Installing hour meter

[hz293]

My boat does not have an hour meter. I want to install one so I know how many hours between different types of maintenance. Is there a way to hook it up so it only reads it when the engine is on rather than when the ignition is on. On other boats I have had there have been times I forgot to turn off the switch and it was a while till I got back. Anyone help?

 

[Bondo]

Is there a way to hook it up so it only reads it when the engine is on rather than when the ignition is on.

Ayuh,.... Go from the ignition, through an oil pressure switch, to the hour meter,....

 

[alldodge]

I installed one on my Rinker on the plastic top cover over the flame arrestor. Drilled a 2 1/8 hole and installed. Wiring went from the coil Positive terminal and ground it on the motor, works great

 

[Bt Doctur]

it when the engine is on rather than when the ignition is on
In most cases when the key is on, the engine is running. you should never have to turn the key to "on" to operate an accessory.
If there is something wired that way, consider changing it .

 

[johnkom]

Yeah. That bugged me too. Hour meter on ignition makes no sense. I wired in a NC (Normally Closed) auto relay from O'Reilly to run the hour meter. Hooked it to the oil pressure switch (that turns on the oil light) in series to the HM. Works great. Also hooked the choke to the same circuit. Choke and HM only powered when engine running--oil light out. JK

 

[Scott Danforth]

most boaters put on less than 20 hours per year. most maintenance is 50 hours or annually (which ever occures first). that is also why most bayliners and other lower end Brunswick boats did not have hour meters installed

I installed an hour meter on one boat because I had it and thought I would use it. It came on 3 others, most of the families boats never had one. Frankly, I dont even look at the hour meter for maintenance. If I boat alot, I get 3 oil changes per year, if I boat a little, I get 1 oil change per year. every year the drive comes off for inspection and every other year the impeller gets changed.

 

[alldodge]

it when the engine is on rather than when the ignition is on
In most cases when the key is on, the engine is running. you should never have to turn the key to "on" to operate an accessory.
If there is something wired that way, consider changing it .

Yeah. That bugged me too. Hour meter on ignition makes no sense. I wired in a NC (Normally Closed) auto relay from O'Reilly to run the hour meter. Hooked it to the oil pressure switch (that turns on the oil light) in series to the HM. Works great. Also hooked the choke to the same circuit. Choke and HM only powered when engine running--oil light out. JK

You guys gave me a laugh, thanks.
Lets see, you turn the key to ON and then start the motor, hour meter comes on as soon as the key is turned on. So you might get an extra hour or two on the meter over time while cranking. No one turns the ignition on to run the hour meter, it is an after effect. If you happen to have one which is not mechanical (like mine, "numbers are always showing") they require an extra feed direct to the battery, these are on my pieces of heavy equipment.

Please help me understand which boat manufactures do not use the ignition feed (purple wire for Merc) to feed an hour meter. Hint: don't mention Formula

 

[Bt Doctur]

On other boats I have had there have been times I forgot to turn off the switch and it was a while till I got back. Anyone help?

It sounds like his other boats had something wired to work with the ign in the on position. simply amazing how some folks wire up accessories to the ign .
Then they complain about the ign fuse constantly blowing and cant put 2 & 2 together.Not to mention having the motor components constantly powered up
with the key on and the motor off.

 

[bruceb58]

I just hook it up to my ignition switch.

 

[alldodge]

I'll start off and apologies, that I didn't realize folks forget to turn the ignition off, and that's what the OP mentioned. For me key ON, motor starts, have to turn key OFF and engine is off. For folks that forget to turn the key off, sorry there are other issues. I will say this, so long as power is applied to the coil, the engine runs.

My laugh went to a :facepalm: sorry for mentioning it

 

[hz293]

I would leave the ignition on while operating the blower after shutting down. Don't hear to well so I might get out and forget the blower with the ignition on and forget to it off. Glad you got a laugh out of this one. I aim to please.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Except the dash switches are never connected to the ign power circuit.

 

[bruceb58]

I would leave the ignition on while operating the blower after shutting down.

I sure hope your blower doesn't need the ignition switch to be on. That is a very big safety issue.