Review on 🛥️ Attwood 4201-7 Float Switch with Cover: Bilge Pump, 12- & 24-V, CE Rated, Compact Design - 4 ¼ Inches L x 3 7/8 Inches W x 1 3/8 Inches H by Arturo Reyes

IMO there is no totally reliable bilge pump float switch, but this switch is head and shoulders above the rest. The marine environment [wet, wet, corrosive] and the conditions between and during use [shocks, vibrations, temperature changes, etc.] are a challenge for any mechanical device. The poor old float switch ends up in or under dirty, oily water, with everything from leaves, sand, and rusty fish hooks as companions. Add to that our tendency to set it up and forget it until it fails, which doesn't help it either. And when it fails, the consequences can be dire. A submerged boat [if it won't start] or a dead battery [if it won't shut down]. I like the Attwood because the swimmer's body is completely enclosed by a lid so nothing falls on the swimmer and prevents them from moving freely. It also has a series of grilles on either side that allow water to enter the float chamber but prevent larger debris such as leaves and twigs from getting onto the float and affecting its ability to cycle on and off. I also like the manual switch on the side that allows you to check the operation of the switch and bilge pump every time you use the boat. I also think it's good that Attwood has left the mounting hole pattern unchanged over a long period of time. So when it comes time to replace the switch, you don't have to make a new bracket for it. Remove this switch from the bilge during winter maintenance to prevent it from freezing from ice that may be in the bilge during winter. Clean up at the same time. Be sure to use high quality heat shrink tubing for all electrical connections and use marine grade connectors to ensure long trouble free service.