Modern ships and other waterborne vessels typically employ sensitive electronic equipment to facilitate navigational, propulsive and other functions. Ideally, this equipment is disposed in a watertight enclosure, such as a cabinet or other container, to protect the equipment from being damaged by water.
Often, however, moisture nonetheless accumulates in the watertight enclosure. For example, the electronic equipment within the enclosure may require cooling. Consequently, pipes that deliver water or other liquid to cool the equipment may leak such liquid inside the enclosure. Additionally, because a watertight enclosure may not be airtight, humidity may enter the enclosure, and may condense into standing water within the enclosure.
In order to solve this moisture-accumulation problem, several methods of allowing or forcing the accumulated moisture to exit the enclosure have been attempted. One such method involves drilling or otherwise forming weep holes in the enclosure bottom to allow accumulated moisture to drain therefrom. But, an enclosure employing weep holes may no longer be sufficiently watertight for many applications.
Additionally, if the portion of the enclosure in which the weep holes are disposed becomes submerged or abuts the floor, gravity-based drainage of accumulated moisture may not be an option.
Moreover, although weep holes allow drainage, they typically cannot generate a signal that indicates a moisture accumulation problem within the enclosure.