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Subject: TWL: Re: Alarms displayed on a laptop
LRZeitlin@XXX.XXX
Date: Sat Mar 30 2002 - 08:53:31 EST
In a message dated 3/30/02 12:01:20 AM, Dan wrote:
<<Does anyone know of a product that will take my older
engine alarms, tie it into a laptop and display a
message when the something goes wrong. Such as over
heat low oil.
Im thinking this might be a good idea. >>
Dan,
There are plenty of devices which will display alarm signals on a computer.
It requires converting the on/off signal on the display to a RS 232 input to
the computer. Do a search for "computer instrumentation" on google.com. In my
opinion it is a bad idea for the following reasons:
1. Alarm signals should be extremely reliable. The safety of the boat is at
stake. Displaying the alarm on a computer adds an unreliable component in
series with the signal and decrease the reliability of the alarm system to
less than the reliabilty of the computer. We all know that computers never
fail, don't we?
2. You must have the laptop on and be looking at the screen for it to work. I
can hear my low oil pressure or overheat horn from anywhere on the boat.
2. It is quite expensive. The signal converter might cost more than the
laptop, certainly more than a replacement bulb or buzzer.
Don't do it.
Larry Z
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