Index

Remote Boat Monitor - (via WI-FI).
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 monitor will connect to the Internet via WI-FI.  Notifications will be emailed instantly from the monitor to my email address at home or to my cell phone.  Peace of mind, regardless of where I am in the world.  In addition, if there are no events to transmit, the circuitry will transmit a "keep alive or heartbeat" email to indicate it is still alive and functioning.  Our club video camera of the moored fleet only goes so far to monitor boats and this monitor will report the other vital statistics I want to see.  If you can monitor all of these via your designated WI-FI, you can be rest assured your boat is safe.

DESIGN - The circuitry is being configured and tested on a bread board.  The RaspberryPi is programmed to wake up whenever an event happens, send the information via an email 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.

2025-10-21 - This circuitry is being uncooperative to configure.  Just when the last option is configured, another rears it ugly head with a conflict.

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

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

• B - External Real Time Clock, used to wake system at noon and midnight each day.

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

• D - Abort Switch and LED.  *NEW* Works in concert with the Soft Reset button "C".
  LED 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 pumps when installed on Panache.

2025-11-22 - All software modules are currently being assembled for first time for interoperability testing.

_______________________________________________________

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.  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 is 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 - If we can design it, I would like a latching alarm indication.  Pulse a Sonalert and an LED with each alarm.  Also a local reset switch to clear the latching alarm and resume monitoring.  I would use the existing 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) - 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 still working and all is good.  An unscheduled email (fancy word 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. 

You would have to make a judgement call on how to respond to your first alarm.  Keep 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 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 though.    However, if I received a subsequent alarm shortly afterwards, it would definitely get my attention and likely warrant a visit. 

This system may sound crude but it establishes that the boat is still receiving WI-FI therefore at the surface in the same place, 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.

_______________________________________________________

PARTS -

• Project box to house monitor.

• Gland to protect wires through side of project box.

• Veroboard with stand offs.

• RaspberryPi with socket to plug it into.

• Toggle switch with LED.

• Toggle switch.

• Terminal strip with lugs.

• An assortment of resistors and capacitors.

• Light gauge wiring.
   

Return to Tech Tip Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Have a Question?