Skip to content

Can A Bilge Pump Drain A Battery

End of dialog window. My 16 foot runabout’s bilge pump will drain the group 24 battery in 2-3 months on the lift, with normal rainfall. I have two batteries, keep one in reserve, and put a charger on the other every month or so. If in the water, I’d keep a cover on the boat to reduce accumulation of water in the bilge.

The reason that the engine can drain the battery is that the engine uses electricity to operate the ignition system when the engine is running. If there is an issue with the charging system, then the engine will use up the battery to run. Once the battery is drained, the engine will shut off and won’t run!

Brand new battery should be fine for 8-10 days.

Because the bilge collects water, a bilge pump there to draw the water out. It will use pressure or suction to do this. Without a functioning bilge pump, your boat will be subject to flooding. Additionally, if you don’t maintain your bilge pumps the bilge water can get dirty and polluted.

Bilge pumps have 2 hot lead. 1 for the switch, and the other direct to battery and float switch. No if you turn off the battery, then hit the bilge it will not work.

What would cause boat battery to drain?

The reason that the engine can drain the battery is that the engine uses electricity to operate the ignition system when the engine is running. If there is an issue with the charging system, then the engine will use up the battery to run. Once the battery is drained, the engine will shut off and won’t run!

How long will a 12v battery run a bilge pump?

Brand new battery should be fine for 8-10 days.

What happens if you leave bilge pump on?

It’s all but impossible to keep water off of a boat after all. Because the bilge collects water, a bilge pump there to draw the water out. It will use pressure or suction to do this. Without a functioning bilge pump, your boat will be subject to flooding.

Does battery need to be on for bilge pump?

Bilge pumps have 2 hot lead. 1 for the switch, and the other direct to battery and float switch. No if you turn off the battery, then hit the bilge it will not work.

How do I find out what’s draining my boat battery?

Keep your battery switch ON and remove the cable connected to the positive terminal of your battery. Set your voltmeter to DC volts and measure the voltage between the disconnected cable and your battery’s positive terminal. If you get the rated battery voltages (12Volts in most cases), it means there is a short.

How do I find a short in my boat?

A major source of battery drain is setting the screen brightness too high. Either dial it back and keep it at a low setting all the time, or take advantage of the setting that enables the phone to automatically determine how bright the screen should be based on your surroundings.

What is the reason for battery drainage?

If you have a voltmeter, with the motor running, put the leads across the battery terminals and rev the engine to 2000 rpm and check the voltage. Again it should be between 13 and 15 volts DC. If it is, then charging system is working correctly.

What size battery do I need to run a bilge pump?

Most people go with sealed lead-acid (SLA) batteries because they are less expensive and waterproof, but they are heavier than some other options. Some folks would use a 5 amp/hour 12 V SLA for that pump, but I would go with a 3.3 Ah battery like this Werker: http://www.batteriesplus.com/product/32 …

How many amps does a 12 volt bilge pump draw?

Nominal Voltage: 12 Volt DC. Max. Current Draw: 4.8 Amps.

How much power does a bilge pump use?

24 Watts, 8 hours, 192 watt hours.

Should a bilge pump be wired directly to battery?

Your ‘main’ bilge pump should be wired seperatly to you ‘domestic battery’ and the switch set to ‘auto’, this will enable you to switch everything else off when you leave the boat/go home.

Should I leave my bilge pump switch on?

How and When Should You Turn on a Bilge Pump? The pump may have a float or switch to turn it on automatically when water collects in the bilge. This is especially important if the boat is kept in the water, as you’ll want the pump to activate after a heavy rain storm, for example.

Should you always run your bilge pump?

It should check for water every two minutes. Nothing should come out of the bilge unless it has been raining or you have been in rough water. Next time you have her on the trailer use a water hose to fill the bilge and watch for where it comes out of the hull. You can do this with less water if you park on a hill.

Will leaving bilge pump drain battery?

End of dialog window. My 16 foot runabout’s bilge pump will drain the group 24 battery in 2-3 months on the lift, with normal rainfall. I have two batteries, keep one in reserve, and put a charger on the other every month or so. If in the water, I’d keep a cover on the boat to reduce accumulation of water in the bilge.

Can a bilge pump catch fire?

An overheated motor caused by running dry–a stuck float switch, for instance–is about the only possible way that bilge pump failure could start a fire…and that’s HIGHLY unlikely because a) safety regs require all electric pumps to have internal switches that turn them off when the motor overheats, and b) the …

Should bilge pump be wired to battery?

Your ‘main’ bilge pump should be wired seperatly to you ‘domestic battery’ and the switch set to ‘auto’, this will enable you to switch everything else off when you leave the boat/go home.

More Answers On Can A Bilge Pump Drain A Battery

Will a Bilge Pump Drain Battery? – Captain for the Weekend

This is most common with bilge pumps that work using an auto-shut off system. If the auto shut-off electronic system malfunctions, the bilge pump may continue to run even though it is not needed. This can lead to the bilge pump draining your battery. So, let’s summarize. If you operate your bilge pump using your battery during normal …

How long before bilge pump kills battery? – iboats.com

A 4D wet cell battery will typically be rated at about 200 amp-hrs. So if you have a typical automotive size it will be rated much lower than this. Let’s say it is rated at 90 amp-hrs. You could run the bilge pump continuously for about 50 hours of two days. A Rule 2000 might be discharging 1500 gph.

6 Things That Drain Your Boat Battery [And What To Do About It]

If the radio is running all night, for example, there is a good chance that your battery will be gone by the time you get back to your boat in the morning. 2. The Bilge Pump Automatically Runs. While the bilge pump is a great feature that can keep your boat in tip-top shape, it does come at a cost.

Everything You Need to Know About Your Boat’s Bilge Pump

Your bilge pump should have a pumping capacity of at least 24 gallons per minute if your boat is under 65 feet. … In either case it should be wired directly to your battery with a fuse protecting the circuit. … wire and run drain line correctly online. Reply. wayne l robinson on May 24, 2022. should u be able to move the impeller in a small …

Battery Life for a bilge pump | YBW Forum

That kind of setup is common. You could measure the actual drain over a 24 hour period, which would give a better idea of what you need. It’s a common issue. 1 Apr 2019 … and mildly leaky wooden boats who find a small solar panel very useful with a bilge pump and car battery setup. Such boat still need looking at regularly though. 1 Apr 2019 …

How long will a full battery keep my bilge pump on for?

I would not rely on the stock bilge pump if I left my boat in the water unattended. I installed a new 500 GPM pump when mine died a few years ago. The one I purchased is a simple pump. I added a Water Witch electric switch. No drain on the battery like the OEM pump. I trust the electric switch more than I trust a mechanical float switch.

bilge pumps/switches/battery drain – Moyer Marine Atomic 4 Community …

bilge pumps/switches/battery drain Electrical. Moyer Marine Atomic 4 Community – Home of the Afourians > Discussion Topics > Electrical: bilge pumps/switches/battery drain

Bilge pump battery | Dedicated To The Smallest Of Skiffs

A small light 7 ah sealed lead acid deer feeder battery would give you theoretically 3.5 hours (7 ah / 2 a = 3.5 h) of capacity. You are probably looking at real world capacity of an hour or an hour and half. On the other extreme – a large group 27 deep cycle should have about 100 ah capacity. That would run your pump for two days (50 hours …

Should My Bilge Pump Be Wired to the Starter Battery or the House Battery?

Glad to know you are finding it informative. Choosing on which battery to run your bilge pump is NOT a black and white answer. You’ll ask 100 professionals, and probably 1/4 will say engine battery and another 3/4 will say house. It’s my professional recommendation to wire the bilge pump to the house battery. – Jeff.

Should Bilge pump be wired directly to battery? | YBW Forum

I’d suggest nothing should be wired directly to a battery without a fusible link. My experience is that the float switch on the pump is always the first item to go home. The most elegant situation is to have a solar panel (say 60 watt) charging the battery connected to the bilge pump. 16 Jul 2012. #8.

Rule Automatic Bilge Pump – Moderated Discussion Areas

A bilge pump would have easily avoided the situation. jimh: posted 03-10-2013 08:39 AM ET (US) … This will further drain the battery. So we can see that if at any time during the two weeks of automatic operation, the pump had to run for a few minutes to expel some water, the drain on the battery would increase more. …

Installing a Bilge Pump | BoatUS

Place the discharge above the waterline. If the discharge is submerged when the pump runs, the ocean siphons back through the pump into the bilge when the pump shuts off. When enough water has entered to float the switch, the pump will eject it, only to have it siphon back again. This continues until the battery is depleted, then the water …

A mechanic says the fuel pump drained the battery, can that … – Quora

Answer (1 of 6): Mr A, without a name I can reply to, sorry can’t help further. Anything electrical from headlights to a sound system can drain a battery while driving, if the CHARGING system isn’t working. Anthing “can happen” but I suggest you find another mechanic…

Bilge pump to battery wiring – KEY WEST BOATS FORUM

The switched +12V line to the pump comes off a fuse/breaker in the console, which would be downstream of your 1/2 battery switch. So whichever battery is selected will be powering the pump when the switch is on. The standard 1/2 switch should always be used in 1 or 2.

What Can Drain A Car Battery? Here Are 6 Common Reasons To Learn

The sulfate buildup is one of the main reasons shortens your battery life and increases more recharged time that your battery needs. 3. Faulty Charging System. What drains a car battery could be a faulty charging system. In order to recharge your car battery, the alternator of your vehicle must provide it with energy.

Can A Fuel Injector Problem Drain A Car Battery? – HaloTechnics

Can A Bad Fuel Pump Relay Drain Your Battery? Despite moving the ignition cylinder, or removing the key, relays with an internal short stay power supplied to the ignition and fuel systems. A dead battery will eventually result as the fuel pump and ignition components are left plugged in all the time, drawing current constantly.

What is a Bilge Pump on a Boat? | Discover Boating

The function of the bilge pump is to remove water that collects in the bilge, which is the bottom of the inside of the hull. Most of the time, water that collects in the bilge is incidental: It could be rain water or water from spray collecting in the boat; Wash-down water that collects in the bilge while the boat is being cleaned;

Bilge Pump Installation and Maintenance Tips – Practical Sailor

INSTALLATION. The illustration above shows one recommended setup for automatic bilge pump installation. Location: According to the ABYC, the pump inlet must be positioned so that bilge water can be removed when the boat is in a static position and when it is at maximum heel (ABYC H-22). The mounting location also should make it easy to service …

How To Use A Bilge Pump – Fishin Things

The electric bilge pumps are efficient and they can drain out tons of water without forcing you you to struggle with disposing. Even if your boat injures unfortunately, the bilge pump can aid you to run your boat in this moment and come you back to the shore without letting your boat somewhere. … But, the battery powered bilge pump can’t …

Bilge pump hard wired to the battery? | Sea-Doo Forum

May 3, 2011. #2. Last winter I installed a bilge pump, and hardwired (more or less) to the battery. I used a rule PWC, automatic bilge pump, wired it through a switch mounted on the dash, and a 3amp fuse to the battery positive, and direct to the negative post. So when the switch is on the pump automatically checks every 30 seconds for water.

Why Your Boat Battery Keeps Dying and What You Can Do

Make sure you don’t join the two leads to one and other. Wait about 5 – 8 minutes for the battery to gain a little charge again. Turn the key in the boat as you would normally do, and this should start the engine. Disconnect the leads from the battery, and it should begin to charge as it normally would.

RULE Electric Bilge Pump: 6 gpm Flow Rate – Grainger

These electric bilge pumps are battery powered and have a higher flow rate than hand-operated bilge pumps when used to drain a boat’s bilge water. They can be connected to a switch or control box for automatic start when the water rises to a certain level in the bilge, and automatic stop when the water is drained down in the bilge to a preset …

Solar Powered Bilge Pump : 8 Steps – Instructables

I just installed a solar powered 100ah battery system to run my 12 volt sump pump (we often get a LOT of rain). It is a Rule 360 GPH (gallons per hour) 12 volt bilge pump, requiring 2 amps at 12.3 to 13.6 volts, assembled basically as jedi27’s is.

Can A Bilge Pump Burn Out? | Dragonfly Motors

Certain bilge pumps have been known to over – heat, take too much stress and simply die. So that is why running them on dry, or leaving them that way, I should rather say, is not the ideal choice when you can so avoid it….in many cases, like I said, nothing may happen. OR, the bilge pump may over – heat, burn out and / or die.

RULE Electric Bilge Pump: 8.3 gpm Flow Rate – Grainger

These electric bilge pumps are battery powered and have a higher flow rate than hand-operated bilge pumps when used to drain a boat’s bilge water. They can be connected to a switch or control box for automatic start when the water rises to a certain level in the bilge, and automatic stop when the water is drained down in the bilge to a preset …

Can a fuel pump drain my battery? dodge batteries 2007 ni…

Recommended Services. As you may know, the fuel pump does in fact receive power from the battery, however it is highly unlikely that the fuel pump would continue to run when the power to the car is off causing the battery to drain. If this does in fact happen, this would also presumably cause even bigger problems due to the amount of fuel that …

How to wire a bilge pump | ON-OFF bilge switch | New Wire Marine

There’s also a cool feature of wiring your bilge pump float switch like this: In auto mode (either auto on the AUTO-OFF-MAN switch, or the “OFF on an ON-OFF switch) whenever the float floats you get a bilge running indicator on the switch. With an ON-OFF bilge switch, the light is normally OFF when the switch is down – but when the float …

Bilge Pump Exit – Why Not Use Sink Drain? | SailNet Community

The bilge pump kicks off and the stopper reseals due to a little bit of water on top. Now we have a siphon between the thru hull and the bilge a couple of inches lower. This causes the bilge pump to come on again and pump the water back out. The bilge pump cycles like this until the battery is dead. I find my mast sticking up out of my slip.

bilge pumps/switches/battery drain – Moyer Marine Atomic 4 Community …

bilge pumps/switches/battery drain Electrical. Moyer Marine Atomic 4 Community – Home of the Afourians > Discussion Topics > Electrical: bilge pumps/switches/battery drain

ALL ABOUT BILGE PUMPS – Boats, Yachts Maintenance and Troubleshooting

How not to install a bilge pump. You can see by the high water line that it has already failed. … which means that it will probably be tapped into the cockpit scuppers or sink drain. Here you have to be real careful of judging the water line right. … The average one year old 60 AH battery will barely run a 14 amp pump for 30 minutes. …

Resource

https://captainfortheweekend.com/will-a-bilge-pump-drain-battery/
https://forums.iboats.com/threads/how-long-before-bilge-pump-kills-battery.54457/
https://www.bestboatreport.com/6-things-that-drain-your-boat-battery/
https://www.boatsafe.com/boat-bilge-pump-basics/
https://forums.ybw.com/index.php?threads/battery-life-for-a-bilge-pump.518327/
https://jetboaters.net/threads/how-long-will-a-full-battery-keep-my-bilge-pump-on-for.2207/
https://moyermarineforum.com/forums//showthread.php?t=2910
https://www.microskiff.com/threads/bilge-pump-battery.47964/
https://www.pysystems.ca/resources/boating-tech-talk/should-my-bilge-pump-be-wired-to-the-starter-battery-or-the-house-battery/
https://forums.ybw.com/index.php?threads/should-bilge-pump-be-wired-directly-to-battery.323197/
https://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum6/HTML/003350.html
https://www.boatus.com/expert-advice/expert-advice-archive/2012/july/installing-bilge-pump
https://www.quora.com/A-mechanic-says-the-fuel-pump-drained-the-battery-can-that-happen-I-was-driving-the-car-and-it-just-literally-died-as-I-was-driving?share=1
https://keywestboatsforum.com/bilge-pump-to-battery-wiring-t5684.html
https://carfromjapan.com/article/car-maintenance/top-6-reasons-drain-car-battery/
https://www.halotechnics.com/can-a-fuel-injector-problem-drain-a-car-battery/
https://www.discoverboating.com/ownership/bilge-pump-basics
https://www.practical-sailor.com/blog/bilge-pump-installation-and-maintenance-tips
http://fishinthings.com/how-to-use-a-bilge-pump/
https://www.seadooforum.com/threads/bilge-pump-hard-wired-to-the-battery.37454/
https://boatingforbeginners.com/why-your-boat-battery-keeps-dying-and-what-you-can-do/
https://www.grainger.com/product/RULE-Electric-Bilge-Pump-6-gpm-406R85
https://www.instructables.com/Solar-powered-bilge-pump/
https://dragonfly-motors.com/can-a-bilge-pump-burn-out
https://www.grainger.com/product/RULE-Electric-Bilge-Pump-8-3-gpm-406R83
https://www.yourmechanic.com/question/fuel-pump-by-rita_2
https://newwiremarine.com/how-to/wire-bilge-pump-switch/
https://www.sailnet.com/threads/bilge-pump-exit-why-not-use-sink-drain.50206/
https://moyermarineforum.com/forums//showthread.php?t=2910
https://www.yachtsurvey.com/bilge_pumps.htm