Look at the Ultra Safety Systems bilge switch. https://www.ultratef-gel.com/ultra-pump-switches/
It is contained in a tube so nothing will hold it in the on position. Extremely reliable switch. Dennis C. Sent from my iPhone > On Mar 14, 2020, at 10:24 AM, Charlie Nelson via CnC-List > <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: > > Thanks all for your replies--I might need to tighten the packing gland or > replace the packing material. > > My fear about leaving the auto bilge pump on is a result of a failed float > switch many moons ago: > > I was away from the boat between weekends (at least) and it may have been > several weeks and left both the bilge pump and battery charger on as I always > did. > > When I did get back to the boat, the bilge pump switch was on but it was not > running--so I initially thought it probably failed. I try to start the engine > and no joy--the battery was dead. > I check the charger, see that the AC power was on but the power converter > breaker on the instrument panel was off. Thus I start to check out the > Xantrex battery charger. > > As I open the lazarette to have a look, I get a distinct 'smoky' order. I > then notice that there is soot and a black 'spot' on the charger cover, near > one of the ventilation 'slots' of the charger. Apparently (?) the charger was > running continuously trying to keep the battery charged while something was > continuously discharging it. (Ultimately, I noticed that the float switch was > stuck in the high water position which led to these conclusions.) > > With the soot/spot on the cover, things got pretty hot within and near the > charger before the breaker went off. I figure I was pretty close to having a > fire start in the charger and the boat burning to the water line with no one > around. > > My thoughts may change but this episode put the fear of fire much higher on > my discomfort zone than a sinking. Further, I don't believe any of the small > bilge pumps that would 'fit' in my shallow bilge could keep up with any leaks > of a serious nature--shaft seal leaks and water down the mast excluded. > > Also, if it goes to the bottom I still have a boat, not a boat 'carcass' > burned to the water line! > > There are probably better methods of bilge pump/float switch installs that > might prevent a recurrence of the scenario above. Any lister suggestions > would be welcome. > > Ultimately the boat WAS protected by the AC circuit breaker in the charger > circuit, but not before something in the charger got hot enough to 'smoke'. > > For now, I have almost been 'burned' once and prefer to never get almost > 'burned' again! > > Charlie Nelson > 1995 C&C 36 XL/kcb > Water Phantom > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Thanks everyone for supporting this list with your contributions. Each and > every one is greatly appreciated. If you want to support the list - use > PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray >
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