[C320-list] Mystery

[Chris Burti]

My breakers are set on on a feed buss, but the bilge pump is last in line,
so it is very likely that it  is separated and fed directly as well. As I
was trying to explain from memory, I noted that it might not be literally
accurate.

On Fri, Jul 18, 2008 at 9:26 AM, Scott Thompson <sthompson at toad.net> wrote:

> Chris:  On my boat, but maybe not on others, there is no hot wire from
> distribution panel bus to the breaker.  Instead the bilge pump breaker has a
> completely separate feed from the battery 1 post on the back of the battery
> selector switch.  This is so the bilge pump can run even when the battery
> selector is set to off.
>
>
> Chris Burti wrote:
>
>> You likely have a short circuit.
>>
>> There are two somewhat separate circuits that can operate your pump and
>> the
>> following is how mine is wired, if not literally, at least electrically.
>>
>> One ground wire to the pump, common to both, so that is not the likely
>> culprit.
>>
>> One hot wire from the distribution panel bus to the breaker to the switch
>> and then from the switch's manual pole to the pump creating a switched
>> circuit for manual operation, again based on your symptoms, not a likely
>> culprit.
>>
>> A second hot wire from the 'Auto' pole (bypassing the switch itself) to
>> the
>> float switch and then to the pump. This stays hot at all times the breaker
>> is on powering the pump whenever water rises in the bilge. Since the
>> breaker
>> in your case throws only when the float switch operated, the short is most
>> likely in the float switch or in the wire between the switch and the pump
>> (my bet is on the wire or connections).
>>
>> I'd guess the battery change may be more coincidental than causal.
>>
>> On Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 11:40 AM, <hcreech at comcast.net> wrote:
>>
>> OK, I need to solicit the aid of those on the list that send out posts
>>> regarding electrical problems.  You know who you are, the one's that send
>>> out posts that I, and I suspect, very few on the list understands.
>>> Here is my mystery:  coincidental to the replacement of one of my
>>> batteries, the circuit breaker that controls the bilge pump tripped when
>>> ever the float switch activated.  I could reset the breaker and turn the
>>> switch on and the pump would work fine, but again every time the float
>>> switch activated in the auto position the breaker would trip again.  I
>>> assumed, wrongly, that the float switch itself was the culprit, and I
>>> replaced it.  No good, still trips.  Therefore I am at a loss to figure
>>> out
>>> what is the exact cause.
>>> This is why I need your help, as I said, you know who you are!
>>>
>>> Sincerely,
>>> Herb Creech
>>> Cloud Chaser #606
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>


-- 
Chris Burti
Farmville, NC