Water alarm.

[Bob S]

Had my 42' diesel for 20 years and for the first time am getting a water alarm warning on the port engine. Just showed up (weakly) upon starting. I have what appears to be normal discharge from the exhaust and a full coolant radiator. Temperatures appear normal. What does measure, where is it and how do I access/ test it? Thanks.

[Doug Thomas]

Is it the bell alarm, indicator light or gauge? Whichever, do the other two agree that there is overheating? Have you checked your raw water intake strainers? With the engine running, check for hose/clamp leaks in the engine room.

Doug

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "UnifliteWorld" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to unifliteworl...@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to unifli...@googlegroups.com.
Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/unifliteworld.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

[Bob S]

Yes it's the bell alarm water indicator light. Temperatures are normal and waterflow normal. Do you know what and where the alarm measures water flow?

[John Strong]

I don't think it measures water flow, just water temp.  Temp sensors, both for gauge and alarm, are usually high on the engine, in the top or side of the cylinder head.  With ignition on, disconnect the wire from one of the sensors.  If the alarm stops, you found it.  If the gauge quits, it's the other one.  The alarm sensors are generic and cheap.

On Tue, Jul 26, 2016 at 5:56 AM, Bob S <lisc...@gmail.com> wrote:

Yes it's the bell alarm water indicator light. Temperatures are normal and waterflow normal. Do you know what and where the alarm measures water flow?

[Bob S]

Attached is a picture of my panel. The port water alarm is the indicator  in the upper left corner. Looking at the original manual I see the "water" alarm is probably measuring water temps and alarming when temps are high, not water flow. If that is the case then the sensor is bad because it alarms on start up. Am I correct here?

Thanks. 

[Bob S]

Thanks John. Will do. These things always happen in the middle of a long trip. Would be nice to have the alarms all working correctly.

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the Google Groups "UnifliteWorld" group.
To unsubscribe from this topic, visit https://groups.google.com/d/topic/unifliteworld/sT1-ShDtwx8/unsubscribe.
To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to unifliteworl...@googlegroups.com.

[Bob S]

Our messages crossed in cyberspace.................

[Doug Thomas]

Bob,

 

I agree they are cheap, but I'm not sure they are generic. They do all look the same. I recently replaced a temp sending unit and it showed my engine overheating - in fact the gauge was spiked at 250F. I terminated the trip thinking the engine was overheating. Determined the new sending unit was at fault. Compared numbers on the old and new unit and they were not anywhere near the same. Put the old unit back in, which was actually working (long story) and the gauge read properly again.

 

As for the alarm, mine comes on (really irritating) as soon as the ignition is turned on. Stays on for several seconds after the engine is started. I now turn it off until I leave the dock and rely on the gauges and indicator lights in the meantime.

[John Strong]

His gauge works OK, it's the alarm switch that's at fault, and it's just a simple switch.

[John Strong]

Further thoughts on the switch - most will sound the alarm around the the boiling point.  Thread size and sensor length will differ.  The faulty one can be removed and matched at an auto parts store, or obtained from the engine dealer.  The cooling system will need to be partially drained to remove it and install the new one.

Doug, your alarm coming on with the ignition switch and staying on for a few seconds after starting is normal.  It's the oil pressure switch that's causing the alarm, and it shuts off once oil pressure rises after startup.  Boats with Twin Disc gears will often give an alarm chirp when shifting due to momentary pressure drop - also normal.

On Tue, Jul 26, 2016 at 9:10 AM, Doug Thomas <snazz...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Bob S]

Done....I think. . Thanks to John I found the alarms and the port engine alarm had a loose connection. Not sure what the reason was for the weird weak alarm that put me onto the problem but happy it did. Back hooked up and no issues now.
So how does one know they actually work? Since I've never overheated I'm not sure. Whether they work or not I'm very diligent at checking for coolant levels and raw water flow. Also I watch the temps regularly. Maybe that and a little luck will continue to work.