On Eternal Scale Patrol

[davinci]

Thanks for the Info.
So it

Thanks for the Info.
So it seems the best way is for the timer to start when you turn On the system, not to be started by loss of signal, like I was trying to do.
Yes, that makes it much simpler,
I can build the timer circuit using 555 Timer ICs.
Thanks,

[scott t]

How about adding a handful

How about adding a handful of those tiny styrofoam beads along with the release of the float and line. If the float gets caught some of the beads
would probably get to the surface and may be small enough to not get
blown around. And if your eco friendly get some bird seed that floats and
maybe the ducks will indicate the location of the boat.

Mike nice fix on the avatar.

Scott

[davinci]

Hey, Great!
I may add an

Hey, Great!
I may add an Automatic Duck Feeder anyway,
wheather it sinks or not they get fed. LOL

[davinci]

I forgot to mention that

I forgot to mention that the main advantage of a float system over a pinger is that, if the line is strong enough to lift the weight of the flooded Sub, there's no need for a Diver to go down to get it.
Now I'm Wondering how strong the line needs to be?

It mainly depends on the amount of flotation-foam and how close it is to neutral buoyance, when flooded, which will determine it's weight while still in the water. Which should Not require a very Large line.

[redboat219]

If your sub's big enough

If your sub's big enough why not fit both? The float line would be your primary locator/ rescue system. If the line should fail to deploy for one reason or another then you still got the pinger as back-up.

[Guest]

I'm a great believer in

I'm a great believer in 'Sods law'.

Sod's law says that if you fit a timer to your boat, it will either

1) Fail when you want it to work

OR

2) Trigger when you least expect it to.

OR

3) You'll be enjoying a nice lazy afternoons sail, and forget to bring the boat in to reset the timer. On that occasion, sods law says the device will work to perfection, and could aid in the loss of your boat if it gets wrapped around something.

Pulling up a boat by the cord isn't really very practical- you could easily do more damage to your pride and joy.

All this ground has been covered in the past, and the end result has been- a pinger works best.

[Guest]

"There you go with those

"There you go with those negative vibes" and so early in the morning! Have a little faith, have a little faith! ( Donald Sutherland ) from Kelly's Hero's, a great army flick BTW, and on DVD.

[bob the builder]

Its very possible that the

Its very possible that the buoy system that I've envisioned may not work, and if so a pinger would be the next best thing, I suppose. But you know the old saying, "Nothing ventured, nothing gained". Its possible that it might actually work! And if so, the peace of mind having it will be well worth the additional cost and engineering.

[junglelord]

So many dives I couldn't

So many dives I couldn't begin to count, some all across the pond underwater out of sight, down 30 ft and probably deeper many times, impervious to weather, sits outside all year long, one tough reliable sub.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zRfP9v6ELw

Ovbiously a serious sub, more then a toy.


You do not handle it with kid gloves ovbiously and it actually is ment to dive beyond periscope depth...loving it.

[davinci]

Its very possible that the

Its very possible that the buoy system that I've envisioned may not work, and if so a pinger would be the next best thing, I suppose. But you know the old saying, "Nothing ventured, nothing gained". Its possible that it might actually work! And if so, the peace of mind having it will be well worth the additional cost and engineering.

Don't mind him Bob. He just likes to contradict everything I say, for some reason. LOL
We should just let it bounce off.
I'm anxious to see your float system in action.

[petn7]

How will this pinger system

How will this pinger system work? Wouldn't one need a computer and 3 hydrophones to precisely locate where the pinging sound is coming from?

[davinci]

I think the usual idea

I think the usual idea is to row or swim in progressively smaller circles, listening for the loudest return with a single microphone, to estimate it's location. It gives the diver a pretty good starting point for scuba-dives.
It always sounded 'Iffy' to me but I've heard and read it really works.
I've never seen it actually done tho.

[redboat219]

How will this pinger system

How will this pinger system work? Wouldn't one need a computer and 3 hydrophones to precisely locate where the pinging sound is coming from?

You could manually triangulate using just one hydrophone. Turn the hydrophone left and right til you get the loudest return then note it's bearing. Then move to other location preferrably at a right angle to the first and repeat the scan. Where the bearings intersect is the likely location of the pinger.

[scott t]

How about building a transmitter

How about building a transmitter failsafe that turns on with loss of power and sends out a signal.

Someone mentioned they used some meter for checking the radio waves
bouncing around at an indoor pool. That type of meter may pick up the
distress signal and let you triangulate with signal strength.

The failsafe xmitter would run off its own hearing aid battery and start the
same time the float is released and the pinger starts. (two belts & one
suspender)

Allright you guys (you know who you are) get started hacking apart a
old cell phone to get this device made. You have till the Reggatta.

Add a feature spell check. I'm not sure I spelled Regatta right.

Scott

[bob the builder]

How will this pinger system

How will this pinger system work? Wouldn't one need a computer and 3 hydrophones to precisely locate where the pinging sound is coming from?

You could manually triangulate using just one hydrophone. Turn the hydrophone left and right til you get the loudest return then note it's bearing. Then move to other location preferrably at a right angle to the first and repeat the scan. Where the bearings intersect is the likely location of the pinger.

I'm pretty sure that you can't get differential readings underwater based on orientation. Water propagates sound too well. You'd need to triangulate based on volume from three or more points.