Bilge pump question

[n1111z]

Today I noticed my bilge pump is cycling on and off about once a second. We have it in the water for about a week at a time, otherwise it is on the lift for about five weeks at a time. It is doing this even with the batteries off. I never noticed it before. Is this normal? There is a small amount of water in the bilge.

 

[Scottintexas]

It is normal for the bilge to cycle looking for water, it should not be cycling once a second, it should also not be cycling if you have the batteries "off"

Is you bilge original stock configuration?
when you say batteries are off do you mean key is in off position or the cables are disconnected from the batteries or do you have a multiple battery switch?
is the small amount of water in the bilge do you mean what you see in the engine compartment or if you look through the manhole covers under the cleanout tray?

 

[n1111z]

Yes happening when both batts are turned to off. There is a small amount of moisture in the bottom of the engine compartment only. Don't know if the electrical is original, I bought the boat used. Now it has stopped, but is still coming on occasionally. I did hose the cockpit down today but not overly much. It just seems odd that it happens with the battery switches in the off position. I'm going to leave them connected tonight and check in the morning. Would rather have dead batteries than a sunk boat!

 

[Julian]

Some people hard wire their bilge to the battery so they can turn everything else off but not the bilge

The stock bilge is a back pressure bilge that cycles every 3 min to check for back pressure (water).

 

[haknslash]

Sounds like the previous owner directly wired your bilge pump to the battery which will bypass the switches. I would only do this with a float switch activated bilge pump so it won't run down your batteries over time.

 

[W3bexec]

The stock bilge is a back pressure bilge that cycles every 3 min to check for back pressure (water).

I'd been wondering why it would come on and seemed like it was at an certain time interval. Sometimes I can hear it sometimes I don't.

 

[n1111z]

Thanks for the replies. Pump is gooned, replacing it this week.