Sloshing water causing constant bilge pump operation solutions?

[adendis]

The midship bilge on my 89 MY 65 C is the lowest bilge on the boat and a small compartment. When the water gets to a certain level the switch drops killing the pump and the water in the line runs back into the bilge creating a sloshing motion which kicks the switch off and on causing the bilge pump to cycle. It will do this indefinitely until the pump burns up. I could see where one had previously done so by the melted plastic. Previous owner tried a check valve but I understand that is not recommended. I installed a dry bilge system but that is on a timer that comes on once a day and I don't want the bilge cycling until the next timed pump cycle.

 

[carolinacoast]

Maybe finding the water source would help most. Freshwater leaks can contribute to this challenge and can be harder to find. I just corrected one with new fittings and hose. Used the newspaper method. Bilge is dry now.

 

[Pascal]

I m not a big fan of check valves but sometimes you have to choice. If you do resort to a check valve use a good bronze one

The bilge has to be really small for the pump to cycle on and off just on the water left in the hose. Very rare on a Hatteras

 

[Captain Ralph]

Re-orient the float switch or install an Ultra SR switch.
Never had one but I understand these have a half second delay.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

You could add a time delay relay. Would it still come on from the water that comes back down the pipe or is it just the sloshing? If just the sloshing, you could move the float or add the time delay.

Time Delay on Release Relay - 12V DC, 30 Amp

Looking for an adjustable relay that can maintain a power supply for as short as 2 seconds or as long as 3 minutes? Shop Del City's 12 volt time delay relay.

www.delcity.net

 

[Dan Mapes]

If this is sitting at the dock it's certainly odd. Ours used to cycle while on the move. The loop in the hose had to be extended upward quite a bit.

 

[adendis]

Dan you raise a good point. If I put a higher loop on the hose above the waterline will that give me more suction to pull the water out? Or will the air introduced by the pump when sucking water an air offset the suction?

 

[SKYCHENEY]

It seems like a higher loop would just keep more water from exiting and you would have more coming back down the hose and sloshing back into that little space.

 

[glen@dive]

I had a similar issue and put in a check valve. Problem solved.

 

[glen@dive]

I had a similar issue and put in a check valve. Problem solved.

PS a swing not a spring

 

[rsmith]

Only solution is a check valve I haven’t had luck with flappers debris and corrosion can hold the flap open. Or reduce the hose size to reduce the volume of water it holds.

 

[cenger]

I put in a check valve, problem was solved.