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Erik
RO# 18554
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 Posted - Jul 09 2012 : 10:49:35
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I finalized the install of two solar panels last week, and they are working great, but yesterday when I was doing my pre-check, I noticed some water in the bilge, and tried to manually turn on the pump, but it did not work. Pulled the fuse and it was broken. Switched the fuse from the second pump, into the first pump and it immediately blew.
So, the question is, why? The pumps are wired directly to the battery bank. No shore power was connected all week. Solar panel puts out 14.2v when charging at approxiamately 20amps (max) through a Blue Star MPPT controller. The fuses, I believe, but need to double check, were 5amps each. The battery bank is three group 27 at 115 amp/hours each. Solar charge (+) goes into battery 1; Solar (-) comes out of battery 3. Pumps wired to battery 3.
I can't think of any other information that might be needed, but let me know if I missed anything. I'm heading to the boat after work to try and figure this out, so any advice before hand is appreciated.
Thanks for you help...
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Erik
s/v Aiki
Newburgh, NY |
Homeport: Newburgh, NY
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The Other Gary
RO# 143
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Posted - Jul 09 2012 : 11:11:15
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Check for crud jamming the impeller and not allowing the motor to start.
that is the first thing to do.
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Gary Peck 1997 Bayliner 3988 MY, twin 330 Cummins
I saw a movie where only the military and the police had guns,,,,, It was called Schindler's List |
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Homeport: Toronto, Lake Ontario
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stmbtwle
RO# 7934
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Posted - Jul 09 2012 : 11:13:53
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I don't think the solar panels have anything to do with it, unless you changed something in the bilge pump circuit when you installed them. I have a Blue Sky Controller and it has been trouble-free for years.
If you bilge pumps are "wired directly to the battery bank" their wiring should be easy enough to trace and check out. My guess is your bilge pump is either frozen or shorted out, blowing the fuse. Is the second pump working or has it failed as well?
Note: 14.2v if maintained all the time WILL kill your batteries, once they are charged the controller should drop the voltage to about 13.3v. Check your voltage with an ACCURATE voltmeter (not the one in the instrument panel). Do you have the remote shunt at the battery so the controller can monitor the actual current at the batteries? You will have better results and better charging with the the shunt. Contact Blue Sky if any questions, they're very helpful.
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| Willie. She's a tired old barge but she's paid for! |
Edited by - stmbtwle on Jul 09 2012 11:14:49 |
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Homeport: Tampa Bay, FL
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Erik
RO# 18554
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Posted - Jul 09 2012 : 11:44:20
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Thanks, I'll check the pump tonight for jamming.
I did manually turn on the second pump for about 5 seconds, just to make sure the problem was isolated to the first pump, I then swapped out the fuse, and it blew on the first pump.
And yes, the 14.2v is the bulk charge rate, it drops down to acceptance and float levels. I just mentioned the highest rate, as I thought it might have something to do with the fuse blowing.
The pump being jammed is sounding possible to me. I did not notice any other fused items giving me problems, now that I think about it. All the electronics worked correctly.
Any other thoughts?
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Erik
s/v Aiki
Newburgh, NY |
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Homeport: Newburgh, NY
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stmbtwle
RO# 7934
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Posted - Jul 09 2012 : 12:02:23
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I think you have it. Either the pump is jammed or it has died (or both). A piece of wire or insulation dropped when you were installing the other wiring could do it.
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| Willie. She's a tired old barge but she's paid for! |
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Homeport: Tampa Bay, FL
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PascalG
RO# 12212
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Posted - Jul 09 2012 : 12:16:25
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Has to be the pump or a short in the wiring to the pump or float switcb
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Pascal
1970 Hatteras 53 MY
26' Starfish sloop
12' Westphal Catboat
16' Hobie Cat
13' Sandbarhopper
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Homeport: Miami, FL
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SCORPIO
RO# 4810
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Posted - Jul 09 2012 : 20:28:00
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+1 What Pascal said, either a bad/locked up pump or a short somewhere.
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| Chris USPS AP |
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Homeport: Lewes, Delaware
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Billylll
RO# 24494
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Posted - Jul 09 2012 : 22:06:22
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It has nothing to do with your solar installation. I'm guessing a jammed or defective bilge pump. There is always something to work on in a boat! I think you will really like the solar panels and charger.
Bill
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WirelessOne,
40 Mainship
Sedan Bridge
Little Egg, N.J. |
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Homeport: Tuckerton, N.J.
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Sandy
RO# 1159
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Posted - Jul 09 2012 : 22:50:02
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Are both your bilge pumps pretty small? FWIW- With Rule pumps at least, 5 amp fuses are only used on 800 & 1000 GPH pumps, nothing larger.
Jammed pump is certainly a good possibility , as is short to ground , possibly in bilge water if any compromised wiring is in there, or leaking float sw. . You mentioned you manually turned on the pump, were the fuses you pulled in the dash-switched manual-on circuit, or in the float switch circuit & blew when the float was lifted?
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| Sandy |
Edited by - Sandy on Jul 09 2012 22:52:59 |
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Homeport: The Vineyard
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Erik
RO# 18554
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Posted - Jul 13 2012 : 08:25:08
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The fuses on the pumps are 10 amp.
I replaced the fuses, pump 2 is fine, pump 1 did not come on. I left it in auto mode and reached in to pull it out and it switched on. Played with it a little and it looks like a bad connection somewhere - jiggling the wires makes a differnece. I didn't have time to get out the voltmeter, and check all the connections. Did not find anything jamming the pump, but a couple of times, the indicator light came on, but the pump did not run until I jiggled the wires.
Tonight, I'll check all the connections and swap out the pump if needed.
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Erik
s/v Aiki
Newburgh, NY |
Edited by - Erik on Jul 13 2012 08:26:42 |
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Homeport: Newburgh, NY
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Sandy
RO# 1159
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Posted - Jul 13 2012 : 13:57:53
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10 amp fuses make more sense.
That's potentially great you had pump activation with the jiggle test. You're getting real-ly warm.... . Hope it's just a bad external connection & easily corrected .
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| Sandy |
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Homeport: The Vineyard
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Erik
RO# 18554
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Posted - Jul 15 2012 : 14:59:47
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I found a bad connection to the float switch. I fixed it, and all seems to be working correctly now. Thanks everyone for your help!
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Erik
s/v Aiki
Newburgh, NY |
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Homeport: Newburgh, NY
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Bilge pump fuses blowing
