Solid state float switches

[dudaduma]

Does anyone have experience with float switches that are solid state (no moving parts, just a square piece of plastic)? I bought a couple from West Marine and am having second thoughts about replacing my old mechanical switches. I'm worried about them keeping my pumps running too long or even indefinitely. If they're damp, do they keep the pump running? If they're installed at the same height as the old switch and the pump isn't lowered, will they keep the pump constantly running if there's water in that location? I'm leaning toward returning them and getting the "normal" mechanical float switches, but would like to hear from anyone that has experience with them.

Also, just a great big THANK YOU to this site and all the advice the members have provided. I've gotten into the habit of just perusing several of the forums on a daily basis, this place is very addicting.

 

[Carver 3007]

I had one this type in a Catalins 30 sailboat several years ago and I had to be sure and wipe the probes clean a couple of times each month. The shower drained into the bildge and the scum would stick to the probes and housing and complete the circuit and keep the pump running.
Otherwise it worked (IMO)better than the float type. I used the probe type for about 5 years before I sold the boat. I would test its operation by holding my fingers across the probes and release when the pump started to be sure it would perform.

 

[Vic Willman]

I had a bad experience with a bilge pump that had a built-in solid state switch a few years back - damn thing ran continually. So my feelings about solid state water-sensing switches aren't very good.

 

[wvorris]

I also bought 2 Seewater Smart switches a couple years back - after a while, the bilge pumps would run continuously until the switches were cleaned. Junk. I also made the mistake of installing 3 Rule computerized bilge pumps. The theory was that they would start every few minutes and run for a few seconds to see if there was any water in the bilge by sensing the difference in current draw. If a pump detected high current (from pumping water), it would continue to run until the current dropped. The pumps worked great, but the constant whir of the recycling pumps at night drove me quite insane......

 

[dudaduma]

Thanks for the advice. I suspected that they may cause issues, unfortunately I already bought them and THEN

started to get inquisitive. Luckily I kept the receipt so I'll be able to take them back and buy the "normal" float switches.

I read about the "smart" bilge pumps too and thought that the cycling would probably be a nuisance, THANKS for confirming that.