Recommendation for SMS alarm with bilge monitor

[skyflyer]

This year my boat is moving from a swinging mooring, owned and checked daily by the marina staff, to a club mooring where I am 'on my own'. I also anticipate longer periods between visits than in previous years so there will be more time for something to go wrong between visits.

I would like to install some sort of water level monitor, probably activated by a second float switch set a bit higher than the one that triggers the bilge pump that will then send an SMS text message if there is a problem. I have friends locally who can visit at short notice but not whom I can reasonably ask to keep a daily watch!

Can anyone recommend a suitable economic system or self-build project that will do the job? I see that you can buy very inexpensive GPS anti-theft/tracking devices thats end an SMS, would it be possible to link a float switch to one of these?

 

[RAI]

I have been looking at the many household sensor/alarm systems that are available, particularly those that have GSM outputs. My current favourite is the Olympia model 5943.
http://www.conrad.de/ce/de/product/791567/Funk-Alarmanlagen-Set-Olympia-5943?queryFromSuggest=true
It remains to fix a way to use one of the door/window opening sensors to work with a float switch for a bilge water alarm..

 

[bendyone]

Try http://www.sendtech.co.uk/

One of their products will do what you want http://sendtech.co.uk/GSMOutdoorAlert.shtml

 

[Trundlebug]

Yes there are cheap GSM alarms available that will:-

• Alarm when the boat is broken into (wireless door sensor and movement sensors)
• Send you a text when the bilge pump activates - easily wired, just take a wire from the bilge pump switch so when power goes to the pump it also goes to the GSM alarm
• Phone a series of numbers if the alarm is activated, programmable by you. You can reset, listen, switch off, talk, sound the alarm all remotely by phone control
• Monitor other things like e.g frost alarm or remotely turn the heating on by mobile phone.
• Alert you if there's a fire on board

All the above available at much cheaper price than quoted in the post above.
I paid around £50 about a year ago. I think they've come down even more since then.

Hundreds available on ebay, just search for "12v GSM alarm" and pick the one that has the right combination of features and sensors for you. Instructions are in Chinglish so require some interpretation but are easy enough to figure out and follow.

Well worth it, I've been pleased with mine.

Example here but hundreds more available
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WIRELESS-...944?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item20fa624de8

 

[prof pat pending]

Take a look at this
http://www.conrad-electronic.co.uk/...witch-And-Monitoring-Module-With-GPS-Function

You can wire it to the 12v supply and it has a battery backup
It will SMS you if the battery voltage falls below a point you have set.
It will monitor temperature and again sms you if it is outside your set range
You can add a GPS function if you wish and check location of your boat from a smart phone

You can add a number of other devices to it, I've not tried a switch as yet, but you can download the manual from that page and make you own mind up
You can also send SMS's to the unit to request status and perform other functions via relays

 

[[70521]]

I just check on the web cam each morning.