louder Alarm.

[SimonV]

Seriously......
As I will be starting the second part of my adventure single handed, I would like to, if possible have the girly alarm on my Radar (Raymarine SL70C plus) modified to at least as loud as my smoke alarm. Has anybody done this and how? Why any company would have an alarm that goes peep peep peep instead of BAPP BAPP BAPP is just gay, not that there is anything wrong with that.

[Hartley18]

Simon, girly alarms are a serious problem the world over!.

As a quick fix, may I suggest switching the radio to "PA" and taping the mic over the Radar alarm buzzer?? At least that way you'll be sure to hear it!

[sailaway21]

I'd suggest getting one of those baby monitors designed to be placed next to the kiddo's crib and the speaker in the other room with Mom. If I'm not mistaken, they run on 115volts A/C via a 12volt DC transformer. Dump the transformer and plug 'er in.

To wire your radar alarm, which is not designed as a turn it on and go to sleep system as that is unsafe, you'll need to measure the amount of current the radar's alarm speaker is getting and then wire in a relay rated for that current on it's actuation side. The other side of the relay can have 12volt DC current wired through it going to your klaxon.

[gershel]

Raymarine sells a type of junction box that would allow an external alarm to be connected, such as a Radio Shack alarm. The box runs about $160.
Marc

[erps]

Those battery powered external computer speakers are a dime a dozen. I wonder if they could be spliced into the alarm speaker on the device, placed where you want them (one near the sea bunk, the other at the companion way?) and then turned them on when you need them.

[Valiente]

You can pick up pretty obnoxious 12 VDC buzzers at electronic surplus supply stores for $5 or so. I have one I'm going to wire into my oil pressure circuit. Whether you want the Raymarine option is I suppose contingent on your soldering confidence, because buggering out an oil pressure sensor isn't as big a deal as pooching one's radar.

[hellosailor]

Simon, it might pay to visit an electronics tech who is also an authorized Raymarine shop. What you can do will depend on how Raymarine is powering their alarm, if it is a small piezo chip and they are using a limited-power driver to make it chirp, they may be able to "simply" insert a driver transistor or relay to drive a higher power louder buzzer or alarm circuit. But if things aren't so simple or robust--just hacking in could blow up the whole thing. Better to pay someone who can tell exactly what their driver is up to.

[jrd22]

Hellosailor- thanks for that advice, I wear hearing aids and can't hear any of the high pitched alarms on the boat. I wonder if all of them could be hooked up to an amp of some kind and then to a single speaker, that would be great. I use the dog now, if his ears go up and his head tilts, I know something is wrong . Not foolproof, but it works (sometimes).

John

[sailingdog]

JRD-

Might be worthwhile to hook the alarms up to a high intensity light instead. One of my friends, who is legally deaf, has done much the same on her boat.

[jrd22]

SD, that's probably even a better idea. If we are sailing I may hear it, but if the engine is running - forget it. Thanks, I'll look into it.

John