2nd bilge pump versus bilge alarm?

[Dave burke]

I did something similar but added a fuse between the auto wire and the battery. Works totally fine.

 

[Beachbummer]

Check the new full load and breaker and cable size just in case. Nothing like the breaker tripping at 3 minutes under load while you are taking in water to make you realize something's wrong.

 

[Cambo]

Any one reading this spend $20 on these cheap alarms they work great and should be a mandatory safety item. Hang the sensor 2'' above the bilge pick up and any time you open the engine hatch wet your fingers and touch the sensor to confirm its working. Its loud and you can hear the alarm with the siren zip tied in the engine compartment 5 minute install. Take the extra alarms and put them in your house under the sink base or basement by the hot water tank


Link below

Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

 

[1BadTundra]

Any one reading this spend $20 on these cheap alarms they work great and should be a mandatory safety item. Hang the sensor 2'' above the bilge pick up and any time you open the engine hatch wet your fingers and touch the sensor to confirm its working. Its loud and you can hear the alarm with the siren zip tied in the engine compartment 5 minute install. Take the extra alarms and put them in your house under the sink base or basement by the hot water tank


Link below

Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

I have the float and alarm hardwired to my battery, but that won't do shit when I'm in a transient slip for the weekend and I begin to take water. I need that second bilge so I can sleep at night..

 

[Cambo]

I agree 2nd bilge pump is great for wet slipping but for the minimal cost of these electronic water detectors and ease of installation everyone should have one and especially with how many members post that the engine bay flooded. Not that the bilge pump wasn't working but the volume of water was more than it could handle I'm not sure a second bilge pump would help if say the scupper broke or the clean out port dislodged or even a water cooling hose popped loose I think all of these would be more incoming volume than out going. The water alarm siren would let you know that the bilge pumps aren't keeping up.

 

[Julian]

Let me resurrect this old thread... I am about to install a secondary bilge pump. Built in float switch. I want to wire it like this...
Neg-back to battery Negative
Manual wire- to oem bilge pump positive wire
Auto wire- straight to the battery

Anyone see a reason this might not work?

I just wired in a whole new switch to my 2nd bilge pump. Keeps it nice and clean and totally independent.

Here is a video I threw together of what I did.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

Check the new full load and breaker and cable size just in case. Nothing like the breaker tripping at 3 minutes under load while you are taking in water to make you realize something's wrong.

I test my bilge pumps at the beginning of the season and leave the hose pouring water in for a long while after the bilge pumps activate automatically. Between the oem 500 gph and 850 gph I added it will pump the water out faster than the hose can put it in.

 

[Julian]

I test my bilge pumps at the beginning of the season and leave the hose pouring water in for a long while after the bilge pumps activate automatically. Between the oem 500 gph and 850 gph I added it will pump the water out faster than the hose can put it in.

Cleaning the bilge screens and testing their operation should be on everyone's annual maintenance list.

 

[Babin Farms]

Any one reading this spend $20 on these cheap alarms they work great and should be a mandatory safety item. Hang the sensor 2'' above the bilge pick up and any time you open the engine hatch wet your fingers and touch the sensor to confirm its working. Its loud and you can hear the alarm with the siren zip tied in the engine compartment 5 minute install. Take the extra alarms and put them in your house under the sink base or basement by the hot water tank


Link below

Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

I have my alarm on a switch and would highly recommend it. If it goes off you’ll be under a lot of stress. The last thing you need while either trying to find the leak or get to safety is an alarm screaming at you. I always check to make sure my switch is on along with the OE bilge pump and blower before I launch.