H-22: Electric Bilge Pump Systems
22.2 SCOPE
These standards apply to all boats equipped with electric bilge pump systems intended for control of spray, rain water, and normal accumulation of water due to seepage and spillage.
EXCEPTIONS:
1. Pumps intended for damage control.
2. Damage control systems.
Note that bilge pumps are not designed for damage control such as a breach in the hull. The capacities are generally low and there is insufficient attention paid to screening debris in their design and location to handle a hull breach.
22.4.6 Normal Accumulation of Bilge Water - minor amounts of water collecting in the bilge from spray, rain, seepage, and spillage that can be removed by the bilge pumps.
22.4.7 Maximum Bilge Water Level - tThe level above which electrical or mechanical systems will be adversely affected by bilge water, with the vessel in the static floating position or underway.
22.4.8 Maximum Heeled Waterline - tThe level of the water on the hull when the hull is inclined to 22.4.8.1 a. an angle of 7°, for powerboats, or
22.4.9 Readily Accessible - Capable of being reached quickly and safely for effective use under emergency conditions without the use of tools.
22.5 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS - PUMPS
22.5.2.2 Mounting - The pump assembly shall provide a means to secure the pump to the boat to resist pump movement
22.5.2.3 Grounding - Metallic parts of the pump that, when exposed to contact with bilge water may become a source of stray current leakage, shall have provision for the connection of a grounding conductor.
EXCEPTION: A pump designed with a double insulated electrical system, which requires a break in two distinct insulation systems before electrical leakage can reach exposed metallic parts, does not require abonding connection.
22.5.3 Installation Instructions - Complete installation and operating instructions shall be provided, including at
least the following information:
22.5.3.1 an electrical diagram identifying each conductor, the proper circuit location of the control switch, and the bonding connection if applicable;
22.5.3.2 the recommended over-current protection for running overload and locked rotor conditions;
*22.5.3.4 the as installed factors that limit the stated pump rating including:
*22.5.3.4.1 the length of discharge piping, and *22.5.3.4.2 the number and radius of bends, and *22.5.3.4.3 the roughness of the interior surfaces of piping and fittings, and *22.5.3.4.4 the reduction in cross-sectional area of discharge system components such as check valves and thru-hulls;
22.5.3.5 the recommended method of securing the unit;
22.5.3.6 any other data necessary for the use, installation, or connection of the pump, including recommended screening, location of discharge fittings, and method of securing piping connections;
*22.5.3.7 conductor size.
*The ABYC Standard is voluntary so most manufacturers provide little of the above, important information. Conductors, piping, fittings and installation should be designed for minimum resistance to flow. DO NOT under-design components.
22.5.5 Pumps shall be capable of operating at their design voltage and maximum amperage for a continuous 24-hour period without failure and without creating a hazardous situation.
22.6.5 Materials shall be suitable for the marine environment, and shall not be adversely affected by gasoline, diesel fuel, cleaners identified as bilge cleaners, lube oil, kerosene, and salt water.
22.7 DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION - BILGE PUMP SYSTEM
22.7.1 The pump and system shall be designed and constructioned shall be such that the pump and system will towithstand the pressures, temperatures, and stresses likely to be encountered in normal marine service.
22.7.2 The pump and system shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the following provisions:
22.7.2.1 Piping connections, whether designed for rigid piping, tubing, or hose, shall be designed to prevent failure from stresses likely to be imposed on such connections. Hose connections shall be designed to provide support, and permit the use of clamps.
22.7.2.2 All potential sources of ignition located in spaces containing gasoline powered machinery, or gasoline
fuel tank(s), or joint fitting(s), or other connection(s) between components of a gasoline system, shall be ignition protected
NOTE: The use of a length of water resistant electrical cable, sealed at the pump connection, is recommended so that all electrical connections can be made above the maximum bilge water level.
22.7.3 On boats with an enclosed accommodation compartment, an audible alarm shall be installed indicating that
bilge water is approaching the maximum bilge water level.
22.8 22.8 LOCATION AND INSTALLATION
22.8.1 22.8.1 Bilge pumps shall be mounted in accordance with the pump manufacturer instructions, and in an accessible location to permit servicing and cleaning of the intake and/or screening.
22.8.2 The bilge pump inlet shall be located so that excess bilge water can be removed from the bilge at static floating position, and at maximum conditions created by the boat’s motion, heel, and trim.
22.8.3 Pump intakes shall be protected to prevent ingestion of debris likely to cause pump failure.
22.8.4 Intake hose or tubing shall not collapse under maximum pump suction.
22.8.5 Pump discharge systems shall be as nonrestrictive as practicable.
NOTE: As installed, pump discharge capacity may be reduced by such factors as
a. length of discharge piping, and/or (shorter is better)
b. number and radius of bends, and/or (few bends with large radius)
c. roughness of the interior surfaces of piping and fittings, and/or (do not use corrugated tubing)
d. reduction in cross-sectional area of discharge system components such as check valves and thru-hulls. (slightly larger than the pump discharge diameter is better)
The capacity of all bilge pumps is determined by the manufacturer under ideal conditions – no vertical head unless otherwise stated, no hose attached so no bends and with maximum design voltage supplied to the pump. In actual operational conditions, with long, undersized wiring runs, 2 or more meters of hose, with bends and fittings, the design discharge could be reduced 50% or more (if with corrugated tubing and undersized fittings) from that specification supplied by the manufacturer.
22.8.7 the discharge may be located below the maximum heeled waterline (7 degrees for powerboats) if the discharge line is provided with both of the following:
22.8.7.1 a seacock installed in accordance with the requirements of ABYC H-27,
22.8.7.2 a vented loop or other means to prevent siphoning into the boat. A check valve shall not be used for this purpose.
22.8.9 A check valve may be used only when necessary to prevent an automatic bilge pump from cycling on and off due to back flow from the discharge line.
22.8.10 Hose connections shall be secured with a non-corrosive type of clamp, or be mechanically fastened with permanently attached end fittings, such as swaged sleeve. Threaded inserts shall be attached with metallic clamps.
22.8.11 Motors of non-submersible bilge pumps shall be located above the maximum anticipated bilge water level.22.8.12 Bilge pumps with automatic controls shall be provided with a readily accessible manual switch to activate the pump.
22.8.13 Manual switches for bilge pumps shall be readily accessible.
22.8.14 Pumps with automatic controls shall be provided with a visual indication that power is being supplied to the pump.
Last edited by Foxsea; 07-03-2012 at 07:24 AM.
"Save wild salmon - can the D.F.O." - tee shirt from Pacific Net and Twine
On TC Certified or compliant boats you are required to have a ONE-WAY Valve on all thru hulls below the down flooding point in case the hose lets go. It is supposed to stop the flow of water in. Funny enough I have heard of one guy that had these installed in his boat and the one-way gave way and the boat partially sank!! So much for TC regs!
One thing nobody has mentioned in regard thru hulls-especially washdowns-most of them have a filter-which can act like a broken thru hull if the glass (plastic) cracks or you leave off the O ring or don't tighten well enough! Lots of things to think on.
"So many fish-So little time"
Mine has a very robust wire grating across the intake---I was thinking how handy that would be if the glass cracked or the hose started leaking or the hose clamp worked free---impossible to bung it off from the outside, impossible to get to it from the inside.
Slim compensation that the brochure insists my boat is "unsinkable"....
If you mount the pump well above the water line you don't have to worry as much about a broken fitting or filter causing a problem.
This is one of the reasons I love my Whaler. I have three compartments in the floor that flood when you stop moving and drain out when on step. I just put a builge pump with a hose on it in one of them . Never have to worry about clamps letting go and they make great holding tanks for the crabs also
My two cents... if you run your intake hose from the shut off ( which in the end, you WILL leave on...) up vertically above your waterline, then put in whatever loop or full circle you can fit, THEN connect to the pump, the hose should never siphon ( short of complete failure of clamps/hose/fittings )
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