Bilge pump operations question

[surroundsound64]

I'm testing everything on the boat since I just got it and haven't been able to take it out yet. We plan on leaving it in the water in a slip for 3 nights next weekend. When I toggle the master switch under the dash to bilge only, nothing happens. However, when I toggle the switch to on and press the bilge pump button (only, keypad still turned off) the pumps work. This does not seem right. ( I pumped water into the bilge area with a garden hose for this test.)

It seems like someone has messed with the wiring so nothing happens when the master is to bilge only. Am I supposed to be able to turn on the bilge pumps via the soft key when the master is on and the keypad is off?

Thanks

2000san btw

[dfoster]

If you have the "automatic" bilge pumps, you should hear them whir when you change to bilge only.

On my '04 SV211TE, I can turn it to bilge only, and hear them run for 5 seconds and then if it doesn't detect water (current draw of the pump) it stops. Then it goes into a cycle of every 4-5 minutes (don't remember the real time) it will whir again.

You should be able to put a meter on the pump connector and check the voltage.

Do your first test that worked: switch on, press bilge pump button, and you should see 12 volts. Then try it again on bilge only. If you don't see 12V, then the problem is the bilge only switch.

Not sure what to tell you if you do get 12V... then the problem is something weird in the pump and it should probably be replaced. It wouldn't make sense based on what you are describing, so I'm betting on the switch unless something is really different with a 2000 vs. my 2004.

Doug

[surroundsound64]

What you described is what it does when I push the pump button on the keypad with just the master switch to on, keypad still off. I hear them kick on for a few seconds then off. However, the green light on the keypad and red light on the master switch stay illuminated, indicating that 12v is being sent to the circuit. I assumed they operated on a float. You're saying they should cycle every few min to determine if there is water in the bilge?

[dfoster]

Based on what I've ready (someone else with a 2000 SAN can confirm) the auto bilge pumps were used from 2000 on. They don't have a float, but cycle on every couple of minutes. The pump has a current sense and if it really isn't pumping any water it will stop and then wait again for a couple of minutes.

If I am sitting in my boat on the dock with it in bilge only, this will happen every couple of minutes.

[surroundsound64]

This makes me think someone wired the pump to the wrong post. Thanks!

[surroundsound64]

Problem solved. Right off the bad I checked the circuit breaker, looked and felt set. Today, I pulled the panel to check the back side of the switch and found the breaker broken and recessed enough to look and feel set. Re-set the breaker and it works as advertised. I do need to order a new breaker thoigh, as the collar that the retaining nut screws to was broken.