Bilge pump switch lights always on?

[Carverlvr2]

Howdy all! Just bought a 2004 366 ac and working through so many WTF items but this one has me and my surveyor stumped. As you see in the first pic, at the helm, the bilge pump lights are on all the time. Pumps work and can be activated by the same switches, just the lights are always on. Previous owner said they’ve been that way for 9 years…maybe but I have to think the bulbs would have burned out a long time ago if so. Second pic shows all the lights with the dimmer up. No change with the switches actually on.
This can’t be right, right? Shouldn’t they only light up when activated or with the dimmer up?

[waybomb]

Sounds to me the switch light is wired to line power instead of load side of the switch.
Or the switch itself has the line connected to the load side and the load connected to the line side.
The switch would still function fine.

[tomschauer]

Wired incorrectly, would also be my guess.

[Carverlvr2]

Could this be caused when changing out a pump or would this only the wiring at the dash?

[waybomb]

Wiring on the dash.

[Carverlvr2]

Update: Finally had time (and enough warmth) to pull the panel and fully expected some obvious alteration to the wiring but that’s not the case. Every switch is wired exactly the same (the BP switches are the middle row) but only the bilge pump switches are constantly lit. The yellow wires are the illumination and the blue are the dimmer. If I disconnect either, the BP switch lights go out but also don’t light up when actually switched on. Everything looks stock to me. Any thoughts here?

[bud37]

In my experience OEM factory wiring usually has ID/number tags on them like some of those in the pics....like the others have said it is probably wired wrong causing the lights to be on.

[Viper]

I would take a close look at the wiring at all the pump and float switches, and also check to make sure the pumps and switches are actually working properly. Pretty common for their pilot lights to come on when a pump or switch is seized, corroded wiring, etc. Disconnect one of those items at a time and see if any of the indicator lights go out.

[Carverlvr2]

Viper, thanks for that insight! So they may be trying to tell me something isn’t working down in the bilges? I’ve recently found and checked the aft pump and switch, guess it’s time to find and check the other two. Something tells me they’re not as easy to get to.

[bud37]

I guess what I am saying is that some of the yellow and blue wires don't have tags......previously the boat has been around for quite a while and many things can change as it goes along. That would lead me to believe someone has been in there for some reason or another unless the tags/id are not seen in the pics.....just my opinion.

Maybe trying to correct the very issue you are trying to correct.....by all means check the bilge end, usually bilge pumps/switches are wired in a specific way. Schematics of examples can be found online for the type of pumps you have....good luck man , looks like this next week will be much warmer ... but not too warm.....