sending unit with the "industry standard" brown positive blue negative wire colors- not a problem for me, but perhaps for someone else, so I was sure to swap genders on the spade crimps so one isn't as tempted to get it backwards (correct is brown to blue, red to brown).

Yup. I dunno when the standard came out but I noticed that my 1971 SC dash wiring wasn’t standard. It is now, since I used a 1986 donor boat and dash wiring

 

[crazy charlie]

NOPE!! Wired correctly and when wires are reversed.....nuttin.

 

[matt167]

NOPE!! Wired correctly and when wires are reversed.....nuttin.

Must have a diode on the motor. Would be used for voltage protection so that it didn’t spark while spinning down

 

[cyclops222]

It is very possible that your water depth is just to low. Happens Fill a large pot of water. Large enough to set the pump level on the bottom. Pull the hose off of the pump. Wires connected to run the pump. It should pump like crazy. It will toss water everywhere .

 

[crazy charlie]

This particular pump does not pull at low water levels I have discovered.I put a small portable pump at a low level and pumped the bilge water to the pump in question and it primed and pumped very well. I would not recommend an Attwood automatic pump if you want to pump water at low levels. It takes a decent depth to get primed to pump compared to any other rule pump I have ever had. Charlie.

 

[cyclops222]

A simple no parts cure. Is to run the boat at a steep bow up angle. Also turn the boat in the direction that pushes the water to the pump. Works all the time. I have window screen wrapped around the pumps. Prevents STUFF from clogging them.

 

[crazy charlie]

A simple no parts cure. Is to run the boat at a steep bow up angle. Also turn the boat in the direction that pushes the water to the pump. Works all the time. I have window screen wrapped around the pumps. Prevents STUFF from clogging them.

A fine suggestion....OR I can and will install the correct pump for that part of the bilge so it pumps when I want it to.As I already mentioned,Rule pumps will prime in much lower water level than this Attwood..Charlie

 

[cyclops222]

I have 1 of each brand. You are so correct.

 

[airshot]

It is very possible that your water depth is just to low. Happens Fill a large pot of water. Large enough to set the pump level on the bottom. Pull the hose off of the pump. Wires connected to run the pump. It should pump like crazy. It will toss water everywhere .

And lean in close and get a good look at the outlet port when you connect the wires, you will see if it works ! Couldn't help that thought when I read your post, might make a funny story.....

 

[crazy charlie]

And lean in close and get a good look at the outlet port when you connect the wires, you will see if it works ! Couldn't help that thought when I read your post, might make a funny story.....

Water depth was not too low....Attwood pump only primes in higher water levels. Too high for my preference.I don’t want any water in my bilge ,I surely don’t want several inches of bilge water before my pump will prime. Nope not me. Attwood is the wrong pump for me!!!