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Remote Monitor via Wi-Fi - Bilge Pumps, Battery Voltage, Cabin Temperature.
INDEX - Installation, Parts.

It is always nice to know that your baby is safe and still floating where you left her.  This electronic circuitry is intended to monitor bilge pump activity, system power, cabin temperature and humidity.  The pump activity is primary and the rest are a bonus, but useful.  The monitor will connect to the Internet via club WI-FI to send emails to my email address at home and to my cell phone.  Peace of mind, regardless of where I am in the world.  In addition, if there is no event to transmit, the monitor is configured to send a "heartbeat" email to indicate it is still  functioning.  Our club video camera of the moored fleet only goes so far to monitor the fleet and this monitor will report Panache's vital statistics.  If you can monitor all of these via your designated WI-FI, you can be rest assured your boat is safe.

DESIGN - The circuitry was configured and tested on a bread board.  The RaspberryPi operates normally is sleep mode but programmed to wake up whenever an event happens.  After which it emails the data then go back to sleep.  Once a day it will report "all is good."  This is likely overkill but necessary in the beginning as part of the learning process.

2025-10-21 - This circuitry is being "difficult" to configure.  Just when the last option is configured, another rears it ugly head with a conflict.  We'll figure this out.

2025-11-01 - The following features have been added to the bench prototype to continue testing:

• A - Temperature and humidity sensor to monitor the health of the cabin.  To indirectly determine if ventilation poor or failed.

• B - External Real Time Clock.  To wake the system at noon and midnight each day.

• C - Soft Rest Button used to start monitoring.  If abort switch C is ON, system monitoring stops so maintenance can occur.

• D - Abort Switch and LED.  *NEW* Works in concert with the Soft Reset button "C".
        LED is on when software monitoring abort initiated.  LED off when software monitoring aborted.

• E - Switches used to emulate bilge pump contacts.  Will be replaced with bilge pump contacts when installed on Panache.

2025-11-22 - All hardware assembled for first time for interoperability testing.

2026-04-23 - Parts are now at home for assembly on Veroboard in a project box.

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CONSTRUCTION - The final circuit will be constructed on Veroboard for simplicity with terminal strips for robust serviceable external connections.

POWER - Permanent 12VDC equipped with transient suppression to prevent false triggers (Bkr 14).  The sleep current draw is a measly 2 MA.

LOCATION - All electronics demands a dry location to prevent corrosion.  For this reason the circuitry will be housed in a plastic project box installed above Panache's starboard settee.  This location will be beside the secondary power distribution panel from where it is a short distance to connect to the terminal strips for sensory input signals. 

LOCAL ALARM INDICATION (Lights & Noise) - If it can be designed, it would be nice to have a latching local alarm LED with a Sonalert.  Also a local reset switch to clear the latching alarm and resume monitoring.  I could use the existing breaker panel cut-off switch to mute an alarm because an audible alarm when I'm not on board is silly.  I think this is going to be one of those "nice to have" features.

REMOTE ALARM NOTIFICATION (Email & No Local Noise) - A scheduled email is automatically generated twice a day: at noon and at midnight.  This is a "keep alive" email to give me that warm and fuzzy feeling to confirm the circuitry is working and all is good.  An unscheduled email (fancy phrase for alarm) is generated for each bilge pump operation.  All emails report date, time, battery voltage, cabin temperature, cabin humidity, RTC temperature and micro temperature.  Hopefully we can add coordinates. This should be sufficient information to analyse a trouble remotely. 

OPERATION - You would have to make a judgement call on how to respond to your first alarm, keeping in mind that the current configuration is not capable of answering a call for remote diagnostics.  So IF I didn't receive a second bilge pump alarm email I'd conclude the pump is simply moving a bit of water and call it good.  Go back to sleep Bob, the system is looking after Panache!  Make a note to check the boat for leaks next time onboard!  However, if I received a subsequent alarm email shortly afterwards, it would definitely get my attention and likely warrant a visit. 

This system may sound crude but consider that an email establishes that the boat is still receiving Wi-Fi and therefore at the surface in the club slip, the battery voltage confirms the state of charge, the bilge pumps are functioning, and the cabin ventilation is functioning.  That's a lot of information I never had before, for a measly 2 MA.

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PARTS -

• Project box to house monitor.

• Gland to protect wires through side of project box.

• Veroboard with stand offs.

• RaspberryPi plugged in socket.

• Toggle switch with LED.

• Toggle switch.

• Terminal strip with lugs.

• An assortment of resistors and capacitors.

• Light gauge coloured wiring.
   

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