Livorsi Tach/Hourmeter

[Thomv]

Need some advice. About two weeks ago I was doing some electrical work on my boat. I had to turn on my ignition switch to take some voltage readings. At this time my Livirsi tach/anolog hourmeter read 375 hours. Today I was in the boat and just happened to look at some of my guages. To my surprise my hourmeter now reads 700 hours. I also noticed my ignition switch was still on. My bad. I always thought the hour meter would not record engine hours unless the engine was actually running. It now appears that was not the case. Is there a way to fix this problem or am I out of luck? This is an anolg hourmeter.

 

[Scott Danforth]

The hour meter is primarily for tracking service intervals

 

[dwco5051]

I don't know the wiring for you motor but I have had a couple pieces of equipment that would only register engine hours by means of an oil pressure switch. One had an actual analog Hobbs brand meter.

 

[sam am I]

Is there a way to fix this problem

As mentioned, oil pressure could be used, or even water pressure.
For example a small mod using a tee fitting on either port, then with a 5 PSI pressure switch for example, energize a relay which in-turn sends 12V to the hour meter, pressure = "ON", no pressure = "OFF".

But, doubt you'll be leaving the key on in the "ig" position again for some time, right? Most likely not would be my guess....

 

[Thomv]

Later today I am going to check the wiring to see where the 12 VDC originates. I have a feeling it is not connected to the motor and may be coming off the ignition switch and if that is the case it means the manufacturer miss-wired it?

 

[Scott Danforth]

not all hour meters use a secondary trigger. many use ignition

@Thomv if it really bothers you, buy a new tach, wire it to 12 volts for 350 hours

 

[sam am I]

I wonder why with a tach/hour meter combo why the design is allowing hours meter to tick off time if the tach/motor isn't running?

Hmmm, seems w/o a active tach sig(motor running), the hours s/would be stopped. I reckon that's how I'd be designing it....

Could leave the key on always(not that we do this often, but it happens obviously), but w/o motor running and receiving a tach sig(similar to using oil or water pressure), the clock wouldn't tick off any motor usage.

Maybe I just need coffee, it's too early for this......

 

[Scott Danforth]

I wonder why with a tach/hour meter combo why the design is allowing hours meter to tick off time if the tach/motor isn't running?

Because it would be cheaper to make and easier to integrate for a small shop. Mike Livorsi's operation is all in-house. he buys the tach movements and the hour meter movements, however does the machined bling work in-house along with the assembly

especially going back to 1999 for the boat (unless the gauges were replaced)

Maybe I just need coffee, it's too early for this......

we all need coffee......

plus a 23 year old boat with only 375 hours on it means the boat isnt getting used enough that is only 16 hours a year.

 

[sam am I]

I have a feeling it is not connected to the motor

Connected to the motor?

So there is 12V constant(battery), 12V switched (Ig, Acc and Starter[momentary]), not sure where else you'd be connecting too........

and may be coming off the ignition switch and if that is the case it means the manufacturer miss-wired it?

Thinking that's correctly wired

 

[sam am I]

Mike Livorsi's operation

Who is this Mike dude anyway? Seriously, I've never heard of him/it.......More coffee?

 

[sam am I]

but w/o motor running and receiving a tach sig(similar to using oil or water pressure)

tach POWER, not "tach sig"..............geeesh

Could leave the key on always(not that we do this often, but it happens obviously), but w/o motor running and STILL receiving tach POWER(similar to using oil or water pressure), the clock wouldn't tick off any motor usage.

Was too early and did need more coffee!