jaredmwright
New Member
Two weeks ago, we went out and I had left the plug out of the hose connection for running the the engine at idle. I didn't realize it until after performance started suffering and the boat was half full of water.
Usually the automatic bilge would kick on, but it was plugged. After pulling up to a dock and clearing the obstruction, the bilge started working and eventually emptied all of the water. The next week at home, prepping the boat and putting the battery maintainer on it I noticed a burning smell after about 15 minutes and found a hole in the side of my bilge pump and it was burning hot to the touch. This was the original Rule 500 automatic bilge model.
I replaced the bilge with a new Rule 500 automatic and it hooks up identically, 3 wires (ground, switched positive and always on positive), except for needing to splice the wires since the original had a nice built in water tight fastener. The bilge works fine using the switch, but I noticed I don't have any power on the automatic side which should always have positive power. I spent a little time checking the main fuse panel, but didn't find any blown fuses or a fuse for the automatic side.
Hopefully someone here can help me fine where it may be. I suspect it is inline somewhere, just can't tell since the wires go under the bench area. Worst case I can re-route and add a fuse inline direct to the battery but I would like to avoid that if possible.
Usually the automatic bilge would kick on, but it was plugged. After pulling up to a dock and clearing the obstruction, the bilge started working and eventually emptied all of the water. The next week at home, prepping the boat and putting the battery maintainer on it I noticed a burning smell after about 15 minutes and found a hole in the side of my bilge pump and it was burning hot to the touch. This was the original Rule 500 automatic bilge model.
I replaced the bilge with a new Rule 500 automatic and it hooks up identically, 3 wires (ground, switched positive and always on positive), except for needing to splice the wires since the original had a nice built in water tight fastener. The bilge works fine using the switch, but I noticed I don't have any power on the automatic side which should always have positive power. I spent a little time checking the main fuse panel, but didn't find any blown fuses or a fuse for the automatic side.
Hopefully someone here can help me fine where it may be. I suspect it is inline somewhere, just can't tell since the wires go under the bench area. Worst case I can re-route and add a fuse inline direct to the battery but I would like to avoid that if possible.
