Empathy List Archives

AT

Al Thomason

Sat, Sep 21, 2019 8:31 PM

OK,

It has gotten to the point where I am needing to replace these Rule bilge
pump switches every year or two. Our shower sump uses a Rule #35, and now
regularly fails every year. Just last week the BP switch in the lazarette
failed. Only 2 years old and bad timing with the approaching rains.

Seems they have gotten worse over the years.

Does anyone have a suggestion on a switch, or a way to install them, so that
we do not end up with in effect a consumable?

Thanks,

-al-

OK, It has gotten to the point where I am needing to replace these Rule bilge pump switches every year or two. Our shower sump uses a Rule #35, and now regularly fails every year. Just last week the BP switch in the lazarette failed. Only 2 years old and bad timing with the approaching rains. Seems they have gotten worse over the years. Does anyone have a suggestion on a switch, or a way to install them, so that we do not end up with in effect a consumable? Thanks, -al-

PL

Phil Little

Sat, Sep 21, 2019 9:18 PM

Install a diode around the switch, blocking current in the pump direction. Then when the switch contacts break at shutoff, the high current caused by the back emf from the collapsing field around the pump windings just bypasses the switch contacts, and not cause a destructive arcing.
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flyback_diode for the general theory.
Been there, done that. Works!
Phil Little

On Saturday, September 21, 2019, 04:32:11 PM EDT, Al Thomason via Trawlers-and-Trawlering <trawlers@lists.trawlering.com> wrote:

OK,

It has gotten to the point where I am needing to replace these Rule bilge
pump switches every year or two. Our shower sump uses a Rule #35, and now
regularly fails every year. Just last week the BP switch in the lazarette
failed. Only 2 years old and bad timing with the approaching rains.

Seems they have gotten worse over the years.

Does anyone have a suggestion on a switch, or a way to install them, so that
we do not end up with in effect a consumable?

Thanks,

-al-

http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/trawlers_lists.trawlering.com

To unsubscribe or modify your subscription options (get password, change email address, etc) go to: http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/trawlers_lists.trawlering.com
Trawlers & Trawlering and T&T are trademarks of Water World
Productions. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

Install a diode around the switch, blocking current in the pump direction. Then when the switch contacts break at shutoff, the high current caused by the back emf from the collapsing field around the pump windings just bypasses the switch contacts, and not cause a destructive arcing. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flyback_diode for the general theory. Been there, done that. Works! Phil Little On Saturday, September 21, 2019, 04:32:11 PM EDT, Al Thomason via Trawlers-and-Trawlering <trawlers@lists.trawlering.com> wrote: OK, It has gotten to the point where I am needing to replace these Rule bilge pump switches every year or two. Our shower sump uses a Rule #35, and now regularly fails every year. Just last week the BP switch in the lazarette failed. Only 2 years old and bad timing with the approaching rains. Seems they have gotten worse over the years. Does anyone have a suggestion on a switch, or a way to install them, so that we do not end up with in effect a consumable? Thanks, -al- _______________________________________________ http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/trawlers_lists.trawlering.com To unsubscribe or modify your subscription options (get password, change email address, etc) go to: http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/trawlers_lists.trawlering.com Trawlers & Trawlering and T&T are trademarks of Water World Productions. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

TL

T&T List

Sat, Sep 21, 2019 9:44 PM

You’re not alone. I kept a spare pump & switch in inventory - Rule - garbage switch. No mercury, no reliability. Here’s the answer: https://www.ultratef-gel.com/product/ultra-bilge-pumpswitch-junior-2432volt/
Now you did say your objective is a switch you won’t have to replace, then look no farther than the USS switch. Spendy, but you did say you want a switch that’s not a consumable, this fits the bill!
Guarantee it will easily outperform the rule switches on a cost analysis, notwithstanding the aggravation of having to constantly replace failed switches.
Highly recommend.
Sent from my iPad
Steve Sipe

Sent from my iPad

On Sep 21, 2019, at 4:31 PM, Al Thomason via Trawlers-and-Trawlering trawlers@lists.trawlering.com wrote:

OK,

It has gotten to the point where I am needing to replace these Rule bilge
pump switches every year or two. Our shower sump uses a Rule #35, and now
regularly fails every year. Just last week the BP switch in the lazarette
failed. Only 2 years old and bad timing with the approaching rains.

Seems they have gotten worse over the years.

Does anyone have a suggestion on a switch, or a way to install them, so that
we do not end up with in effect a consumable?

Thanks,

-al-.

You’re not alone. I kept a spare pump & switch in inventory - Rule - garbage switch. No mercury, no reliability. Here’s the answer: https://www.ultratef-gel.com/product/ultra-bilge-pumpswitch-junior-2432volt/ Now you did say your objective is a switch you won’t have to replace, then look no farther than the USS switch. Spendy, but you did say you want a switch that’s not a consumable, this fits the bill! Guarantee it will easily outperform the rule switches on a cost analysis, notwithstanding the aggravation of having to constantly replace failed switches. Highly recommend. Sent from my iPad Steve Sipe Sent from my iPad > On Sep 21, 2019, at 4:31 PM, Al Thomason via Trawlers-and-Trawlering <trawlers@lists.trawlering.com> wrote: > > OK, > > > > It has gotten to the point where I am needing to replace these Rule bilge > pump switches every year or two. Our shower sump uses a Rule #35, and now > regularly fails every year. Just last week the BP switch in the lazarette > failed. Only 2 years old and bad timing with the approaching rains. > > > > Seems they have gotten worse over the years. > > > > Does anyone have a suggestion on a switch, or a way to install them, so that > we do not end up with in effect a consumable? > > > > Thanks, > > -al-. >

AT

Al Thomason

Sun, Sep 22, 2019 7:02 PM

Snubber diode! Am a bit embarrassed I had not thought of that, what with the change to mechanical switches!

Will add one to the shower sump (We cannot change that switch out as the box is made around the Rule).

Will also look into the WWitch and Ultra for the aft dewatering pump. Getting tired of having the water flow through the boat to a mid-ship pump.

Thanks to all for the quick ideas and replies!

-al-

From: Phil Little [mailto:plittle2005@yahoo.com]
Sent: Saturday, September 21, 2019 2:19 PM
To: trawlers@lists.trawlering.com; Al Thomason
Subject: Re: T&T: Rule BP switches

Install a diode around the switch, blocking current in the pump direction. Then when the switch contacts break at shutoff, the high current caused by the back emf from the collapsing field around the pump windings just bypasses the switch contacts, and not cause a destructive arcing.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flyback_diode for the general theory.

Been there, done that. Works!

Phil Little

On Saturday, September 21, 2019, 04:32:11 PM EDT, Al Thomason via Trawlers-and-Trawlering trawlers@lists.trawlering.com wrote:

OK,

It has gotten to the point where I am needing to replace these Rule bilge

pump switches every year or two. Our shower sump uses a Rule #35, and now

regularly fails every year. Just last week the BP switch in the lazarette

failed. Only 2 years old and bad timing with the approaching rains.

Seems they have gotten worse over the years.

Does anyone have a suggestion on a switch, or a way to install them, so that

we do not end up with in effect a consumable?

Thanks,

-al-

http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/trawlers_lists.trawlering.com

To unsubscribe or modify your subscription options (get password, change email address, etc) go to: http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/trawlers_lists.trawlering.com

Trawlers & Trawlering and T&T are trademarks of Water World

Productions. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

Snubber diode! Am a bit embarrassed I had not thought of that, what with the change to mechanical switches! Will add one to the shower sump (We cannot change that switch out as the box is made around the Rule). Will also look into the WWitch and Ultra for the aft dewatering pump. Getting tired of having the water flow through the boat to a mid-ship pump. Thanks to all for the quick ideas and replies! -al- From: Phil Little [mailto:plittle2005@yahoo.com] Sent: Saturday, September 21, 2019 2:19 PM To: trawlers@lists.trawlering.com; Al Thomason Subject: Re: T&T: Rule BP switches Install a diode around the switch, blocking current in the pump direction. Then when the switch contacts break at shutoff, the high current caused by the back emf from the collapsing field around the pump windings just bypasses the switch contacts, and not cause a destructive arcing. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flyback_diode for the general theory. Been there, done that. Works! Phil Little On Saturday, September 21, 2019, 04:32:11 PM EDT, Al Thomason via Trawlers-and-Trawlering <trawlers@lists.trawlering.com> wrote: OK, It has gotten to the point where I am needing to replace these Rule bilge pump switches every year or two. Our shower sump uses a Rule #35, and now regularly fails every year. Just last week the BP switch in the lazarette failed. Only 2 years old and bad timing with the approaching rains. Seems they have gotten worse over the years. Does anyone have a suggestion on a switch, or a way to install them, so that we do not end up with in effect a consumable? Thanks, -al- _______________________________________________ http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/trawlers_lists.trawlering.com To unsubscribe or modify your subscription options (get password, change email address, etc) go to: http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/trawlers_lists.trawlering.com Trawlers & Trawlering and T&T are trademarks of Water World Productions. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

BM

Bob McLeran

Sun, Sep 22, 2019 10:26 PM

I'm a firm believer in using a solenoid to trigger the pump; a float
switch triggers the solenoid (I use an electronic float switch). Cuts
out the higher current draw flowing to the pump directly through the
float switch. They'll last forever (even a Rule), using a solenoid, and
the solenoids are inexpensive.

<><><><><><><><><><><><>Mozilla Thunderbird<><><><><><><><><><>
Bob McLeran and Judy Young Manatee Cove Marina
MV Sanderling Patrick Air Force Base
DeFever 41 Trawler for sale Melbourne, Florida
Blog: http://mvsanderling.net/Blog
Web: http://cruising.mvsanderling.net/

I'm a firm believer in using a solenoid to trigger the pump; a float switch triggers the solenoid (I use an electronic float switch). Cuts out the higher current draw flowing to the pump directly through the float switch. They'll last forever (even a Rule), using a solenoid, and the solenoids are inexpensive. <><><><><><><><><><><><>Mozilla Thunderbird<><><><><><><><><><> Bob McLeran and Judy Young Manatee Cove Marina MV Sanderling Patrick Air Force Base DeFever 41 Trawler for sale Melbourne, Florida Blog: http://mvsanderling.net/Blog Web: http://cruising.mvsanderling.net/

LT

larry talley

Mon, Sep 23, 2019 4:11 PM

I've installed three water witch switches over the last couple of
years, so far they seem to me to be more reliable than rule switches.

https://www.fisheriessupply.com/water-witch-bilge-pump-switch

On Sat, Sep 21, 2019 at 12:32 PM Al Thomason via
Trawlers-and-Trawlering trawlers@lists.trawlering.com wrote:

OK,

It has gotten to the point where I am needing to replace these Rule bilge
pump switches every year or two. Our shower sump uses a Rule #35, and now
regularly fails every year. Just last week the BP switch in the lazarette
failed. Only 2 years old and bad timing with the approaching rains.

Seems they have gotten worse over the years.

Does anyone have a suggestion on a switch, or a way to install them, so that
we do not end up with in effect a consumable?

Thanks,

-al-

http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/trawlers_lists.trawlering.com

To unsubscribe or modify your subscription options (get password, change email address, etc) go to: http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/trawlers_lists.trawlering.com
Trawlers & Trawlering and T&T are trademarks of Water World
Productions. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

I've installed three water witch switches over the last couple of years, so far they seem to me to be more reliable than rule switches. https://www.fisheriessupply.com/water-witch-bilge-pump-switch On Sat, Sep 21, 2019 at 12:32 PM Al Thomason via Trawlers-and-Trawlering <trawlers@lists.trawlering.com> wrote: > > OK, > > > > It has gotten to the point where I am needing to replace these Rule bilge > pump switches every year or two. Our shower sump uses a Rule #35, and now > regularly fails every year. Just last week the BP switch in the lazarette > failed. Only 2 years old and bad timing with the approaching rains. > > > > Seems they have gotten worse over the years. > > > > Does anyone have a suggestion on a switch, or a way to install them, so that > we do not end up with in effect a consumable? > > > > Thanks, > > -al- > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/trawlers_lists.trawlering.com > > To unsubscribe or modify your subscription options (get password, change email address, etc) go to: http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/trawlers_lists.trawlering.com > Trawlers & Trawlering and T&T are trademarks of Water World > Productions. Unauthorized use is prohibited.