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I plan on installing 2 bilge pumps # 1 is basically a de watering pump #2 ,a 3500 gph will be the emergency back up mounted higher than the # 1. My helm dash space is limited due to poor planning. I have run out of room for more switches so I am thinking of using a relay to control both pumps. A SPST momentary switch latches relay for #1 pump. # 2 pump will be wired via a float switch directly to the relay( the terminal that is N/C hot unless relay latches) A LED warning light + buzzer for that circuit. Do you see any pitfalls . Would appreciate any input.
I am thinking relay because of the wire runs and distance to battery from helm.
Relay seems a little more efficent.
Thanks Denzil

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) Champagne dreams and wishes are possible on a beer budget. Just build the boat.
Nice curves are easy on the eyes.
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Denzil,
Good to hear from you.
I been thinking a lot about pumps too. I read some articles from marine surveyers, and other sources, and I am doing mine a bit different.
I am not putting much priority on a de-watering pump. I have never actually seen a boat with a dry bilge anyway, so I have accepted the fact of water in the bilge. Anyway, with a wood keel as ours you cant get it all with a bilge pump anyway, you need a sponge or a wetvac.
For the main pump I use a 2-position switch ; 1 position is auto-mode, and other is manual ON.
Manual ON has no fuse, just hot wired to battery, no fuse to blow when you need it most, no relays to stick or nuthin. As long as I got battery, it will run.
For emergency pump, I plumbed the engine raw water intake with a 2-way valve. 1-way is for seacock, the other way is for the engine to suck-up bilge water, as long as the engine is running, it can pump the bilge.
If you are out of helm space, I would put dewatering pump switch elsewhere. Mount main bilge pump in the helm.
Just my 2-cents.
Ken

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God Bless our Troops; especially our Snipers

Thanks Ken your suggestion is now another option to consider. Did you do any more work designing your weather helm/dodger. I noticed that Oysters thread (twist on a cabin) has disappeared . but I still use K. Morin's thread as reference.

_________________
) Champagne dreams and wishes are possible on a beer budget. Just build the boat.
Nice curves are easy on the eyes.
Go sell crazy somewhere else we're all stocked up here."As Good As It Gets" Jack Nicholson.

No, I havent gone much farther with a dodger/pilothouse/other. I do have a windshield with one of those aluminum grab bar though. It seems that the further I stretch it out offshore, the more I tend to go back to original plans for Lobsterboat cabin. After all, I got it right on the plans, and it is that part of the cabin I deleted in the first place.

I thought about you say out of room for switches in your helm, well, what if you run power to a auxiliary switch panel in a different location.?

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God Bless our Troops; especially our Snipers