450: Helm bilge switches?

[LeeV]

Has anybody replaced the helm bilge switches, and if so, where did you find replacements? We’re not turning up anything for our 2012 L450F.

Thanks!

[Tin Tin]

Got a photo? Have you removed the switches, they often have a part number stamped on the back. May be the part number of the manufacturer rather than Beneteau.

[LeeV]

Originally Posted by Tin Tin

Got a photo? Have you removed the switches, they often have a part number stamped on the back. May be the part number of the manufacturer rather than Beneteau.

Boat just arrived and I stopped by on my way home from airport. Will be there this weekend, take pics and pull them out.

Thx Lee

[B73C]

I've used these ones:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000N...TF8&th=1&psc=1

They don't have the symbols on them but they work just the same.

I did find some no-name switches that look and function exactly the same for about 9€ in Martinique, so I bought a bunch of spares.

[LeeV]

Originally Posted by B73C

I've used these ones:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000N...TF8&th=1&psc=1

They don't have the symbols on them but they work just the same.

I did find some no-name switches that look and function exactly the same for about 9€ in Martinique, so I bought a bunch of spares.

Thanks for the link. I haven’t pulled the switches yet as I found the port bilge pump isn’t working. Will test it and pull them this weekend - they’re not in good shape anyway.

Is there supposed to be an alarm wired to them?

Thx
Lee

[B73C]

Hi Lee,

I do have alarms wired to mine, I'm not sure if that's a factory thing or a previous owner add-on, perhaps another 450 owner can confirm. They sound very similar but with practice you can tell which one is which.

The alarm sounds when the bilge comes on automatically or when the helm switches are activated. We've used them as an alert for the person below to come to the helm when the alarm goes on/off three times.

[Tin Tin]

Originally Posted by B73C

Hi Lee,

I do have alarms wired to mine, I'm not sure if that's a factory thing or a previous owner add-on, perhaps another 450 owner can confirm. They sound very similar but with practice you can tell which one is which.

The alarm sounds when the bilge comes on automatically or when the helm switches are activated. We've used them as an alert for the person below to come to the helm when the alarm goes on/off three times.

That is a good idea to use as a "get up here" call, less deafening than the fog horn!

[LeeV]

Originally Posted by B73C

Hi Lee,

I do have alarms wired to mine, I'm not sure if that's a factory thing or a previous owner add-on, perhaps another 450 owner can confirm. They sound very similar but with practice you can tell which one is which.

The alarm sounds when the bilge comes on automatically or when the helm switches are activated. We've used them as an alert for the person below to come to the helm when the alarm goes on/off three times.

So I was at the boat yesterday. The 2 position switch sounds an alarm in one position and runs the stbd pump at the other. The port switch does neither, however the pump has a green light and works.

Note: the pump runs fine but leaves a level of several inches of water. I added copious amounts of water and it runs but always leaves the original amount.

Regards,
Lee

[Tin Tin]

Originally Posted by LeeV

So I was at the boat yesterday. The 2 position switch sounds an alarm in one position and runs the stbd pump at the other. The port switch does neither, however the pump has a green light and works.

Note: the pump runs fine but leaves a level of several inches of water. I added copious amounts of water and it runs but always leaves the original amount.

Regards,
Lee

Sounds like your switch or wiring is corroded for port side. Your check valve that stops the water flowing back down the bilge outflow pipe may need cleaning or replacing. Do you have the secondary gulper bilge pumps installed, usually wired to the electric panel? Post a photo of your bilge.

[B73C]

The switches I mentioned in post #4 are only on/off, they don't have a a third position.

When the switch is ON, the alarm does sound and the alarm also sounds. When off, all off. I'm not sure why you'd need a third position, other than for the signalling I mentioned...

We have high-volume bilge pumps connected to these switches. We also have the Whale Gulper 320s connected to the other manual bilge pump switches on our electrical panel (these are fully manual). The third pump we have is the manual pump.

All of these discharge hoses have one-way valves.

I believe this is the standard install unless modified.

[LeeV]

Originally Posted by B73C

The switches I mentioned in post #4 are only on/off, they don't have a a third position.

When the switch is ON, the alarm does sound and the alarm also sounds. When off, all off. I'm not sure why you'd need a third position, other than for the signalling I mentioned...

We have high-volume bilge pumps connected to these switches. We also have the Whale Gulper 320s connected to the other manual bilge pump switches on our electrical panel (these are fully manual). The third pump we have is the manual pump.

All of these discharge hoses have one-way valves.

I believe this is the standard install unless modified.

My fault with a hurried poor description; they are 2 position and function as you described. Port switch has apparently crapped out.

I‘ll take pics this weekend as I’m unclear about the design of the port pump. It appears to be aftermarket And I’ve not seen one like it, esp with a green light, which I assume indicates power and that it’s working.

As this is our first cat and so much larger volume than our trimarans everything and every function is larger, different, and in this case not well taken care of. I’m starting the learning curve from scratch!

Thanks, folks.