Q: Bilge pump control panels placement

[vas]

another one of my refit Qs...

Got three compartments (cabins, e/r, lazarette) and three individual auto bilge pumps
Two of them are diaphragm ones, third is a sahara with built in float switch.
The diaphragm ones have water witch electronic bilge switches.
I bought three (I think!) control panels from osculati for them (on-off-auto) with warning lights, fuse et al. http://www.yachtshop.it/code_osculati/1660624/Osculati - Bilge pump control panel 24v [16.606.24]

Q: WHERE do I fit all of these control panels???

Option A. all three in the lower helm side panel one next to the other (I can find space for them, no problems)

Option B. E/R one in lower helm, cabins in corridor or bow cabin, lazarette (haven't got a clue, wouldn't like to hide it in the lazarette!)


any other options/ideas v.welcomed!

cheers

V.

 

[kashurst]

I think all three at the lower helm somewhere they can't get knocked to the off position accidentally (clear cover of some kind) and wire in two sounder/piezo/sirens so that if any one pump turns on you will know about it. (three diodes should do it) put one sounder inside by helm and one on the flybridge. I have found a warning light not enough outside as if its sunny you probably won't spot it.

 

[rafiki_]

On our Azi, the control panel is on the lower helm, with the all the control switches Vas. Some logic in keeping everything together.

 

[Trundlebug]

I had a legend made up in hard plastic which looks like a plan view of the boat, showing the various compartments and bulkheads.
The plan was / is (I haven't fitted it yet) to fit red LED's into the legend to show where the pumps are, and have them wired into buzzers to alert attention should they go off.

By having an overall plan placed with the instruments at the helm, it can be easily seen at a glance which of the pumps has been activated.
When I bought another (large) electric bilge pump I just bought a 3 way switch from Maplins (on-off-on) to control the main pump without having to have a cumbersome and expensive "control panel" which just takes up room I don't have.

In your case the "Bilge Management System" as I've called mine could be installed at every helm, it is just a visual representation of the pumps and their locations.

As yet I haven't fitted mine as my thoughts on the final design and what I want from it keep evolving.

I had originally planned to fit amber LED's in the legend to indicate when water sensors in (various places in) the bilge sensed water.
But then the individual alarm suppression and sensor design (float type or conductivity type?) decisions became more involved than I first anticipated so I've held off for now until my thoughts have distilled further.

Anyway, the idea of a boat plan view legend (a bit like many boats have for the nav lights) is one you may be able to make use of.

 

[vas]

Thanks for all replies.
Having a full BMS installed, there's going to be a few more bilge switches linked to it. Means that there's decent redundancy and I also have the old detroit diesel 4inch bells hooked up to the BMS plus I get a text message on my mobile...
The idea of the custom panel is V.good, I may have a go at integrating navigation lights with alarms (bilge, exhaust water temp, etc). Next winter project though!

Cheers

V

 

[rafiki_]

Thanks for all replies.
Having a full BMS installed, there's going to be a few more bilge switches linked to it. Means that there's decent redundancy and I also have the old detroit diesel 4inch bells hooked up to the BMS plus I get a text message on my mobile...
The idea of the custom panel is V.good, I may have a go at integrating navigation lights with alarms (bilge, exhaust water temp, etc). Next winter project though!

Cheers

V

Sounds like a plan.

 

[MapisM]

Option A. all three in the lower helm side panel one next to the other (I can find space for them, no problems)

Can't see anything wrong with that...