A bilge pump is a piece of equipment that is often used in boats. As the name suggests, its use allows you to pump out the water that accumulates in the hold of your boat and discharge it to the outside through a hatch. It is a device that is easy to use. Follow these few lines to learn more about how this device works ?
How an automatic bilge pump works
It is important to know that the bilge pump exists in different versions:
The automatic bilge pump
Portable manual bilge pump
Fixed manual bilge pump
The electric submersible bilge pump
With the automatic model, the motor is equipped with a 3-position ON/OFF/automatic switch. This equipment is also associated with a float. This is what allows it to operate in automatic mode. If you need to optimise the safety of your boat, this is the solution for you. All you need to do is install it in your bilge. If water hits the unit, it will automatically turn on.
How a portable hand pump works
Unlike the automatic model, this device works with the strength of your arms. Also known as a siphon, this pump consists of a hose through which water is pumped. When setting up your device, you must place the end of the hose in the wedge.
The other end can be installed at a lower level outside the boat. To start it, you need to create a vacuum in the pump. The pump draws water through the hose. The water then flows through the unit and out of the boat.
Operation of a fixed hand pump
Unlike the portable manual bilge pump, this model must be fixed to your motorboat when in use. It is a device that works on the principle of diaphragm pumps. This flexible diaphragm must be placed under the water. Once the user turns on the device, the membrane inflates.
It is this action that allows you to create an increase in water pressure in your equipment. It is around the discharge valve that opens and the suction valve closes to allow water to flow out of the pump. To empty the diaphragm and relieve the pressure in the equipment, you simply lift the lever.
How a submersible electric pump works
As the name suggests, this bilge pump is powered by electricity. You can use a battery with 12 or 24 volts, cables, a drive shaft, a delivery system and a pump with an electric motor. You should know that it is the battery that provides all the energy needed for the pump motor to work properly.
It is around the cables that transfer the energy to the motor of the device. Once the motor receives all the energy, the electric motor provides the power to pump. It is the drive shaft that transmits the power developed by the motor to the pump.
