Bilge Pump Question

[The Black Widow]

Ok, so I know this is a really stupid question that I should already know the answer to but I am going to ask it anyway.

With an auto bilge pump, do you need to always keep the switch on the control panel in the on position to have the auto function work or is that just for the manual use? It does not have a separate float switch.

[chpthril]

Auto is truly auto. The bilge is a 3 wire motor. One wire is the ground, one wire comes through the switch for manual operation and the 3rd wire is wired directly to the battery and goes through the float. When the water level in the bilge raises the float, the pump should run. It should also illuminate the LED in the switch to notify the captain that the pump is on. The float is internal of the pump body.

[Vicseek]

So if I heard a slapping noise and looked to see the water in the bilge getting tossed around by the fan belt my float may be bad?
Yeah this happened last weekend, noticed a noise and looked..bam..6in of water. Had to turn on the bilge to get it all pumped out. Looks like I’ll have to troubleshoot the float?

btw.. I think I have some sort of leak from the Enzo since I only take on water when I have the surf sac totally filled up.