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Bertram 54 Engine/Fire Alarm Help

Discussion in 'Bertram Yacht' started by Tom Childs, Apr 15, 2016.

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  1. Tom Childs

    Tom Childs New Member

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    I am refitting a 1984 B54 and it is now time to take on bringing the engine/fire alarms back operating condition. Currently I have numerous buzzers under the helm station and a red bell that is disconnected. The "test" buttons do nothing. I don't know if this is a simple or complicated fix? - whether I should ditch the OEM and install an aftermarket system? Does anyone have any experiences/tips/tricks they can share that might help me out? Thx.
  2. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Does anyone have any experiences/tips/tricks they can share that might help me out?

    Yes I do. Question one; Do you have the schematics of your ship?
    Your looking for engine alarm arming and fault connects. This is usually why the bell is disconnected.
    Also I'm assuming you have Detroit main engines.
  3. Tom Childs

    Tom Childs New Member

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    Yes - - I do have the schematics and I do have Detroit 12v71ti main engines. I will look for the alarm arming and fault connects when I get the schematics in front of me tomorrow and will reply again
  4. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    You have high water float switches in each bilge area. You may have smoke/heat/fire detectors (that probably do not work), Then the engine alarms.

    We have 3 bells (lower helm, fly bridge & saloon) and one buzzer in M stateroom.
    All will go off at the same time for any fault (low oil or high water).

    You may want to check the schematic and see if other bells or buzzers are located on your ship.
  5. Ormond Bert54

    Ormond Bert54 Senior Member

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    The alarms relay boards are located under the steps that go down to the staterooms. The wires from the helm go to wire blocks overhead in the engine room in the area over the generators. Enrique with Yacht Electric is an original Bertram guy and I believe designed the boards. He rewired a good bit of my 1984 Bertram 54' last year and it's ... just right. Everything works as it should. Yacht Electric - Enrique - 786-295-0673.
  6. Tom Childs

    Tom Childs New Member

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    Great - - Thanks!
  7. el mojito

    el mojito New Member

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    Enrique did a lot of work on Bertrams at the factory and knows A LOT about these boats. He also worked on mm 1996 46 when I bought it 12 years ago. And a great guy to boot whenever I needed help and called him.
  8. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Your ship in VA or south?
  9. el mojito

    el mojito New Member

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    Way east. I bought it in Ft Lauderdale and shipped it to Barcelona, Spain.
  10. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    So much for that idea of stopping by.
    Spain uh? Never been........
  11. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Were still not sure why the bells were disconnected.
    Lets find out why.
    Step one;
    I'd start with re-connecting the bell or installing a light in its place.
    The engines use fuel pressure to arm the engine alarms so while static (not running) and cold, high water and fire alarms should only be in play.
    One exempt from that thought is if a fuel pressure sender is stuck closed. Lets see what happens cold before we go there.
    You may have an Safety or alarm breaker also, that's on?
    Run or key switch off, Any bell or lights?
  12. Tom Childs

    Tom Childs New Member

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    Sorry for not getting back sooner - - swamped at work. I will try to diagnose the alarm over this weekend
  13. Tom Childs

    Tom Childs New Member

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    My boat is in Virginia Beach BTW
  14. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    I had guessed so. Past my working radius. Not sure who is close this week.

    I'm still trying to make SC. Hang in there DW.