help with hour meter installation

[betayv]

hi there I bought a hour meter but really I dont have a clue how this work anybody can help me. thanks...

 

[180shabah]

Re: help with hour meter installation

It is just a clock that continuously counts up. Needs power whenever the key is in the on/run position.

 

[Bondo]

Re: help with hour meter installation

Ayuh,... If it's gonna be dash mounted, hook a wire to the Ignition circuit,+ the other wire to ground...

 

[seabob4]

Re: help with hour meter installation

On a Johnson, Evinrude, or Merc, Ignition power is the Purple wire, Suzuki gray.

 

[betayv]

Re: help with hour meter installation

thanks guys Im on it...

 

[Silvertip]

Re: help with hour meter installation

Just so you know -- it is a simple clock mechanism. It will run as long as the key is in the RUN position even if the engine is not running.

 

[seabob4]

Re: help with hour meter installation

Just so you know -- it is a simple clock mechanism. It will run as long as the key is in the RUN position even if the engine is not running.

Silvertip,
Have you ever put a meter on the ign switch and seen if there is an energized circuit with the engine running that is NOT energized when the key is in the run position with the engine off? Just curious, as I haven't done it myself, but mean to get around to it.

I mean, that would be the BEST circuit to tap into, to reflect true engine hours...

 

[Silvertip]

Re: help with hour meter installation

There are no 12 volt circuits that are "engine running" related. On boats/engines with SmartCraft-like engine management systems you might find a very low voltage system (5 volts or some other "reference voltage") that could be used to activate a relay that feeds 12 volts to the meter but those can't be used to drive the meter directly. What someone has suggested is to use a pressure switch installed in an oil pressure port on four-strokes, or in the tell tale port. On two strokes that switch would need to be a relatively low pressure device since some engines don't show much pressure at idle. Boats with factory fitted electric fuel pumps usually have a protection circuit that operates off the oil pressure switch so one can tap into the fuel pump feed. If the engine dies or the key is left on with the engine off the fuel pump quits so the meter would also. Lots of fuss just to get around the issue of forgetting to turn the key off. The only "engine on" signal on an outboard is the ignition side of the kill circuit. One could rectify that signal, feed it to a relay with the appropriate coil voltage and have the relay then feed the meter. What I don't know is the effect the load would have on the ignition.

 

[john from md]

Re: help with hour meter installation

Several companies make self powered inductive meters that give rpm and run time as well as allow you to set warnings such as oil change, water pump change etc.

If you google Sendec, one of the manufacturers, you will see the meters I am talking about. I have them on all of my powered equipment and I just double face tape them to the side of the engine compartment.

Regards,

John