satdaddy77
New member
My 2000 Stratos will not pump in auto; will pump in manual. Does it have a float? If so, where? Could it be the switch?
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Does it have a float? If so, where?
Could it be the switch?
If your boat is equipped with the Auto/OFF/Manual helm switch, and if you leave the boat unattended and moored, please understand that these are dangerous.
If you need more info, I'd be glad to explain why.
The draining of a battery is not the problem. If a bilge pump needs to remove water in our absence, let's give it all the battery power we can.
The issue is where the Auto/OFF/Manual helm switch receives it's power.
These typically receive power at the helm, which is dependant on the hull harness, which is dependant on the MBSS making a battery bank selection. When we leave our boats unattended, we usually turn the MBSS off. Now the helm power is also off, so how is the "Auto" mode able to power a float switch?
Answer: It cannot!
Even if this was a good idea, the other issue is remebering to leave it in the Auto Mode and/or accidentally bumping it off.
Rule 101: A main bilge pump "Float Switch" power should come from an "un-interruptible" power source..... I.E., Non-Switchable.
No matter how you slice it, no matter how you try to rationalize it......., this type of Auto/OFF/Manual switch is a bad idea.
These companies that make and sell these switches should be ashamed of themselves.
These are centrifugal type pumps...... if the impeller is submerged, they will pump water until the impeller is no longer submerged.i forgot to say that with the air pocket problem the bilge will have water but the pump is running but not primed...