Replacing bilge, 2 wire vs. 3 wire

[JC6275]

@4x15mph
I am replacing the bikge in my LS2000, old pump was Rule 500gph has 2 wires 1 black , 1 brown, . The new replacement Rule 500 gph has 3 wires
1 black , 1 brown, and 1 brown with white stripe. Need some help, the wiring diagram shows the brown wire as "automatic" and the brown / white as "manual overide" and black as negative. So I only have 2 wires coming from the switch on the helm, do i connect the brown, and brown white together? Any help is appreciated.

 

[Bruce]

Connect to black and automatic.

 

[JC6275]

Got it.. thank you, I went to google and watched a video on the 3 wire Rule. Crazy though, I thought about posting here even before looking on "the google"

 

[4x15mph]

@JC6275, sounds like you got it. I don't remember the wiring specifically but given you are hooking this up to the switch up front and assuming you are not using a float switch, I would guess this is the "automatic" wire. The other wire gets capped off and test before closing up the bilge. When I did my secondary back up pump with float, I used the manual override by mistake which caused the pump to run continuously... thankfully I tested this.

Did you already close it up? You might consider adding a secondary that is activated by a float switch and always on. Add a second output to the side and you have twice the peace of mind.

 

[VONCE]

Looks like you have the answers you wanted. But it sounds like the brown/white manual override wire would hook to your switch - it would turn on the pump whenever you flipped the switch. Water in the bilge or not, it doesn't care and it will run when the switch is flipped. The brown wire would be hooked to a 12v constant supply. That way, the pump would come on when it sensed too much water in the bilge - whether the switch was on or off.

But you can leave it how you already have it - only connecting the switch to the automatic wire. But if you wire it this way, you should definitely keep the bilge switch on all times when the boat is in the water.

Hope that helps.

 

[JC6275]

Thankyou all, @4x15mph I read your post about adding the second pump, very good write up and idea. Adding a second is a bit more involved than I wanted to get. @VONCE , Thank you as well. I used the automatic wire, The bilge switch is part of my launch checklist, As soon as the boat is in the water that switch is on.

 

[VONCE]

Thankyou all, @4x15mph I read your post about adding the second pump, very good write up and idea. Adding a second is a bit more involved than I wanted to get. @VONCE , Thank you as well. I used the automatic wire, The bilge switch is part of my launch checklist, As soon as the boat is in the water that switch is on.

Gotcha. That's a good practice (using a checklist). I have a mental checklist, but an actual checklist on paper or a note on my phone would be even better. The way you wired it, the switch must be on for the automatic turn-on feature of the bilge to work. Remember that if/when you ever leave the boat floating while you aren't in it (camping, lakehouse, marina, etc) - don't turn the switch off until the boat is on the trailer!

 

[addisonm06]

If you drill a 2nd discharge port for your backup bilge, drill the hole to the STERN of the existing bilge outlet... Dont make my mistake and drill the hole in front of it or you will end up with a weekend migraine like myself!

 

[eticket]

@addisonm06, what was the problem with the forward location of the second bilge outlet? I've just installed mine that way and did not see any problems...am I in for a surprise later?

 

[addisonm06]

your boat might be different, but in my 2000 LS2000 directly in front of the existing bilge discharge is the fiberglass wall between the engine compartment and the bilge area... i happened to drill directly into the center wall. Made it extremely difficult to insert the 2nd bilge outlet and drain tube; i had to use a 90 degree elbow.

If your installed fine, there is no issue at all; i just noticed that this was in the LS forum and your boat is a different model. Grab a beer, go enjoy, don't worry!

 

[eticket]

@addisonm06 ... okay thanks, I should be good to go. Sorry to hear about your misfortune, glad you figured it out!

 

[addisonm06]

No worries, its the best way to learn, and warn others! lol