RE: Bilge pumps

Hi all,, I am in the process of building a sluice, albeit small, and am planning on using a bilge pump for water, in researching bilge pumps I noticed that the Ebay ones have the notation :" for intermittent use", so has anyone used one and how intermittent are they?? Can they be run for 1/2 hour or 1 hour or would they collapse at those times?? I would like to hear some ridgey didge experiences as I can't afford the 2 or 3 hundred dollar ones.. Please help.. dundiggin.

When we were into dryblowing we used a couple of these at the end of day to sort our fines in a recirculating sluice.
Half hour or so no problems, if they are fully submerged don't see why there would be a problem.
Fly wire like mesh over inlet keeps the floaties (sticks/grass etc) from clogging impeller.

Thanks for your reply nightjar, and I suppose when treating concentrates 1/2 hour or so would clean em up and one could not ,as a single operator, be making concentrates and treating them at the same time.. I can imagine that if the pump is totally submerged then overheating is not a problem and perhaps longer running times may be OK. I'll probably get one and experiment on that point.. If it buggers up it's not a great loss, perhaps in the vicinity of $50..Better than $300!!! My overall plan is similar to what you did-- get the cons via hand methods and then take em to water and treat .. The bilge pump was the item in doubt.. Thanks again,, dundiggin ( I may have to change that avatar as well, blimy!!)

DD,
A post from a few years back, showing our sluice made from pvc pipe.
Simple and VERY effective.

https://golddetecting.forumotion.net/t1614-building-a-sluice-and-need-some-help?highlight=sluice+nightjar