Water Detection Sensor / LED?

[gman90706]

I do a lot of saltwater boating, and after this last go-round with cleaning up all the rust & corrosion off my engine from water splashing around my bilge, I'm looking for a better solution.

Every auto-bilge pump switch I've found needs like 2" of water or something to activate the float & turn the bilge on. I was thinking just installing some kind of sensor in the bottom of the bilge, if it gets wet / immersed in water, it just lights up a light on the dash, maybe even a little beep here and there....and I can manually run the bilge pump as seen fit ...

Anybody have any suggestions/experience with something like this?

 

[dan t.]

Re: Water Detection Sensor / LED?

how about a water sensor from diesle fuel filter canister. or mabe not , come to think of it they cost about 150 bux .carb float and a micro switch?

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Water Detection Sensor / LED?

I wonder if you could install some sort of baffle pan to reduce the splash, like a windage tray, or even just a screen streched across under the motor tacked to the side of the bilge walls, if your bilge like mine doesn't have a sump area, the pump can't pump the water lower than about 1/4".

 

[Bondo]

Re: Water Detection Sensor / LED?

Ayuh,...

Seems like it would be easier to just Fix the Leaks....

 

[gman90706]

Re: Water Detection Sensor / LED?

Ayuh,...

Seems like it would be easier to just Fix the Leaks....

workin' on the 'main' leaks (bait tank overflowing & better engine compartment seal) ... but there's always some I just can't get away from, drainage from the anchor box,... spashing down the rod holders in rough seas, etc, etc.....

I just know that by the time I get 2" of water in the bilge, that's a few gallons or so for me and I don't like it. Would rather have an indicator of some sort, or an auto bilge that kicks in at like 1/2" or 1" of water max on the float?....

Anyone familiar with any low profile auto-pumps that kick in that low? Lookin' around now haven't found one yet...my starter & oil pan which sit extremely low in the bilge will be much happier campers if kept drier

a70eliminator I wonder if you could install some sort of baffle pan to reduce the splash, like a windage tray

--interesting idea hmm - may consider something like this too...

 

[seven up]

Re: Water Detection Sensor / LED?

With water sloshing around you could get an on-off-on-off result. Adjusting a float switch to the level of water you wish to detect will work. Wire in a bulb controlled by the float swtch.


Enjoy

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Water Detection Sensor / LED?

You can do this, it's just a matter of using a sensitive float switch.

Most water sensors that detect less than 1/8" of water are continuity sensors, IE two contacts that when bridged by water, set off a pump. Simple, but would corrode quickly in saltwater, plus they would stay triggered until they dried.

Instead, set up a normal bilge pump switch so it's almost triggering (mount it tilted instead of flat), and very little water would set it off. 2 inches would be easy, that's actually a fair amount of water.

You're going to have trouble getting the last of the water out of your bilge with any normal pump, and if you set the switch to trigger on a small amount of water it may go off unnecessarily. If you really want the last of the water out, use a diaphragm pump.

Erik

 

[Woodnaut]

Re: Water Detection Sensor / LED?

... spashing down the rod holders in rough seas, etc, etc....

Thats what I'm talking about...

 

[salty87]

Re: Water Detection Sensor / LED?

granted, most bilge pumps are mounted on the bottom of the hull, not much room below.

you need the pump recessed into a smaller area that holds less volume. maybe raise the hull bottom with some sort of false floor or pump holding contraption? you'd still probably have the problem of too little water just running back down the bilge hose when the pump empties the space though.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Water Detection Sensor / LED?

My first wife was blinded by a disease. We had a small device that she would hang on a glass that would beep when the glass was full. These are available and run on a 9V battery. They make models that beep or vibrate. I would check at a drug store or a place that deals with devices for the handicapped. They are cheap and loud! You could modify the pins and mount it below deck.

 

[erie_guy]

Re: Water Detection Sensor / LED?

You also may want to try a computer actuated bilge pump that does not need a float switch. It turns on periodically and if water is detected it continues to run - removing the water. If no water is detected (current flow is low) the pump shuts off and does not run. Take a look at the Rule Computerized Automatic unit. Its not cheap, but may do what you want. http://www.premiumpowersports.com/R...stores if you ask. erie_guy Port Clinton, OH

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Water Detection Sensor / LED?

http://www.leakalarm.com/water-leak-detector.php?gclid=CMnTzZj1ppcCFQMnGgod2kyP_A

i found this on the www.

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Water Detection Sensor / LED?

You also may want to try a computer actuated bilge pump that does not need a float switch. It turns on periodically and if water is detected it continues to run - removing the water. If no water is detected (current flow is low) the pump shuts off and does not run. Take a look at the Rule Computerized Automatic unit. Its not cheap, but may do what you want. http://www.premiumpowersports.com/R...er want complete quiet, these are ok :) Erik

 

[turborich]

Re: Water Detection Sensor / LED?

Harbor freight sells a water sensor/alarm, it has a sensor that mounts where ever you want to put it & when it gets wet a buzzer sounds. They are around 10 dollars. I had one in my boat.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Water Detection Sensor / LED?

Harbor freight sells a water sensor/alarm, it has a sensor that mounts where ever you want to put it & when it gets wet a buzzer sounds. They are around 10 dollars. I had one in my boat.

So.... it would tell you when your boat was floating or on the trailer

Sorry I could not resist!

 

[Beefer]

Re: Water Detection Sensor / LED?

I don't have an automatic installed, and I just flip the manual button whenever I think there may be water in the bilge. Wouldn't is be easier to just periodically flip the switch until you get your problem areas corrected? They make covers for rod holders for this purpose, and they look nice too.