Solid State Flow Sensor for Seawater cooling?

[ReedStr]

Does anyone know of or has installed a solid-state flow sensor for seawater cooling? I know they exist. For example, there is this 24v solid-state flow sensor FS-600 No-Moving-Parts Flow Switch. I'm sure with enough fiddling (which version is the right one?, installing or finding an ntp tap into the seawater water flow stream, how do I install it such that the stainless doesn't corrode the surrounding steel, etc) I could get it to work for an n2k monitoring system but hopefully there is one already available for marine engines and someone has already figured it the best way to install it.

 

[Lepke]

Does your engine have zincs? Is the steel plumbing connected to the engine w/o hoses. If so it's protected now. Otherwise add a zinc in the plumbing and make sure all metal parts are connected metal to metal or connect them with a ground wire.

 

[psneeld]

Does it have to be solid state? The one you posted looks to be over $500 where the ones below are non-metal and depending on pipe size and start around $90.

I used the paddle type for years and it worked fine, saved me on multiple water flow issues over thousands of hours/miles.

Here is one from Seaboard Marine (highly respected) and Aqua Flow (what I used).

Raw Water Flow Alarm / Detector - 3/4" MPT

Raw Water Flow Alarm / Detector - 3/4" MPT

www.sbmar.com

Aqua Flow

 

[ReedStr]

That’ ms an interesting point. If installed between the engine out flow and the exhaust mixer it would have no chance of clogging.

In general I like solid state because it has had lower failure rates for me than electromechanical systems.

 

[psneeld]

Never clogged on me or failed. Installed between sea strainer and water pump.

Could replace every 5 years and still be less expensive over a 25 years.

For my single engine...that would be around a 15 minute swap.

Would prefer no moving parts but it is almost asecond level warning sensor...especially for low power, non turbo diesels.