Bildge Pump breaker problem

redngreedy

 

We were on the lake last weekend and I noticed my breaker was popped out.  I tried resetting it but it won't.  Every other breaker has an amperage stamped on the button, but the one for the bildge does not.  It will run on auto.  I have wiggled wires and poked around but still cannot reset it.  I haven't had a chance to recheck yet, but any ideas?

nquirk

@redngreedy.  If the pump operates properly on AUTO, but the breaker pops, you most likely have 1 of 2 problems.

A faulty breaker or a short in line.  If I remember correctly the AUTO power source to those bilge pumps is a 4A fuse, so to test, you could connect the switch for the bilge pump to an adjacent 5A fuse and test.

Does it flip even with the switch off?  If so, you've got a short in the wire inline.

redngreedy

I cannot reset it with the switch off or on.  The switch will light up when the pump comes on automatically.  

If it's not raining when I get home I will try a breaker beside it.  I'm leaing towards a fautly breaker, hopefully I'm right.

Thanks for the response @nquirk!

nquirk

Sounds like a breaker..... Keep us posted.  

redngreedy

Problem semi solved. It is indeed the breaker. The one I orders will not fit the factory hole and I'm debating to drill it out a bit.  I know it will be ok, might see if I can find the smaller one. 

nquirk

@redngreedy.  Ultimately it's your decision.  If it were me, I'd get the proper one via the dealer or online.  In the meantime, I'd simply hook up the breaker in behind the helm until I had the proper sized breaker.

I only say this is you can make any hole bigger, but much more difficult to make it smaller and in the future, if you need to change breakers again, the hole you cut now may be too large.

Just my 2 cents but glad you found the problem.