Any solution for water leakage in a boat?

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bobke asked Apr 13, '24

Any solution for water leakage in a boat?

On board of my sailboat I use a Ruuvi sensor resulting in the capability to remote watch temperature and relative humidity by the use of VRM and the Venus software on an RPI. It works great
I installed a bilge pump with an automatic switch to pump out water in case of leakage. But the switch on the pump reacts only when there is a respectable water level (10 to 15 cm). I wonder if somebody already realized a connection with a more sensible leakage sensor, so I can watch if some small leakage has happened. And a kind of alarm should still be more perfect!
Maybe it is easier to use the GX tank 140 to make such feature possible???

Looking forward for some reactions
Bob

Venus OS

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Modifications Space

Node Red Space

Answer 1 · 2024-04-13T17:11:43Z

gazza answered · Apr 13 at 05:11 PM

Probably a bit overkill/costly...? If you have access to the powerline to the bilge pump then I would have thought a simple float switch, water level detector or even moisture detector that controls a relay to switch sufficient current would work? Of course I am not sure of the details of the space that you are dealing with but I would probably go down that path?

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Answer 2 · 2024-04-13T19:09:44Z

kevgermany answered · Apr 13 at 07:09 PM

Maybe try to replace the switch with one that acts earlier. Might also be possible to put a block of foam under the float so the switch moves earlier.

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Answer 3 · 2024-04-15T15:23:09Z

bobke answered · Apr 15 at 03:23 PM

@gazza

I already installed the bilge pump and it works now automatically (at a certain water level in the bilge the switch closes 2 relays (1 for positive, 1 for negative) from the permanent battery circuit connected to the battery. And when enough water is pumped out the relays open again.

@ kevgermani

thanks for suggestion for using foam on the switch. But what I like to realize if that I get a message at home or indication on VRM when the pump is activated. My boat is normally 100% dry, so when the pump is activated I think I need to go and check things on board

I could maybe find some SIM card activated switch to send me a sms message (I use one now to activate my router from time to time to send data from the RPI to VRM.But It would be much nicer to have it integrated in Venus?

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atebee commented · Apr 15 at 06:34 PM

I'm using Node Red on VenusOS to send SMS via BulkSMS API when the bilge alarm digital input is triggered.

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Answer 4 · 2024-04-17T06:26:56Z

bobke answered · Apr 17 at 06:26 AM

@atebee

This looks great. I hope you can give some more detailed info on this solution. I have already some experience with NodeRed but the BulkSMS API does not ring a bell to me.

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