This will seem an absurdly simple question - how can a light be installed to indicate when the freshwater pump is running? Probably should put one on the bilge pump too. Obviously, ( I think) it cannot just be on the positive line to the pump since that has power to it all the time. It has to be downstream of the switch.
On bilge pump that should be easy enough to do but the Freshwater pump has an integrally mounted pressure switch.
—
Bruce
Southern Comfort #1881
Tall rig, Wing Keel
Chesapeake Bay
Interesting question - I am working on my fresh water pump now and I will see if it can be detected when it runs. The pump on my boat vibrates fairly loud so you can always tell if it is running and it cycles on and off. Does anyone know how to burp the air out of the pressure sensor?
Haro Bayandorian, 1999 C36 MKII, Sail La Vie #1787, M35B(link is external),
Coyote Point, San Mateo, CA.
Since upgrading to a larger pump from the factory installed version, which is isn't enough to run an electric head, the 5.2GPH Shurflo is very quiet and sometime may run without my hearing it. That's why the question. On the smaller pump you are exactly right!
Bruce
Southern Comfort #1881
Tall rig, Wing Keel
Chesapeake Bay
Bruce,
Have a look at your water pump pressure switch. There should be two wires attached to it. One will be the 12volt supply from your panel, the other will be power to the pump motor. Splice a wire into the one that goes to the pump motor and connect it to your warning light. Don't forget to put a 1 amp fuse in the wire to the light, close to the pump, to protect the wire. When the pressure switch operates to put power on the motor, it will also put power to the light. Hope this helps.
Tom & Janis Grover
C36 #0949
SR/WK, M25XP
Midland, ON
Bruce,
Use an LED with the appropriate resistor (if necessary) and you can probably skip the fuse, that circut is already protected by a fuse at the circuit breaker/fuse panel. If using a single LED indicator, the draw is so negligible that the additional draw will not matter.
Mark Kozy
"COLDWATER"
1999 C36 MK2 #1742 FK/M35B
Vallejo Yacht Club-Oldest on the West Coast
Boat lives in Marina del Rey, CA (SOCAL)
I live in Placerville, CA (NORCAL)
[QUOTE=tgrover;16452]Bruce,
Have a look at your water pump pressure switch. There should be two wires attached to it. One will be the 12volt supply from your panel, the other will be power to the pump motor. Splice a wire into the one that goes to the pump motor and connect it to your warning light. Don't forget to put a 1 amp fuse in the wire to the light, close to the pump, to protect the wire. When the pressure switch operates to put power on the motor, it will also put power to the light. Hope this helps.[/QUOTE]
That's what i needed to know but but will have to look at the pump ( on the boat which is comfortably freezing down in the boatyard for a few weeks) . The pressure switch is integral to the pump so need to look carefully at that. to see where to get to aforesaid wires. Has anyone ever had a shurflo pump apart in this area?
The LED is an excellent suggestion. Many thanks!
Bruce
Southern Comfort #1881
Tall rig, Wing Keel
Chesapeake Bay
The LED (12 Volt one, Radio Shack for a buck or so) wiring needs to be fused on the positive side near the pump, Bruce.
Larry Brandt
S/V High Flight #2109
Pacific Northwest, PDX-based
2002 C-36 mkII SR/FK M35B