Bilge pump wiring

[tomcica]

Boat is 3700SCR. Forward bilge pump under sole just aft of V-berth won't work. No power to it. Bilge is always totally dry but would like to have pump functional. The pump located in bilge aft of fresh water tank works fine. Believe it might be on same circuit. Any idea where fault might be?

Tom Shideler
Channel Islands Harbor, CA

[shrew]

I doubt it's on the same circuit. I would expect that you have seperate helm switches to actuate the pump. I also suspect each pump has a dedicated float switch (whether it's internal or external). The first thing I'd do is check the circuit from the helm swith and the circuit from the float switch with a volt meter. More than likely the problem is a heavily oxidized ground. The ground is a common ground on boats.

[pascavone]

the switch should light up on the dash when it runs, our when your click the switch. if the switch is "hot", with a test light then it will be hot below.

your shower pump should be in the same location, and they share the same ground.

you can get a long jumper wire to the pump to see if it works, the Rule-magntic ones always gave me trouble, if your mount them too low, they don't shut off. so the jacobs have a typical mechincal "toilet bowl" float that easier to test....

most likely a fuse under the dash or a dead pump.

people like to poop on the wiring harness, but it the boat has not been sunk they are usually clean.

[seapuppy]

I'd also check the breaker at the dc panel...that should be pushed in.....then check the float sw. and the inline fuse...


SP

[mauiwaui]

Check fuse for corrosion/fault...my shower sump stopped working and fuse was good with corroded terminals. Start at fuses.

[dronthelake]

We have a 1998 3700. Each of the 3 bilge pumps has its own 7 amp circuit breaker under the cockpit sink and are feed power from the starboard (house) batteries. I have two rocker switches on the dash, one each for the aft and mid bilge pumps. I do not have a switch to activate the forward pump.