Remote engine cut off

cagey

cagey

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Trying to design MOB kit for single handing. Steering and means of boarding I’ve sort of designed but I need a way to wirelessly stop the engine. Engine is beta with mechanical fuel strangulation but also has solenoid controlled strangulation, I think solenoid is excited to open.
What is a reliable way to wirelessly control this valve, range about 70metres access within waterproof phone holder so keys can be operated, looking at garage door controllers on ebay but not sure if this is way to go.
Ta
K
 
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cagey said:
What is a reliable way to wirelessly control this valve, max range 10metres access within waterproof phone holder so keys can be operated, looking at garage door controllers on ebay but not sure if this is way to go.
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10m seems quite short. Take 6 knots as 3m/s. By the time you surface, orientate yourself, get the remote control out of your pocket, get the water out of your eyes so you can see the button, press the button, press it a second time to get it to work as it is a law of the universe that garage remotes never work first time, then you are very likely to be already out of range.

Edit: just checked the circuit diagram for my stop solenoid (Yanmar). Push button connects +ve (from key) to coil of solenoid. Another switch in parallel would accomplish the same.
 
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Most local man-overboard alarms operate the other way round, and activate when a signal is lost. Raymarine for example have their "Lifetag", and NASA the cheaper "MOBi" system.

There are all kinds of short-range radio kits for Arduino and suchlike which would probably form a decent basis for a home-made alternative if you'd rather spend time than money.

That said, I'm sceptical of the ability of a surprised fully-clothed MOB to catch up with a drifting boat...

Pete
 
prv said:
That said, I'm sceptical of the ability of a surprised fully-clothed MOB to catch up with a drifting boat...
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Maybe the system could create a waypoint for the MoB and sail back to it. Could go badly wrong if the sails were up though. Should be a fair bit easier under engine but I suspect would also need the autopilot to control the throttle for it to work properly.
 
Please help with original question that is how to remotely, via wireless, turn off a diesel engine, the other parts of the problem hopefully I have a work round.
Ta
 
This sort of question comes up quite frequently. I appreciate its a real fear. But given that it is a real fear are not most people overly cautious or focussed at self preservation. Would the idea that 'I have a back-up' reduce the fear, result in complacency with increased losses.

A large number of people on this, these, forum confess to sailing single handed at least frequently if not all the time - has anyone disappeared?

How many single handed people are actually lost?

Sorry - I don't mean to hijack the thread - just wanted to put it into context.

Jonathan
 
cagey said:
Please help with original question that is how to remotely, via wireless, turn off a diesel engine, the other parts of the problem hopefully I have a work round.
Ta
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You're assuming you can self-recover if you go MOB. Do you really think that's possible? If you must go ahead, what about a simple kill-cord?
 
penberth3 said:
You're assuming you can self-recover if you go MOB. Do you really think that's possible? If you must go ahead, what about a simple kill-cord?
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a short tether would solve all the issues, best stay on the boat, stay in control. or sit under a tree
 
I can't help but think that you are putting your efforts in the wrong place. You should concentrate on not going over in the first place.
Maybe to test this, you should go out with a couple of people that you trust, tether yourself then roll over the side from around midship, then try to get back on board unaided.
 
prv said:
Most local man-overboard alarms operate the other way round, and activate when a signal is lost. Raymarine for example have their "Lifetag", and NASA the cheaper "MOBi" system.

There are all kinds of short-range radio kits for Arduino and suchlike which would probably form a decent basis for a home-made alternative if you'd rather spend time than money.

That said, I'm sceptical of the ability of a surprised fully-clothed MOB to catch up with a drifting boat...

Pete
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As pete says most if not all MOB tags work on the lost signal method as does the one I got from Angus McDoon.

Most also have a volt free contact that can be used to operate the engine shutoff so that is the way to go.

It is also possible to use the MOB contact to put the help full over so if sailing the boat will ? round up and stop.

This needs a little more that just a contact as the system need to check the tack the boat is on and put the helm the correct way to round up

35246468384_438e28f6c7_b.jpg


35917544412_69431a0fd0_b.jpg


The white boxes
 
cagey said:
Please help with original question that is how to remotely, via wireless, turn off a diesel engine, the other parts of the problem hopefully I have a work round.
Ta
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Did I not do that in post #2. Have a switch activated by the remote that will operate the stop solenoid.
 
cagey said:
Engine is beta with mechanical fuel strangulation but also has solenoid controlled strangulation, I think solenoid is excited to open.
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On my Beta 722 (2006) the stop solenoid closes the fuel valve when excited.
A remote control that simply connects to the solenoid positive feed would presumably leave the solenoid excited for quite a while, which I am not sure it is designed for. Perhaps better, if possible, to have the remote control give a 5 second pulse or so – as in a button push.
 
BabaYaga said:
A remote control that simply connects to the solenoid positive feed would presumably leave the solenoid excited for quite a while, which I am not sure it is designed for.
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True. I know someone who built an electronic control system for a Yanmar engine, the first version of which could under some circumstances leave the stop solenoid energised continuously, and the coil burned out. After replacing the solenoid, the second version of the control system incorporated a timed relay so that it couldn't be left on.

Pete
 
prv said:
True. I know someone who built an electronic control system for a Yanmar engine, the first version of which could under some circumstances leave the stop solenoid energised continuously, and the coil burned out. After replacing the solenoid, the second version of the control system incorporated a timed relay so that it couldn't be left on.

Pete
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This could be used as a delay off timer set in once off mode

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-DC-I...ay-Relay-ON-OFF-Module-1S-15Min-/162801940627
 
I like the idea of some thing to stop the boat and have a chance of getting to it, with a life jacket on you might at least have a chance in calmish water, also might atleast save the boat from colliding with someone else and thus save injury to others,

I usually sail alone and nearly always use a tether but have on ocassion found myself saying to myself as I work on the foredeck "oh where is my tether?"

one of my musings is that a drogue or para-anchor is the way to go, in virtually all situations the vessel would be brought to a halt if the engine can be put in neutral or the helm pushed hard over so as to heave-too,

should be simple enough to have a switch that tacks the boat having received input from a pendulum switch which reads the current tack.

Nobody sets out to fall overboard but it happens....
 
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