The Automatic Bilge Pump Switch and Alarm System constantly monitors for rising bilge water. There is zero current drain while monitoring, but immediately upon sensing bilge water the switch turns the bilge pump on.
The pump runs until it empties the bilge, then an additional 15 seconds to clear the bilge hose if a non-centrifugal bilge pump is used.
If the pump cannot empty the bilge in 2 minutes, a signal is output to the panel mounted red light and an optional alarm bell or buzzer, if installed; See Related Products.
For large flat bilges this delay to alarm can be field-adjusted to 3 minutes.
The smart bilge pump switch system consists of three components: A reliable water level sensing device (Aqualarm 208A Bilge Level Detector with mounting bracket), a power switching device (Smart Bilge Pump Switch), and a small red light bilge panel for mounting near the helm to alert for bilge flooding or excessive pumping.
The smart switch contains a 30 amp relay to handle large bilge pump loads, and special circuitry to provide an additional 15 second pumping period after the 208A senses the bilge empty. This allows the bilge pump to get as much water out of the bilge as possible and to clear the discharge hose.
It also tends to prevent “short-cycling” of the pump thereby adding to its life.
If for some reason, the pump can’t empty the bilge in two minutes, the smart switch will send a signal to trigger an alarm device and light the bilge light panel.
If you have a very large bilge that normally requires longer than two minutes to pump dry, the delay period may be lengthened to more than three minutes by cutting the small red wire that extends out of the epoxy.
• Switches bilge pump ON and OFF
• Pumps an additional 15 seconds to completely clear the bilge
• Warns of excessive pumping
• Handles pumps up to 30 Amps