No-Nonsense Bilge Pump Run-Time; Also, High-Water Alarm ?

[SvenG]

I'd like to install an alarm for the bilge pump, something relatively simple but useful. I'd like it to tell me how much the pump has been running in the last day or whatever. The timer should probably be re-settable.

I'd also like to just have an audible alarm for a high bilge water sensor.

Should I just put together sensor, timer and alarm components or are there complete kits out there that would give better results than my one-off engineering solution ?

Thanks,


-Sven

[rebel heart]

No idea on a "how long it's been running" option, but the most absurdly strong and reliable bilge alarm I could find (and installed myself a few months ago) is this one from Defender:

Bilge Water Level Warning System

[SvenG]

Originally Posted by rebel heart

No idea on a "how long it's been running" option, but the most absurdly strong and reliable bilge alarm I could find (and installed myself a few months ago) is this one from Defender:

Bilge Water Level Warning System

Perfect, thanks !



-Sven

[cal40john]

Hour meter just like on your engine.

John

[bewitched]

Or a counter - doesn't tell you how long, but how many times the bilge pump has been activated.

[billwa]

For an audiable high water alarm, could you just have two bare metal prongs connected in series with a horn. Put the metal prongs on the earth side of the horn...

When the seawater hits them, the horn gos off?

[bewitched]

All in one solution

Bilge Pump Monitor, Alarm and Counter

[Dynamo1181]

Harbor Freight has a high water alarm for about 10$...works good and at that price, add a second. I use a Radio Shack piezo buzzer at the rule bilge control switch to alert me when the bilge pump auto cycles on. No counter yet.
A

[FloridaSon]

I installed a unit called Bilgewatch8. It counts activations for each pump, has a delay to prevent counting sloshing or washdown bilge activations and has contacts for external alarms or even cell phone notifications. It is easy to install on the manual bilge switches using piggyback connectors. Google bilgewatch8

[svHyLyte]

Originally Posted by bewitched

All in one solution

Bilge Pump Monitor, Alarm and Counter

The above together with an Engine hours counter in the hot line would cover all the bases. Alarm, cycles and run tiem.

FWIW...

[Mark Zarley]

Cheap 12v car horn (very loud, would awaken the dead ) Float switch mounted higher than bilge pump float switch, activation means the bilge pump is overwelmed or the pump is out of commision. In-line toggle switch to de-activate the loud horn while you work on a solution to the above problem.

[Squeaks]

FYI - As a a basic low-tech, non-electrical high water bilge alarm I simply have my electric bilge pump exit hose exit into my cockpit - no ignoring that! True, the helsman might end up with wet feet (better than if the boat goes down :-) and if my bilge water is less than clean my cockpit grating gets a free oiling but it always gets my attention and if I'm not aboard I'll see a wet cockpit sole the next day.

[JanetGroene]

Suggest big, red light on dashboard as well as an audible alarm in case you don't hear alarm over engine sound.

[Healer52]

Originally Posted by JanetGroene

Suggest big, red light on dashboard as well as an audible alarm in case you don't hear alarm over engine sound.

Good idea - an audible alarm in separate staterooms would be good too, in case the doors are closed.