WatchDog Water Alarm Sensor Box

thingiverse

The WatchGuard Water Alarm is a fantastic audible alarm for anyone concerned about flooding or leaking water. I have one installed in my basement with the sensor connected to an alarm box on a second-story staircase, ensuring that everyone in the house can hear the alarm. I use it as a complement to my WiFi-connected water alarm because I wanted a loud, battery-powered alarm that doesn't rely on Wi-Fi connectivity. The battery in these alarms lasts for a long time and only needs to be replaced annually, coinciding with the replacement of smoke detector batteries for safety reasons. The problem lies in the removable sensor, which can be relocated from the alarm box but has a latch similar to a battery cover. It's so lightweight that the weight of the attached wire causes it to flip or prevents it from sitting flat on the floor. To resolve this issue, I created a custom box to house the sensor panel, keeping it weighted and flat on the floor. You can also add additional weight inside the box if your cable extension is too stiff and causing it to move. These sensors can be installed over long distances; mine spans approximately 50 feet using shielded security sensor cable. Even cheaper options like Cat5 or thermostat wire work well, as they only require two wires and are not picky. I utilized a PG7 cable gland for strain relief, which I happened to have in abundance due to purchasing them cheaply on eBay. They're ideal for small cables like networking cables entering boxes. The sensor panel features two drain holes to allow water to escape if it were submerged at the bottom of the WatchDog alarm box. After a recent flooding incident that soaked the sensor, it's still essential to clean and test it regularly to ensure it functions correctly. Given the severe flooding this year, I wanted to guarantee that my sensor wouldn't be accidentally flipped over by its wires. If held vertically, it would require over an inch of water to trigger the alarm; with proper placement, it activates at approximately 1/8" of water, making a significant difference in water detection sensitivity.