Best to Seal Switch for Bilge Pump?

fleckbass · Post by **fleckbass** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 3:15 pm

What is best to seal the switch for Bilge Pump. I used a big gob of Silicone in the past. What have others found to work well?

horizongfx · Post by **horizongfx** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 3:34 pm

Not the Cheapest, But The Most reliable I found thus Far.
And the One I use in all My Pump set-ups.

https://www.alliedelec.com/search/produ ... KU=8261003

sdbrassfield · Post by **sdbrassfield** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 5:25 pm

I have always bought a marine grade switch for mine...

Post by **PAC** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 5:30 pm

I just buy off the shelf at the hardare store and goop the bugger. Seems to work well and cheaper in the long run.... at least for me.

marclamenace · Post by **marclamenace** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 5:31 pm

After two switch failing even beeing really nice sealed I am going marine switch on my next one too. With succion/pressure from temp changes water's always getting in somehow.

Smurfwarrior · Post by **Smurfwarrior** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 5:47 pm

I like to use Marine rocker switches ($25ish) after going through a bunch on heavy duty normal switches both sealed and unsealed. My biggest issue is damaging the switch by hitting it. Rocker switches that are countersunk into foam are the answer.

jottsee · Post by **jottsee** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 10:51 pm

Standard 99 cent light switch - just don't use it in the ocean.

iRolled · Post by **iRolled** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 11:06 pm

I second the .99 cent light switch from home depot. Fancy $10-20 waterproof switches dont last long. a cheap light switch has solid connections and will last a long time. I dont even waterproof any of the connections in any of my boats unless you're using lithium batteries. keep them dry.

if you get the light switch. take a pair of pliers and bend the ears a few time to break them off. These switches aren't bulky at all.

dafriend · Post by **dafriend** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 3:36 am

http://www.batteryspace.com/component-s ... utton.aspx

Todhunter · Post by **Todhunter** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 2:21 pm

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/e ... switch.php

...but Spruce is 5 minutes from my house.

Jim Michaud · Post by **Jim Michaud** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 3:22 am

I've even had a Marine waterproof switch fail on me. Now I go to Ace hardware and buy a regular toggle switch and a bottle of Re-Rack. Re-Rack is the stuff that is used to repair dishwasher racks when the coating starts to wear off. The bottle has a little brush connected inside the cap. I give the switch lots of layers of Re-Rack. I haven't had a bad switch since.

Jim

Post by **sbroam** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 11:23 am

THinking about batteries and switches again, I searched the forum and came up with these :

http://www.batteryspace.com/component-s ... ector.aspx

that would go with these...

http://www.batteryspace.com/waterbottle ... eplug.aspx

http://www.batteryspace.com/connectorad ... lcord.aspx

Hmmm...

horizongfx · Post by **horizongfx** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 12:37 pm

Not sure how waterproof That Bottle is !, I can tell you from My experience that those Poly-switches and PCB's that are mounted to the Batteries via a Circuit board Absolutely cannot get wet.

fleckbass · Post by **fleckbass** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 6:33 pm

I just got one of the waterproof bottles. Hopefully it works out. anyone have problem with them? The one thing I don't care for is the hard wired cable comming out of it. Looks like headphone cable. I had to strip some insulation off to strip the conductors a bit. Didn't care for it. Was thinking about removing it and putting my own cable on but the bottle is sealed shut. If this thing craps out, I will have to hack it apart.

C-Forum

Best to Seal Switch for Bilge Pump?

Best to Seal Switch for Bilge Pump?

The Very Best I found thus Far

Switch

Waterproof