an amplifier for electronic alarms?

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Bruce20809

Bruce20809

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Jul 30, 2006
20
- - P42, SV Aileen, San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico
As the years tick by I have become increasingly unable to hear high frequency sounds. Even the best hearing aid does little to help me hear the audio alarms on my Raymarine electronics. Has anyone any idea how to a)increase the audio ouput level or b) install some kind of audio amplifier? Seems like I saw something about this topic in a forum years ago but it wasn't the problem for me then that it is now. Any clever ideas out there? Bruce
 
letterman

letterman

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Jan 27, 2007
383
Irwin 37' center cockpit cleveland ohio
Interesting

I had an alarm go off on my boat once and I was the only one that heard it. And I am probably like you. I was going to measure the voltage coming off the alarm, then hook it up to a foreign car horn. I think a house doorbell is 12 volt, or some lower voltage so that it might be able to be used. Have you sent anything to Raymarine yet asking them if there is a substitute for the current alarm that will solve your problem?
 
Landsend

Landsend

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Aug 9, 2005
772
Hunter 28.5 Palm Coast, FL
Sadly, The voltages and the currents for most

alarms very low and won't power a louder sounding device. Also In many applications it would entail opening up of the cases of most devices to access the alarm wires...which would void any warranties. I suffer from much the same problem and would welcome a solution, as sometime I can't even hear my car directional signal. My wife tells me when something is buzzing or beeping.
 
Mulf

Mulf

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Dec 2, 2003
400
Hunter 410 Chester, MD (Kent Island)
I had a separate Raymarine Alarm speaker added...

to my RL70 system a few years ago for the same reason. When I upgraded to the new E80 system it works with that as well. (The E80 system does have a louder standard alarm, so I might not have had to add it if I'd already had that setup). There's a brief delay before it takes over for the standard alarm on minor alarm triggers like waypoint arrival, but it activates promptly on the major alarms like shallow depth, lost fix, etc. When it goes off, you know it. It'll make those not hearing impaired JUMP! Here's what I just found on raymarine.com: SeaTalk Auxiliary Alarm Waterproof Alarm Siren, used in conjunction with the E85001 interface box, or ST60 Multi/Graphic displays. MSRP: $175.00 US Dollars Product Number: M81165 There's no picture shown but it looks like a round surface mount speaker, approx 3" diameter and 2" thick.
 
Bruce20809

Bruce20809

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Jul 30, 2006
20
- - P42, SV Aileen, San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico
amplified alarm for Raymarine

I think this product may be what I am looking for. Does it plug into a the seatalk interface? There is no other in/out data on my RL70+ unit except the hsb2 and it links to the fishfinder. Did you install this yourself? I did contact Raymarine but have not heard back from them on this. It has only become an issue since my wife has decided to spend the spring months in the states next year and I am going to be solo much of the time. She ususally would yell at me "Your alarm is calling you" and I thus alerted would respond as appropriate. Thanks for the comments thus far! Bruce
 
Mulf

Mulf

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Dec 2, 2003
400
Hunter 410 Chester, MD (Kent Island)
I had my marina install it originally.....

on my RL70 system, and I do not know how it was wired. They are an authorized Raymarine dealer so I would hope any good Raymarine dealer can explain it. On the new E80 setup the wiring from the alarm speaker goes to a black wiring box and then on to somewhere. The wiring box inside is simply a strip of paired wire connections. Although I've never personally done so, lots of people on this site have mentioned contacting Raymarine support directly at Raymarine.com. If they cannot help you, the people who installed my alarm are at Haven Harbor Marina in Rock Hall, Md. I remember when I ordered it one of the guys involved was particularly interested as he also had some hearing loss. Their phone is 800-506-6697 Ask for Mark or Bill in Yacht Services (Bill is actually the electronics guy who worked on Dreamboat). They're great people. Feel free to drop my name. After the $30,000 complete rewire and replacment of everything electronic on Dreamboat after the lighting hit they know me well. Good luck, Bruce Mulford.
 
Bruce20809

Bruce20809

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Jul 30, 2006
20
- - P42, SV Aileen, San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico
amplified alarm continued

I have been searching for this product in the internet catalogs of various Raymarine dealers and so far only find this particular item listed in supply places in England. (?) One US company lists it as "discontinued" but a few emails are awaiting dealers in the US about its availability so I might know more in a few days. There is nobody that I trust with my electronics where I am located in Mexico (the closest Raymarine dealer is up in Phoenix, AZ) so working locally with someone is not an option. There is an authorized Raymarine service dealer in La Paz, Baja California and maybe when I am there this spring I can get him to come aboard. He is usually so busy it is hard to track him down. I will try to call your guys at Haven Harbor Marina and talk to them also--think they are working this week? I suspect from what I have read so far that I would have to link this thing into the SeaTalk system that links my ST50 instruments somehow but I don't know it that would also amplify the alarms from my radar in the RL70C+ display. Thanks for your help so far. Bruce
 
caguy

caguy

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Sep 22, 2006
4,004
Catalina, Luger C-27, Adventure 30 Marina del Rey
A transistorized switch would solve your low

voltage problem. With that you should be able to activate any 12v alarm or even a servo hooked to your big toe. Frank
 
Mulf

Mulf

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Dec 2, 2003
400
Hunter 410 Chester, MD (Kent Island)
In thinking about it further...

...if I remember right there is an output for the alarm from the wiring terminal strip in the grey course computer/system hub that is mounted under my nav station seat. All the various instrument wires seem to run to/from this. I'm timid when it comes to messing with expensive electronics but perhaps someone can tell you how to safely test the output. To address your other question, the alarm sounds on all instrument alarms on my sea talk (or is that hsb2 as you mention) linked system: depth, knot, speed, wind, autopilot, gps, chart, radar, etc.
 
sailortonyb Allied Mis

sailortonyb Allied Mis

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Jun 12, 2004
1,181
Allied Mistress 39 Ketch Kemah,Tx.
Frequency

If you have a high freq. loss in your hearing, louder may not be the solution. You must find a device with a lower freq. More like changing a high freq beep into a low freq. buzz. Tony B
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
My preference for an alarm is one that

warbles rather than one that is of a single frequency.
 
Manny

Manny

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Oct 5, 2006
983
Hunter 82? 37 Cutter Wherever the wind takes me
Why Sound?

Why not use light instead of a louder alarm? Like Frank mentioned, a transistorized switch or a relay hooked to the alarm circuit triggering a bright light could be just as effective. If you can find out if the voltage being sent to the speaker or buzzer is the right voltage, you may even be able to hook up some super bright leds directly to it. Best of all, they could be remotely located. Consider that even while running the Iron Genny at WOT, you would still be able to notice an alarm light. My 2 cents, Manny
 
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