SEAFLO 20A Solid State Electric Field Bilge Pump Switch 12/24V - Intelligent Water Level Sensor, For Marine Bilge Pumps No Moving Parts, 4-Year Warranty

I'm nearing the end of a wooden boat restoration, and one of my remaining tasks is setting up the bilge pump system. I thought this solid state switch seemed like a cool idea, because it will never get jammed on anything floating around in the bottom of the boat.I finally got to give it a test -- I took a 12V power supply, fed the + through this switch, then the output of the switch went to an old 12V computer fan. Granted, the bilge pump will probably draw a little more power than the fan, but at least it's a similar-enough motor load.As the instructions said, placing your finger on the low water mark shouldn't do anything. Placing a finger ONLY on the high water mark also doesn't do anything. But placing fingers on both does cause the switch to power on the device after a few seconds of delay. This delay is good, because you don't want water sloshing in the bilge to trigger your pump on & off every time.Releasing the finger from the high water test point then does nothing (the motor stays on), and finally releasing the other finger turns off the motor after a few seconds of delay. Again, you don't want a slosh to give a false trigger to the switch.I love the compact size of this, and the fact that it's solid state is a real bonus. Four mounting holes give it versatility as well. Recommended!

This switch seemed to work OK when it was first installed, but the next time I went down to the boat it seemed to be running all the time. I turned the pump off while I was using the boat, and turned it back on when I left, and again it seemed to run continuously. I did not have time to mess with it at that time, but when I came back a couple of weeks later the pump had burned out and the bilge was full of water. I took a risk with this new technology, but it didn't work for me.

After years in the boat, my old bilge pump switches eventually get covered in slightly-oily, slightly-dirty soapy stuff that could interfere with the the movement of the float. They also rely on mechanical switching which, while reliable, is still mechanical (stuck-on or stuck-off are possible.) This switch offers an alternative!The switch is electronically-controlled; it detects the water level by its effect on the sensor's capacitance as the water level rises around the enclosure. It is also electronically-switched, so no moving parts!It's smart too: it avoids restarting too quickly, and also starts at a higher threshold than where it stops to provide what engineers call "hysteresis."This was a great modernizing upgrade for my boat!

The unit worked well for a few weeks when first installed. Then the issues started. The switch will kick in appropriately but it will not shut off. If I switch it off manually and switch it back on to auto (after the bilge has been pumped) it remains off until the bilge fills and it then engages. This unit replaced an almost identical unit purchased several years ago that operated quite well until it failed, this spring, upon launch. This type of malfunction is not relative to the amount of latent residue on the sensors because if it was it would restart when switched off and switched back on in auto mode.

I have used a lot of solid state switches on equipment I have designed of many types. And this would have been great for some liquid filling machines. But my interest in this was to be with hydroponic use and other water plant feeding methods which I will be using next spring. But I am also an old long time boater and know how crucial your bilge system is to keep you afloat and alive. I always had dual systems in my boat of different types in case one failed the other was there to back it up. This to me is a good switch to use in many ways.

I'm restoring an older boat, and this solid-state bilge switch gives me peace of mind! I know that it'll kick on when there's too much water in the stern under the deck of the boat, but since it's solid state, even if it's covered by a life jacket or a piece of something covers it, the float switch will still work because it's 100% internal. I'm very impressed and I love the fact that it won't kick on and off if there's some water sloshing around when I hit some waves.Super smart design, easy to install, and there are 4 screw holes providing multiple ways to mount it. I hope it'll last a long time, it seems very well built and should.

When activated in the auto mode, the switch will not shut off. I lost a bilge pump because of this. You have to flip the switch back to off and then back to auto in order for it to shut off. If you buy this switch, don’t use the auto function

This switch was a nice upgrade to my current bilge pump setup. It was manually before, but now it just switches on when there is excess water, which happens quite a bit when we are surfing and the back is loaded with ballast. Really nice not to have to mind the bilge switch when towing.

Great water sensor, no moving parts to have debris make it stick. Can be mounted on the bottom or the side which makes it versatile and useful in any style of boat. I'll be buying this sensor again.

Ho usato questo prodotto per la pompa di sentina del mio natante, funziona molto bene, Grazie

Very happy with my purchase

I replaced another solid state switch that had three wires (this one has two) but it wasn't a problem.At first, the switch activated the bilge pump properly but it wouldn't turn off. This was fixed by raising the switch so the low water mark was above the lowest level the pump would remove.