water warning system? anyone got one?

Miller · 12 February 2012, 14:07

has anyone tried the water warning system on their boat?

its the water separator that sounds an alarm when water is detected in fuel.

is it any good or just a waste of a couple hundred quid?

jyasaki · 12 February 2012, 17:10

Larger Yam's have this standard (fuel filter under the cowl.) The filter sits upright, and contains a ring made of some material that floats in water but not in gas. Should water be filtered out, it collects in the filter sump, the ring rises, and somehow triggers an electrical connection that sounds an alarm.

You can get external (Racor type) filter canisters with the same sort of system. Not sure how you retrofit use of the system; as far as I know they're made for use with existing detection alarms. You'd have to figure out how to use the signal from the switch to trigger your alarm if you added it in.

jky

Dirk Diggler · 12 February 2012, 17:23

I'd save your money, as you already have one fitted to your motor. It's the little fitting in the base of your fuel filter on the motor.

Dirk Diggler · 12 February 2012, 17:26

Marine Parts Plus Mercury Serial V-175 DFI 2.5L 803502007 13056-180

part # 21

Miller · 12 February 2012, 18:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dirk Diggler

I'd save your money, as you already have one fitted to your motor. It's the little fitting in the base of your fuel filter on the motor.

Im afraid I m all too aware of the optimax water warning system...I was gonna fit one of these as a first line of defence!

Dirk Diggler · 12 February 2012, 19:04

I'm probably wrong, but I didn't think a secondary fuel filter was recommended for an Opti, infact I was under the impression that you could void the warranty on a new motor. IMHO of course

Miller · 12 February 2012, 20:15

You cant fit an inline water separator??!

Shog69 · 12 February 2012, 20:33

I've just has a new Optimax fitted and was okay with leaving the WS in-line.

Miller · 12 February 2012, 20:47

The last thing I would do is not have a water separator fitted inline...

Dirk Diggler · 12 February 2012, 21:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miller

The last thing I would do is not have a water separator fitted inline...

That's why the motor already has one. I think the problem is that if you use the wrong type of secondary filter, you run the risk of leaning the motor out due to insufficient flow. I'd have thought something like a Racor would be fine.

jyasaki · 12 February 2012, 23:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dirk Diggler

I think the problem is that if you use the wrong type of secondary filter, you run the risk of leaning the motor out due to insufficient flow. I'd have thought something like a Racor would be fine.

Especially when they have fuel flow ratings of 30 to 120 GPH. Can't see how it would impede flow enough to affect the motor; but when in doubt, go with mfgr's recommendations.

jky