Patent ID: 7806664

Claim:
A method of controlling a bilge pump positioned in a boat, the bilge pump including a motor, the method comprising: raising a float to a first height; activating a first switch responsive to raising the float to the first height for a period of time greater than two seconds in order to help prevent premature activation of the bilge pump and frequent cycling of the bilge pump during movement of the boat, the first switch connected to at least one transistor that prevents the motor from being activated until the period of time has elapsed; supplying power to the bilge pump responsive to activation of the first switch for the period of time; lowering the float to a second height lower than the first height; activating a second switch responsive to lowering the float to the second height, the second switch being vertically spaced below the first switch; and cutting power to the bilge pump responsive to activation of the second switch.